Truck drives more than five miles across Eureka Dunes, damages 74 plants

A white 2021 Toyota Tacoma illegally drove onto the Eureka Dunes and left more than five miles of tire tracks that crushed or uprooted at least 74 rare and sensitive dune plants, National Park Service officials said. Photographs show the truck on the dunes with at least two occupants and an equipment rack in the bed; the truck’s tailgate had a black Fox Racing cover.

The vehicle traveled across the northern Eureka Dunes on Dec. 17, 2025, carving a visible scar through an ecosystem designated a National Natural Landmark. Among the species damaged were shining milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus var. micans), Eureka Dunes evening primrose (Oenothera californica ssp. eurekensis) and Eureka Valley dune grass (Swallenia alexandrae). Officials say one shining milkvetch was destroyed and that vehicle tracks passed close enough to other rare plants that the weight of the vehicle may have caused underground root damage.

“Eureka Dunes are a special place meant to be enjoyed on foot,” Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds said. “They are protected from off-road driving by both park regulations and their designation as wilderness.” The park emphasizes that only foot travel is allowed on the dunes, and rangers characterize the affected plants as endemic and irreplaceable components of an “ecological island” that supports species found nowhere else.

NPS investigators have released photos and are asking the public to help identify the truck and occupants. Tips can be submitted by email to nps_isb@nps.gov or by calling 888-653-0009; the park is accepting anonymous tips. No arrests, citations, or charges have been reported as of this writing.

The damage adds to a pattern of vandalism incidents in the region. A January 2025 event also damaged rare plants on the Eureka Dunes, and coverage by some outlets has described a rise in “grievous acts of vandalism” in Death Valley over the past decade. The dunes rise nearly 700 feet and are a fragile attraction within a park known for dramatic natural phenomena; the park contains more than 1,000 plant species, highlighting the local ecological and recreational value at stake.

For Nye County residents and businesses that rely on visitors to Death Valley, the incident has immediate and long-term implications. Locally treasured natural features support tourism revenue and community identity; repeated damage can increase management costs, prompt tighter access controls, and diminish the park’s draw. Ecologically, disturbance to endemic plants can take years or decades to recover, and underground root damage may not be apparent until plants fail to reestablish.

The investigation is ongoing. For now, park officials are pressing for public help to identify the vehicle and its occupants so that authorities can assess responsibility and consider restoration options. For locals, the episode is a reminder that protections for public lands rely on compliance and community vigilance; reporting photo evidence or tips to the park can be the next practical step.