The desert scenes in Stranger Things (specifically the Nevada desert storyline in Season 4) were actually filmed in New Mexico, in desert and foothill areas around Albuquerque that stand in for Nevada and Southern California.

Main filming area

Most of the “Nevada desert” environment was created using real desert landscapes near Albuquerque, New Mexico, rather than in Nevada itself.

Production chose this region because the foothills and open desert around the city convincingly resemble both southern California and Nevada on camera.

Specific desert set location

The sequence featuring the underground base entrance out in the desert was done on a constructed set north of Albuquerque, near Zia Pueblo.

This area provided the wide, arid vistas needed for the secret facility exterior and surrounding desert shots.

Why New Mexico was chosen

The show’s production designer has explained that New Mexico offered a striking variety of desert looks, from white sands to stark yellow-tan stretches and painted foothill landscapes, all within reach of the Albuquerque production hub.

This range allowed the team to match the look of a Nevada/U.S. Southwest desert while keeping filming logistically practical.

TL;DR: The desert scene you’re asking about was not filmed in Nevada, but in desert locations around Albuquerque, New Mexico, including a purpose-built entrance set near Zia Pueblo.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.