Know Before You Go—The Off-Roader’s Guide to Glamis

October is on our heels, and as off-road enthusiasts and riders ourselves, we know that means sand season is here! There are several off-roading parks that come to mind when we think of sand, but the Imperial Sand Dunes in Glamis, California, is where it’s at. It’s by far the largest sand recreational area in the United States.

Technically, we consider October 1st as the opening day for sand season because that’s when Glamis starts requiring permit passes. But traditionally, the last weekend of October is the unofficial kickoff. This time of the year is the best time to ride in the southwest. It’s cool enough that you won’t be peeling your skin off your seats, and the evenings are chilly enough to have a fire while camping. It’s definitely different than the mud boggin’ backwoods ride that some of us are used to.

This is also around the same time Polaris hosts Camp RZR and what people call Glamis Halloween weekend. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out—it’s fun for the whole family. They have Polaris service stations, demo rides, a kid zone, fireworks, and so much more. If you’re interested in going, Camp RZR weekend will start Friday, October 28th.

Glamis is one big sandbox, and we want to make sure that you’re ready to play. Here are some things you need to know.

How to Get There

Glamis is huge. In fact, it’s 45 miles long and 6 miles wide. It’s right on the border of Arizona, California, and Mexico and located off Highway 78 between Blythe, CA, and Interstate 8 west of Yuma, AZ. Due to its remote location, poor cell service, and lack of wifi in the area, we’re going to give you two points of reference for your atlas:

• Blythe, California:
  • Get on 1-10 W for .9 miles
  • Follow CA-78 to Imperial County for 80.9 miles
  • Take CA-115S to CA-111 S for 17.2 miles
  • Continue on CA-111 S. Take I-8 W to CA-86 N/S 4th St in El Centro.
  • Take exit 115 from I-8 W for 4.7 miles
  • Turn right onto CA-86 N/S 4th St.
• Yuma, Arizona
  • Get on I-8 W in Imperial County I-8BL for 3.1 miles
  • Continue on I-8 W to El Centro.
  • Take exit 115 from I-8 W for 56.2 miles
  • Turn right onto CA-86 N/S St.

Permits and Passes

For six months out of the year, you can ride free all you want at the Imperial Sand Dunes. But when sand season hits and thousands of riders flock to the sandbox, the park requires everyone to purchase passes.

• April 15th to October 1st—Ride Free
• October 1st to April 15th
  • Weekly Passes=offsite $35.00, onsite $50.00, seasonal pass $150.00

You can buy your passes online or at any retail location. If you want to buy your pass at Glamis, then the ranger station is where you need to go.

And if you’re really going for the full Glamis experience and want to camp, you must have a campfire permit.

Glamis strictly enforces buying passes.

Destination Rides

You would think that riding in the sand would be all the fun you would need. But Glamis does one better and has destinations that riders revisit yearly. Check these insanely cool destinations out.

Sand Drags

Thousands of people line up on both sides of a 150-meter wide, quarter-mile long strip to watch motorized vehicles of all kinds. This isn’t a sanctioned event, so as long as you’re a pass holder, you can race. Things get pretty wild out here on the strip—don’t be surprised if every second or third vehicle goes wheels up and rides a wheelie halfway down the track.

Oldsmobile Hill

Oldsmobile Hill is the most popular hill at Glamis. It’s a giant sand dune smack dab in the middle of the park. If you drive to the top, you have a perfect view to watch other riders, the sunset, and the stars at night. And sitting at the bottom of this hill at night is awesome too. Riders will turn on their LED lights and put on a light show, and ride till the sunrises the next morning.

China Wall

If you’re up for a challenge, then the China wall is for you. It’s a giant sand dune nestled at the back of Glamis. It’s one of the steepest and tallest hills, which is why it attracts so many riders.

Sunset Point AKA “The Hangout”

One of the best things about off-roading is playing all day and catching a beautiful sunset as the night comes to an end. If you’re looking for the perfect place to watch the sunset, head to sunset point. It’s one of the tallest peaks in Glamis and has enough room for you and your buddies to park their rigs at the top.

Swing Set

The Swingset at Glamis isn’t very old but has become a popular place to stop amongst riders and families. The swingset is soutwest of Oldmobile Hill.

Flag Pole

The Flag Pole has quite a bit of history behind it and is a hot commodity every year during veterans day. It sits on top of a box the military used for target practice decades ago. Obviously, it’s not used for target practice anymore. The flag pole was added after Glamis became an OHV ride park.

Tiki Huts

There are two Tiki Huts in Glamis, and they’re only a couple of miles apart. They are one of the newest attractions for riders and have become a crowd favorite. Most riders leave behind their hat or bandana—it’s one of those things you do to show you’ve been there.

Where to Camp?

Camping at Glamis isn’t your run-of-the-mill vacation location. It’s definitely not glamorous. You’ll find that camping is primitive—there’s no running water. If you’re lucky, you may find a pit latrine that has already been dug for you.

Most people prefer to camp in RVs and Campers even though tent camping is doable.

There are multiple places to camp, but these are the top three locations:

The Washes

Is the most popular campground among riders.

• This campsite offers the most privacy.
• It’s also located adjacent to a smaller set of dunes that are perfect for first-time dune riders.
• The only negative would be The Washes location is next to a railroad track, and trains tend to only run during the night.

The Flats

• This is the busiest and loudest place to camp.
• Traffic is nonstop all day. You will more than likely wake up with a new neighbor every morning.
• The location is great if you’re a food lover because it’s the closest campsite to the food vendor area.
• It’s the closest campsite near hosted events like Camp RZR.

Gecko Road

• It’s the first camping area you’ll come to if you’re driving east from Brawley.
• The largest campground in the Imperial Sand Dunes.
• If you’re looking for an upgrade from pit toilets—this location has numerous vault toilets.

Follow the Law

Preparing for a week or weekend adventure to Glamis can be so exciting that you forget about all the practical things you shouldn’t ride without or the riding laws that keep you safe. So just as a friendly reminder:

• Make sure you pack and wear a DOT-approved helmet. This goes for your passengers too. It’s the law that you wear one when exploring the dunes.
• Buckle up! All drivers and passengers must be buckled at Glamis.
• Mount a flag to your whip—it doesn’t matter if you’re driving a UTV, ATV, or dirt bike. Everyone is required to mount a flag to their whip. It has to extend 8 ft tall from the ground to the tip. It can be a triangle, square, or rectangle of your choice, but it has to be at least 10″ from the top, red or orange, and measure 6″ X 12″.
• There’s a 15 MPH speed limit on the sand highways. This also applies when you are within 500 feet. of Highway 78, Grays Well Road, Gecko, and Roadrunner recreation sites. You should also stay at 15 MPH within 50 feet of any campground, campsite, or concentration of people.
• You cannot drive your unplated side-by-side or ATV on roads or highways.
• Night riding in Glamis is an experience unlike any other. And you having head and tail lights is a must— equip your rig with the right UTV lights and accessories to keep cresting the dunes all night long.

Recommended Safety Gear & Essentials

When you head out to the dunes, you will likely be miles away from camp. You will want to be prepared for the terrain and those unfortunate riding mishaps that are bound to happen. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

• Helmet, goggles, long sleeve shirt, gloves, and boots—When the sun goes down, the dunes get chilly keep that in mind when packing.
• Repair tools—Having a set of repair tools that are easy to pack and help you do a make-shift fix job until you get back to camp.
• Strap—As we mentioned before, something is bound to happen, whether it’s to you or your buddy. A tow strap to haul your machine back to camp will be life-saving.
• Water—There is no running water at Glamis! We recommend packing and taking gallon water jugs with you even if you’re camping in a RV or camper. The lack of running water tends to scare people—don’t let it. There is a water truck that will come out to your campsite and fill up your tanks if you run out.
• Earplugs—If you’re camping or want a break from the constant noise, earplugs are a must.
• A map—Download the BLM map of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area before you get to Glamis because cell service gets sketchy.
• Firewood—You can either bring your own firewood or you can buy it when you get to Glamis. The Big Belly Crew located at vendor row sells tons of firewood and will even deliver it to your campsite in The Washes.
• First Aid Kit

There are a ton of fun things to do at Glamis, but it is very important to recognize that the dunes are also dangerous. The only way to keep the atmosphere light and to keep the amusement flowing is by respecting the safety measures that have been put into place. Make sure you are up to date on dune safety protocols—here are 7 ways to stay safe as you ride the dunes.

Prepare Your Rig for the Sand

You don’t want to take your mud boggin’ machine to the sandbox—you’ll find yourself back at camp before the fun even begins. Instead, accessorize your rig to fit the sandy terrain. Not sure where to start? No worries—we’ve done all the research for you by identifying The 6 Best UTV Accessories for Dune and Desert Riding.

Get Going—Start Your Sand Adventure

Take this guide and gear up for a sandy time. With Glamis being the largest off-roading sand park in the United States, you’re bound to fling sand around, get sideways, and have a good time. We even bet you take a little Glamis home with you (check your boots).

Before you hit the dunes, make sure to check out and pack a couple extra of our sand belts.