Dunes have a power over us wheelers. Their alien hills and folds feel like the final frontier. Endless adventure and pure freedom exist where the sand is. It’s no wonder that so many shape their favorite hobby around slinging sand. And so we put together the best UTV dune riding spots all across the country.
We’ve listed five of the best dune riding spots across the country in no particular order. Dig in. And if you don’t see your favorite spot, it’s probably because we already covered it.
The North Sand Hills Recreation Area in Northern Colorado is 300 acres of dunes split into two sections of sand and surrounded by forest. It’s a true wilderness adventure. You’ll be far away from civilization with just a couple of vault toilets and a primitive campsite for your creature comforts.
That’s also the beauty of the North Sand Hills Recreation Area—it’s a little bit like the Wild West, but in a good way. It’s just you, nature, and a whole lot of sand that needs some donuts in it. And don’t forget about the miles of trails through the forest and brush all around.
One of the most popular spots is along the eastern edge, where the sand meets the creek in a dramatic fashion. The creek carves a steep slope that attracts hill climbers looking for a challenge—and a big adrenaline rush.
Just be sure you come prepared. Walden, Colorado, is the nearest town… and it ain’t big.
| SIZE: | 300 acres of dunes 10 miles of surrounding trails |
| COST: | Entry is free, but OHV registration is required for non-licensed vehicles. |
| EXPERIENCE LEVEL: | Something for everyone: •Beginner: plenty of flat, open sand and small dunes for easy riding •Intermediate: the surrounding trails require some experience to navigate safely •Advanced: a few steep dunes pose serious challenges even for expert drivers |
| OPEN: | April 15–December 15 |
| ACCOMMODATIONS: | There is free camping at any of the 13 RV spaces with picnic tables and fire rings. Campsites are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Other campsites are dispersed throughout the area. Walden, Colorado, offers some lodging 15 miles down the road. |
| AMENITIES: | Two vault toilets… and that’s it. Whatever you need, pack it in! If you need to resupply on your multi-day camping trip, you’ll need to make the 30-mile round trip to Walden. |
| GOOD EATS: | River Rock Café: This café located in the Antlers Inn provides American food and big portions. For a good meal before hitting the dunes, it can’t be beat. •Price = $$ •Drive time = 25 minutes The 10th Frame: If you need a bigger break from the dunes, get some bowling in with your dinner. Serving up burgers, sandwiches, and salads, this American-style grub stop will fill you up. •Price = $$ •Drive time = 25 minutes All Smoked Up BBQ: For award-winning BBQ that draws patrons from across the country, All Smoked Up satisfies. •Price = $$ •Drive time = 25 minutes |
| MORE INFO: | https://www.blm.gov/visit/search-details/16697/2 |
Oceano Dunes SVRA is a huge 3,500-acre dune field right on the cost of central California. It was formerly called Pismo Beach and is super easy to access right off of Highway 1. The dunes themselves aren’t terribly challenging but they do give you plenty of space to stretch your, uh, throttle.
Perhaps the coolest part about these dunes is the fact that it’s the only beach in California that allows you to park your trailer, RV, and truck right on the shore. That’s right—the staging area is in the dunes! And you can camp anywhere. It’s for that reason that you can count on seeing tons of like-minded sand slingers packing the shoreline almost every weekend. Make sure you plan accordingly!
We can’t talk about the Oceano Dunes without bringing up the Dunites. This mid-century group consisted of mystics and nudists that chased their spiritual center all over the dunes. We can’t say that we’re not doing the same thing when we’re watching that speedometer creep towards the limiter, but please, keep your pants on.
| SIZE: | 3,500 acres |
| COST: | $5 to park |
| EXPERIENCE LEVEL: | This park is good for amateur riders. The dunes at Oceano Dunes SVRA are not huge. Practice normal dune safety and you won’t have any issues. |
| OPEN: | Year round |
| ACCOMMODATIONS: | Primitive camping: •$10 per night •Camping available south of Post Two on the beach and in the open dune area •Vault and chemical toilets are provided •Water delivery and holding tank pump-out services are available •Public restrooms are available at the W Grand Ave entrance •Reservations can be made from 48 hours up to six months in advance. It’s generally a good idea to make reservations as early as possible. Slots fill up fast! Call 1-800-444-7275 for reservation information. |
| AMENITIES: | Steve’s ATV Rentals, Arnie’s ATV Rentals, and Sunbuggy Fun Rentals offer UTV and ATV rentals: •SxS/ATV rental ○Beginner ATVs start at $40 for 1 hour ○UTVs start at $160 for 1 hour ○Deposits range from $100 to $1,500 •Hiking trails, surfing, and fishing all in the park •Biplane Rides minutes away |
| GOOD EATS: | Old Juan’s Cantina: This Mexican restaurant features traditional favorites and unique dishes the whole family can enjoy. •Price = $$ •Drive time = 5 minutes Rock and Roll Diner: This classic American diner built into an old train car serves American, Greek, and Mexican cuisine all in one place. •Price = $ •Drive time = 5 minutes Fin’s Bar & Grill: This American restaurant with an ocean view serves steak, seafood, sandwiches and more. •Price = $$ •Drive time = 5 minutes |
| MORE INFO: | http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1207 |
Silver Lake State Park is a relatively small 400-acre off-road UTV dune area within a larger 2,000-acre park. But don’t let that stop you from visiting. The park is stuck right between Silver Lake and Lake Michigan, so you get that sweet double-lake action!
The dunes themselves tend to be on the shorter side, which allows for impressive sprints and high speeds. Just be sure to follow the traffic and ride safe. There are steeper sections along the tree line that allow for some more advanced driving, but overall, it’s a great place to put your foot down and blow off some steam.
And if you need a break from your UTV (or if you’re broken down—it happens), you have another 1600 acres of awesome dune trails and shoreline to explore. And you’re right in town—restocking, refueling, and riding are easy.
| SIZE: | 400 acres for off-road use, 2,000 acres total |
| COST: | A Recreation Passport is required on your UTV or ATV. •$12 when purchased with your license plate registration renewal through the Secretary of State •$17 when purchased at state parks or outside your license plate registration renewal cycle |
| EXPERIENCE LEVEL: | This park is great for amateur and moderate riders. The dunes are low and easy to navigate, but high speeds and high traffic can make it dangerous for inexperienced riders. |
| OPEN: | April 1–October 31 |
| ACCOMMODATIONS: | RV camping with 20/30 AMP electricity, toilet/shower buildings, fire rings and picnic tables cost $33 per night. |
| AMENITIES: | Silver Lake Buggy Rentals and Wild Bill’s ATV Rentals offer UTV and ATV rentals: •ATVs start at $150 for 2 hours •UTVs start at $350 for 2 hours This park is just a few minutes from town where you can find groceries, restaurants, and hotels. |
| GOOD EATS: | Silver Lake Chicken Shack: Wings done right! This local favorite serves wings, wings, and more wings. •Price: $ •Drive time: 5 minutes Golden Sands Golf Course & Bucket Bar: This spot serves pizza, sandwiches, wings, and other unique pub food with an upscale flare. •Price: $$ •Drive time: 8 minutes Silver Scoops Cafe & Creamery: Don’t let the name fool you—they have sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, and more. Don’t forget the ice cream! •Price: $ •Drive time: 5 minutes |
| MORE INFO: | https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=493&type=SPRK |
The Little Sahara Dunes near Nephi, Utah, is the perfect spot for sand slingers that can’t get enough of the wilderness. The nearest town is nearly 30 minutes away, so when you’re out there in the dunes, you’re way out there. Not to mention, the dunes cover 60,000 acres—the largest riding area on our list by a long shot.
The dunes may seem nearly endless, but the biggest of all is known as Sand Mountain. It rises 700 feet from base to tip and challenges expert riders from all over the country! Don’t be fooled by this park’s remoteness—it has hundreds of campsites that attract tons of riders. Luckily, it’s got the acreage to accommodate everybody.
With the Wasatch Mountains on the horizon to the east, this arid environment is home to local wildlife untouched by civilization. Keep an eye out for kit foxes and antelope ground squirrels. There’s unique flora in the area, too. Be sure to avoid plowing over the giant four-wing salt brush. This unassuming plant only grows naturally here in the dunes!
For pure wilderness and pure UTV dune action, the Little Sahara Dunes belongs at the top of the list.
| SIZE: | 60,000 acres (94 sq. mi.) |
| COST: | $18 per vehicle per day $120 annual pass |
| EXPERIENCE LEVEL: | There is something for everybody. This park has a huge amount of wide-open space for beginners, and larger dunes for expert riders. The largest dune is Sand Mountain at 700 feet tall. |
| OPEN: | Year round |
| ACCOMMODATIONS: | Four large campgrounds are home to hundreds of campsites, all included with the day fee. The Oasis campsite has paved pads and an RV flush station. There are flushable toilets at all each campground although only vault toilets are available in winter. |
| AMENITIES: | This place has toilets, potable water, and paved roads (rare for such a remote riding spots). The nearest town is the small town of Eureka, Utah, about 30 minutes away. Fuel up and get supplies here, and plan on staying at the dunes the rest of your trip. |
| GOOD EATS: | B’s Hangout: A small local place with a big heart serves burgers, dogs, and more American food. •Price: $ •Drive time: 26 minutes Canyon Pizza Co: This popular joint offers up all sorts of pizza from traditional toppings to weird stuff… like almonds. •Price: $ •Drive time: 35 minutes El Dorado: This place serves traditional Mexican food that gets portions and flavors right. •Price: $$ •Drive time: 30 minutes |
| MORE INFO: | https://www.blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/little-sahara-recreation-area |
Let’s talk about another 10,600 acres of UTV dune fun—this time in St. Anthony, Idaho. With dunes ranging from 50 feet to 400 feet tall, you’re going to have a lot of fun in one of the country’s largest dune areas with some of the country’s biggest dunes.
These dunes are relatively close to Yellowstone National park which combos nicely with St. Anthony on the road trip of a lifetime. The average annual high is around 85 degrees so you can ride all through summer without getting cooked.
There is a large area to the north of the dunes that can be explored by road and trail, but it closes seasonally. It’s gorgeous back county that covers a huge area. Check out the Civil Defense Cave to explore an ancient lava tube. It was never actually used for civil defense, though—the name is a holdover from the Cold War.
Every year, the UTV Invasion closes out the summer at the St. Anthony Sand Dunes. This event brings in thousands of attendees annually, an is packed with contests, races, and fun for the whole family. Not bad for a free event.
| SIZE: | 10,600 acres |
| COST: | $5 per vehicle per day $60 annual pass |
| EXPERIENCE LEVEL: | Good for everyone. There are big dunes for experienced and expert riders, but plenty of places for beginners to putt around in. |
| OPEN: | The eastern dunes are open year round. The western dunes are open April 1 to December 31. The wider area around the dunes is open May 1 to December 31. |
| ACCOMMODATIONS: | Full electric hookups are available at nearby campgrounds for $25-$60 per day. Dump stations cost $10 per use. There are limited lodging options in the nearby town of St. Anthony. |
| AMENITIES: | Adventure Dune Rentals: •ATVs start at $169 for half day •UTVs start at $279 for half day |
| GOOD EATS: | Mad Moose Pizza: Pizza makes everybody happy, and Mad Moose Pizza is the best you can get in St. Anthony. •Price: $ •Drive time: 15 minutes Idaho Burger Grill: Sometimes you just gotta have a burger, and Idaho Burger Grill serves them up big and gourmet. •Price: $ •Drive time: 10 minutes El Jaliciense: If you want to fill up, head to El Jaliciense for Mexican food that doesn’t disappoint. •Price $ •Drive time: 10 minutes |
| MORE INFO: | https://www.blm.gov/visit/st-anthony-sand-dunes |
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