Largest mass of sand dunes in the state
El Centro, CA, 38 miles
How to Get There
From San Diego (151 mi): Take I-8 E to E Evan Hewes Hwy/E Holton Rd in Imperial County. Take CA-115 N and CA-78 E to Osborne Park Rd.
Overview
The Algodones Dunes, also called the Imperial Sand Dunes, are a field of sand about 45 miles long and 6 miles wide in the southeastern corner of California, near the Arizona and Mexico borders. They are the largest mass of sand dunes in the state and the largest dunes in the United States open to off-highway vehicle use, and the area was recognized as a National Natural Landmark in 1966. The Bureau of Land Management manages the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, which covers the part of the dunes open to vehicles, and the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness protects another large section from vehicles. Named sections include Glamis, Gordon’s Well and Buttercup, and the dunes were also used for the Tatooine scenes in Return of the Jedi. Sand-rail, ATV and dirt bike riding are the main draws, and visitors on foot come for the dune landscape.
Access
The dunes are in Imperial County, reached from the west via State Route 78 east of Brawley or from the east via Interstate 8 west of Yuma, Arizona, with the nearest hotels in Brawley (about 27 miles) and El Centro (about 38 miles). From San Diego, the drive is about 150 miles on I-8 and CA-78. The highways are paved, and the dunes themselves are best explored with off-road vehicles. There is no public transportation, and fuel, food and water should be arranged before entering the dunes. The Recreation Area is divided into open areas where all vehicle recreation is allowed, limited areas with designated routes, and closed areas where motorized use is prohibited, so check a current BLM map.
Seasons
Winter, spring and fall are the seasons to visit, while summers are extremely hot with little shade on the open sand. BLM requires a recreation permit for the Recreation Area from October 1 through April 15, which is also the busy riding season, with weekly and season permits available. Cool winter days are ideal for riding, camping and walking, though winter nights can be cold. The area is open year-round.
Things to Do
Ride the Dunes
Off-highway vehicle riding is the main activity in the open areas south of Highway 78. Riders bring sand rails, ATVs, UTVs and dirt bikes, and a permit is required from October through mid-April.
Camp in the Dunes
Established campgrounds such as Gecko, Keyhole and Roadrunner and the Hot Springs Long Term Visitor Area offer places to stay, and many riders camp for several days at a time.
Walk or Ride a Horse in the Wilderness
The North Algodones Dunes Wilderness, more than 25,000 acres north of Highway 78, is closed to all motor vehicles and mechanized equipment. Visitors can walk or ride horses through quiet dunes for views of an unspoiled desert landscape.
Photograph the Dune Landscape
The rippled sand, clean light at sunrise and sunset and long views make the dunes a favorite subject for photographers, and the area is familiar from film locations such as the Tatooine scenes in Return of the Jedi.
Visitor Centers
The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area does not have a traditional visitor center. BLM ranger stations, including the Cahuilla Ranger Station, provide maps, permit information and safety guidance, and the BLM El Centro Field Office manages the area. Permits are sold in advance or on site, so check the BLM website for current prices, locations and hours before arriving.
Camping and Lodging
The Recreation Area has developed campgrounds at Gecko, Keyhole and Roadrunner and the Hot Springs Long Term Visitor Area, and much of the open dune area allows camping with a permit. Motels and restaurants are found in Brawley and El Centro, about 27 and 38 miles away, and Yuma, Arizona, which has the widest selection within about an hour of the eastern dunes.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Algodones Dunes", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0 and from the blm.gov website "Imperial Sand Dunes". Additional information from the Bureau of Land Management.
