How You Dune? Pretty Good If You Take Your Quad to These Sandy Sites!
Riding ATVs on sand dunes is a unique and exhilarating experience that combines the challenge of difficult terrain with a thrilling adrenaline rush.
The shifting sands, steep inclines, and descents offer a variety of obstacles that test the rider's skills, making it both exciting and mentally engaging.
Add to that scenic, panoramic views, space for exploring, family-friendly options, and camaraderie with a vibrant ATV community, and it’s no wonder quad riders are attracted to sand dune locations from Michigan to California.
Here are some of the country’s best sandy destinations for quads.
Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Michigan
Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Michigan is renowned for its scenic beauty and thrilling riding opportunities. It's located along the Lake Michigan shoreline and offers both wooded trails and expansive sand dunes. The area has more than 650 acres popular for ATV riding, dune buggies, and other off-road vehicles.
The dunes are divided into four main areas:
- ORV Area (no pedestrians permitted) at the northern section
- Pedestrian Area (no vehicles permitted) in the central section
- Mac Woods Dune Ride area for tours to the south
- Little Sable Point Lighthouse at the southern point along the dunes
Be aware that the Silver Lake State Park ORV area has adopted new rules that apply to Sound Levels and Testing, the Voucher System, and Operators and Licensing and Training Requirements. A complete list of current rules and regulations is available from the Michigan DNR website.
The park promotes a Stop, Assess, Note, & Drive (S.A.N.D) approach to safety, which is outlined at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes site .
The details:
- Location - Hart, Michigan
- Open - April 1 - Oct. 31
- Permits needed - To enter the park, all motor vehicles riding on the dunes must display ORV license AND ORV trail permit purchased at DNR ORV Welcome Center, or online
- Age restrictions - Operators must be 12 or older (and under adult supervision if younger than 16) to ride with a valid ORV safety certificate or driver's license, and riders younger than 12 can ride as passengers
- Equipment - There are a handful of equipment-related requirements. Such as headlights, eye protection, helmets, tire PSI recommendations, etc. Please review these rules here .
Learn more by visiting the Silver Lake Stake Park’s website , or by contacting the State Park’s office at 231-873-3083.
Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, California (Glamis)
Also known as Glamis, the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area boasts some of the most expansive dunes and is known as the “duner capital of the world.”
The entire Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area system has more than 150,000 acres of dunes to climb and is divided into four sections:
- Glamis
- Buttercup Dunes
- Ogilby
- Gordons Well
Glamis itself is huge, some 45 miles long and 6 miles wide, with endless bowls, hill climbs, and flowing dunes. Riders say you can easily ride three hours without seeing the same dune twice (so keep the tank full).
Oldsmobile Hill, located at the center of the park, is the most popular hill at Glamis, drawing riders to its panoramic view at sunset. Riders will turn on their LED lights and put on a light show at night, and often will ride until the sun rises.
The details:
- Location - Glamis, California (bordering Arizona, California, and Mexico)
- Fees - $35 per week if purchased off-site (isdpermits.net) or $50 at the dunes; $150 for a season pass; purchase permits through the American Sand Association
- Open riding area - Approximately 150,000 acres
- Landmarks to visit - All six major hills (Competition, Oldsmobile, Brawley Slide, Lizard, China Wall and the Wall Hill), the tubes, swing set, Patton Valley, Glamis Beach Store, the border fence way down south
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Oregon (Coos Bay)
Coos Bay is another fantastic destination for ATV enthusiasts, offering a mix of sand dunes and coastal terrain. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area near Coos Bay provides miles of sandy trails and dunes for riding, with varying levels of difficulty to accommodate riders of all skill levels.
Oregon Dunes offer 40 miles of coastline, as well as large dunes, flowing bowls, and some of the best two-track sand trails in the country.
The park is broken up into three main riding areas:
- Coos Bay on the south side
- Winchester Bay (Umpqua) in the middle section
- Florence in the northernmost section
Most of the trails are in the Coos Bay riding area. A more vast expanse of open dunes can be found in the Winchester Bay area, which has massive hill climbs reaching 500 feet tall. The northern dunes of Florence are medium sized, and the beach in Florence is open to riding.
The details:
- Location: Reedsport, Oregon
- Fees depend on campground
- Open riding area: 31,186 acres broken up into the three areas
Little Sahara State Park, Utah
Little Sahara is a vast sand dune area located in central Utah. It's a popular destination for ATV riders, offering more than 60,000 acres of dunes to explore.
The park features a variety of dunes, from small hills to massive dunes reaching up to 700 feet in height, providing plenty of challenges and excitement for riders. The smaller dunes are perfect for letting kids or newbies hone their skills, and the big bowls on the back of the 700-foot-tall Sand Mountain are ideal for skilled adventure-seekers.
One of the best areas in the country for riding because of its variety of terrain and wide-open spaces, Little Sahara is great for all types of vehicles and riders.
The details:
- Fees - $18 per vehicle per day, $120 annual permit, $60 annual permit for seniors and people with disabilities
- Open riding area - 60,000 acres
- Landmarks to visit - Sand Mountain, large kid-friendly sandboxes at White Sands Campground and Jericho Picnic Area
Before planning a trip to any of these locations, please make sure to check current regulations, permits, and safety guidelines. And, of course, gear up with Vito’s.
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