Just 25 miles east of Brawley, the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area is one of North America’s leading off-road areas. With dunes rising an impressive 300 feet and riding areas totaling about one hundred square miles, it attracts off-road enthusiasts by the thousands who ride, camp and browse among a myriad of licensed vendors selling everything from vehicle parts to souvenirs and refreshments. The dunes actually feature two popular riding areas - Glamis, which is east of Brawley and Buttercup located towards the south of Yuma. There also are marked dune areas where off-roading is prohibited.

The Federal Bureau of Land Management oversees the entire recreation area and permits are required for visitors. For the 2008-2009 season the fee will remain at $25 for a weekly pass and $90 for a seasonal pass. However, the fee for permits purchased at the dunes will cost $40 per week and $120 for the season. Information on dune passes is available online or call (800) 832-7664. Camping areas suitable for large recreational vehicles are provided by the BLM along Gecko Road South of Highway 78. Camping is permitted anywhere in the dunes that is open to vehicle use. Camping in the Imperial Sand Dunes is covered under the BLM permit.

All vehicles operating off-highway on public lands in California are required to be street-licensed or registered as an off-highway vehicle (OHV). California residents must have all their vehicles licensed through the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The cost per vehicle varies. If you are visiting California from another state and intending to ride a non-street-legal vehicle on public lands, you must purchase an Off-Highway Vehicle sticker from the California Department of Parks and Recreation Off Highway Motor Vehicle Division. The cost of the State Parks permit is $30. A list of vendors is available at the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division website. OHV fees help pay for extra public safety personnel and dunes clean-up efforts.


Photo courtesy of Bill Gates