Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( & 435/648-2800 ). Information is also available online at www.stateparks.utah.gov .
At the parkentrystation, which also serves as a visitor center, you'll see a small
display area with sand from around the world, fossils from the area, and live scor-
pions, lizards, and tadpoles. This is the place to find out about ranger programs.
FEES&REGULATIONS The day-use fee is $6 per vehicle. The standard state park reg-
ulations apply, with the addition of a few extra rules due to the park's popular-
ity with off-road-vehicle users. Quiet hours last from 10pm to 9am. The dunes are
open to motor vehicles between 9am and 10pm and to hikers at any time. Vehicles
going onto the dunes must have safety flags, available at the entry station; while
on the dunes, they must stay at least 10 feet from vegetation and at least 100 feet
from hikers. Dogs are permitted on the dunes but must be leashed.
CAMPING The spacious and mostly shady 22-site campground, open year-round,
offers hot showers, modern restrooms, and an RV dump station, but no hookups.
Camping costs $16 and sites can be reserved ( & 800/322-3770 or 801/322-3770;
www.reserveamerica.com ) , with an $8 nonrefundable reservation fee.
RANGERPROGRAMS Regularly scheduled ranger talks explain the geology, plants,
and animals of the dunes. For a real thrill, take a guided evening ScorpionWalk
★★, using a black light to find the luminescent scorpions that make the park their
home. You'll definitely want to wear shoes for this activity! Call to find out if
there's a Scorpion Walk scheduled during your visit.
Sports & Activities
HIKING The best time for hiking the dunes is early morning, for several reasons: It's
cooler, the lighting at and just after sunrise produces beautiful shadows and col-
ors, and there are no noisy dune buggies until after 9am. Sunset is also very pretty,
but you'll be sharing the dunes with off-road vehicles. Keep in mind that hiking
through fine sand can be very tiring, especially for those who go barefoot. A self-
guided .5-mile loop nature trail has numbered signs through some of the dunes;
allow a half-hour.
Several other hikes of various lengths are possible within and just outside the
park, but because there are few signs—and because landmarks change with the
shifting sands—it's best to check with park rangers before setting out. Those
spending more than a few hours in the dunes will discover that even their own
tracks disappear in the wind, leaving few clues to the route back to park headquar-
ters.
OFF-ROADING This giant sandbox offers plenty of space for of-road-vehicleenthu-
siasts. Because the sand here is quite fine, extra-wide flotation tires are needed,
and lightweight dune buggies are usually the vehicle of choice. If exploring the
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