So you got yourself a quad and you want to go rattle down some massive sand dunes. But where to go? There’s the Gobi desert, but that’s near Mongolia. What about something stateside? The Pacific Northwest, especially Oregon and Idaho, has some of the best dune riding in the world. Whatever the dune-worthy rig, there are plenty of destinations for dune-o-philes. Here is a look at 5 great places to ride sand dunes in the Pacific Northwest.
5 Pacific Northwest Sand Dunes
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St. Anthony Sand Dunes, Idaho
About 50 miles Northwest of Idaho Falls, at St. Anthony’s you'll find sand dunes on a grand scale. This 10,600-acre playground of clear, shifting, white quartz sand, sits at 5,000 feet. Along with being a fine recreational motorsports area, the St. Anthony Sand Dunes is home to a wilderness study area and one of the largest herds of wintering elk in the United States.
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Weiser Sand Dunes, Idaho
At Weiser Sand Dunes, located just 15 miles Northwest of Weiser and along the Oregon Border, these 100 acres of sand offer camping and relatively challenging dune bombing. The is also the fabled site from the film Napoleon Dynamite where Napoleon’s grandmother “broke her coxix,” as Napoleon’s uncle Rico put it.
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Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
For nearly 50 miles, from the mouth of the Siuslaw River to Cape Blanco at Coos Bay, the Oregon Dune National Recreation Area is the largest area of dunes in the country. It lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains. In places, the dunes extend 2.5 miles inland, and some are as high as 500 feet. In 1972, more than 32,000 acres of dunes, forest, streams and lakes were set aside to form the destination. There are three off-highway vehicle riding areas designated for a collection of experiences. There are sand roads and designated rides between South Jetty to the Siltcoos River, small areas with the highest and most dramatic dunes in the Umpqua Riding area and large areas with varied riding opportunities between Spinreel and Horsefall.
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Christmas Valley Dunes, Oregon
The Christmas Valley Dunes area, southeast of Bend,Oregon, features 11,000 acres of sand dunes available to off-highway vehicle use. The dunes were formed 7,000 years ago when Mount Mazama erupted, forming Crater Lake. It’s surrounded by several sensitive areas with more restrictive vehicle designations. The Fossil Lake and Lost Forest areas are restricted, but there are plenty of bare dune areas for high velocity fun.
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Sandlake, Oregon
Sandlake is another coastal dune experience about an hour north of ODNA near Tilamook, Oregon. This area features rolling dunes over a large windswept area with the gorgeous Oregon coast in the background. Being able to tear around on a four-wheeler right on the ocean is another reason why Oregon and the Pacific Northwest are great places to ride. While you’re out there, enjoy some fresh halibut or crab. Just try and keep the sand off your plate.
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