white sands campground utah

White Sands Campground Utah - While Utah may be best known for its snow peaks and red rock mountains, these are just some of the diverse landscapes found in the state. The sharp but confusing Sevier Desert stretches across the middle of the state, luring intrepid adventurers for an adrenaline-fueled exploration of its iconic sand dunes. At the northwest corner of the vast Sevier Desert - and just half an hour west of I-15 - the 60,000-acre Little Sahara Recreation Area (LRSA) has become a playground for ATV, sandboarding and sand-skiing enthusiasts.

Little Sahara is located 115 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, less than a two-hour drive. This part of Utah has few cities and is short on paved roads, and the recreation area is surrounded by more desert to the north, west, and south, adding to the remote feel of the landscape.

White Sands Campground Utah

The Little Sahara dune, rising nearly 700 feet, is the remnant of the 12,500- to 20,000-year-old Sevier River delta, whose namesake river flowed into former Lake Bonneville. As the lake began to disappear, newly exposed sand from the river delta was picked up by high winds and collected in today's dune fields. The dunes also move, moving an average of five to nine feet per year.

Amazing Things To Do In White Sands National Park

Today, Little Sahara is overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. It sees more than 300,000 visitors a year, with the busiest times on holiday weekends around Easter, Memorial Day and Labor Day. As with famous entertainment hotspots, if you can plan a trip during the week, you will not have the crowds to deal with. Keep in mind that even though average temperatures don't reach the triple digits common in Moab and other desert regions, the sand gets incredibly hot - so plan your adventure accordingly.

Beginners will want to head to the southwest Black Mountain dunes, which offer excellent beginner terrain because they are lower and less crowded. Located in the northern part of Little Sahara, the White Sands dunes are suitable for riders of all abilities, with many domes to climb and easy access to the dunes. Sand Mountain, 700 feet high, is one of the highlights of the park and offers a very difficult climb. If you're ready for a break from all that sand, head to Black Mountain and its extensive network of dirt trails.

If non-motorized recreation is more your speed, consider a fat bike. Super-wide tires keep you afloat where a standard mountain bike sinks into the sand, and it's no wonder the dunes are an increasingly popular spot for the sport. Also, you can try sand-skiing or sandboarding, or just sit and watch the wildlife at Rockwell Natural Area.

Much of Little Sahara is wide open space when it comes to ATV riding, meaning you can explore to your heart's content. However, there is a 9,000-acre section in the northwest corner of the recreation area – the Rockwell Outstanding Natural Area – where vehicles are not allowed. The idea is to protect fragile desert plants and wildlife (including deer, mule deer, and great horned owls), so following this rule is critical to maintaining access. Fortunately, the rest of the dunes cover about 80 square miles, so there's plenty of room to hike.

Campgrounds Open & Closed Due To Covid 19 (updated July 2021)

Helmets are required for riders under 18 and strongly recommended for adults. Utah state law requires ATVs to display flags when riding in dune areas. As with all motor vehicles, riders should watch for other vehicles and possible steep derailments before hitting the gas and going over an embankment.

The secluded Little Sahara Recreation Area offers plenty of space for base camping and ATV exploring.

The BLM maintains four campgrounds for a total of 255 developed pitches. The 114-site Oasis Campground is more advanced and has an RV dump station, as well as access to some trails and small dunes. Jericho Campground, originally a picnic area (it still has shady shelters for its picnic tables), is great for groups and is often used for overflow camping. White Sands Campground is the most scenic of the four. Filled with juniper, it offers easy access to the nearby dunes. Sand Mountain Campground is the most primitive, and is especially tempting on busy weekends.

Each campground has a drinking fountain and plenty of maintenance restrooms (showers in summer; vaults in winter months). Scattered camping is also allowed on established roads - be sure to follow the leave-no-tracks guidelines if you're camping outside the official campsites.

Little Sahara Bridals

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With the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, White Sands National Park transitioned from a National Monument to a National Park. At 275 square miles, it is the largest gypsum dune field on the planet.

Although it was only technically a national park since the law was passed in December 2019, the area has been celebrated and protected for decades. In 1933, then President Herbert Hoover made White Sands a National Monument, hoping to protect this gorgeous, unique area.

If you're planning a trip to America's newest national park, here are some helpful tips and advice. Expedition to New Mexico's White Sands National Park

White Wash Sand Dunes

This national park is in the Tularosa basin of New Mexico, 15 miles from Alamogordo and 53 miles from Las Cruces. The nearest airport is El Paso, Texas—85 miles away.

White Sands National Park is located 4,000 feet above sea level in the Chihuahuan Desert. Twelve thousand years ago, the Tularosa basin included inland lakes, notably Lake Otero. It was also covered in grasslands and rivers and was home to animals such as wolves, mammoths and ancient camels.

Another interesting aspect of this park is how close it is to several Army bases, including the White Sands Missile Range, which was established in 1945 and is now the largest defense facility of its kind. In fact, White Sands National Park and Route 70 are sometimes closed for safety while tests are conducted within the missile range. How big is White Sands National Park?

The park is sprawling, covering 145,762 acres - with white gypsum dunes stretching 60 feet high. There is a road, known as Dunes Drives, that leads 8 miles into the park. When is the best time to visit?

National Park Campsites For An Epic Night Out

As you can imagine, camping in New Mexico is usually a sun-soaked delight. In fact, this part of New Mexico has 300 days of sunny weather each year! This is a good thing, because gypsum dissolves easily in water. The hottest months are summer when temperatures can reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a high desert climate, so no matter how hot it is during the day, the altitude makes the nights cool and sometimes even cold.

This park is the most visited national park in New Mexico, with 600,000 visitors each year. The summer months are the busiest, with March and July recording around 60,000 visitors. However, you can find visitors to the park throughout the year, especially those who like dune trekking and photography.

Fall seems to be the ideal time to visit White Sands National Park because the temperature is relatively mild. Plus, going in the fall means you'll avoid the windy season of spring and the wettest months from July to September.

If you are planning a day trip to the park, there are three picnic areas to choose from and five hiking trails that cover a total of 9 miles. You can easily spend a whole day exploring the dunes on foot. There are also ten backcountry sites in White Sands National Park, but you must be prepared to pack everything in and everything back in, as this is a no-trace area.

White Sands National Park {new Mexico}

Oliver Lee Campground is close to the national park, and offers a few more amenities than the backcountry tent sites mentioned above. Visitors can even bring their pet(s) along for the ride, as this is a dog-friendly area. With the option to drive your car directly to your campsite, you can enjoy a night of car camping under the stars and clear New Mexico skies. What is the most popular attraction?

Undoubtedly, the most popular attraction in White Sands National Park is the dunes. Their unique, opaque appearance creates a landscape that cannot be seen anywhere else on Earth. When you are among the dunes it really feels like you are on another planet.

Photography is a head

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