Coasting down undulating golden hills on a wax-slick sandboard? Sign us up.
The first affair you ’re gon na need to do is climb your sandboard . report the open well , strike the wax back and away . Get it good and slippy — this both protects your vehicle from the elements and helps to eliminate the possibility of rubbing . rubbing which could save you from falling on your face as you attempt to Kelly Slater your way down the slopes atKillpecker Sand Dunes .
It ’s a lot of George Sand . Operated by the Bureau of Land Management , the stint of tan , cockle mounds that make up the Southwest Wyoming Open Play Area appears like it would be right at home in the deserts ofNamibiaor Mongolia . But they ’re here in Sweetwater County , created by glacial melt and deposited by the large and Little Sandy Rivers near the city of Rock Springs . And at 109,000 rippling acres , this is one of North America ’s big sand fields , radiate out like an endless beach with no relief of sea .
To enroll is to immerse yourself in a full ecosystem . The guts dune are undoubtedly alive , and not just because of the spirit that teems within : the spadefoot salientian and Jerusalem cricket that tunnel deep down in the grains , or the wild horses and rarefied desert European elk that make the desert their home . No , thanks to ever - present winds , the topography is always wrestle , churning , and changing manakin , earn Killpecker the distinction of the human race ’s second - large “ active ” sand sand dune ( the combat-ready dune found in North Africa ’s Sahara desert claims the grand prize ) .
So much sand, so little time.|hadynyah/ E+/ Getty Images
It ’s also multi - sensory . Listen closely for a low - lurch noise , almost like a booming cello — Killpecker is one of about 35 dunes in the world said to sing . When Marco Polo discover the same sound in the comeuppance of China , he think it was thanks to evil spirits . accord toNational Geographic , after studying dunes in Morocco and Oman , Parisian bioscientists conclude the auditory sensation were formed by the wind running over a certain size of grain . Either agency , it construct for a middling good — if baleful — soundtrack for outside adventure . The full mountain and sound immersion is a monitor that these thing are ancient , built up over hundred , and you are but a mere blip in its timeline .
Not that they keep it against you . In many dunes , you ’re welcome to stay awhile and bet , hear your hand at sledding , sandboarding ( a.k.a . sand surfing ) , sand skiing , ATVing , motorcycling , or just roll down like a bug in a blanket if that ’s more your style . Killpecker is one of many official dune - strewn Open drama Areas that grace the landscape of the United States , popping up in places like Arizona , Texas , Idaho , Michigan , and Oklahoma — that ’s the adorably namedLittle Sahara State Park . Perhaps the most famous are the stark , otherworldly gypsum mounds ofWhite Sands National Parkin New Mexico orGreat Sand Dunes National Parkin Colorado , home to the tumid dunes in North America , shooting up to 750 feet tall and host night sledding under dark skies .
In Florence , Oregon you ’ll findSand Master Park , the first park made specifically for sandboarding , where you could rent equipment and take lesson from sandboarding pros . The park was established in 2000 by Lon Beale , who is also credited with cook up the sandboard in 1991 after spending his teenage year tote makeshift cardboard and metal sled up the dunes in Death Valley . His slippery creation quickly gained widespread popularity thanks to the cyberspace , connecting all dangerous undertaking seeker longing to act in a gargantuan sandbox . Aspiring surfers and snowboarders without access code to a beach or mountains suddenly had their own slopes , while winter sports fanatics now had something to keep them busy during the off - time of year . Today , you ’d be heavily pressed to find a massive sandy mound that has n’t already been claimed by venturer . There are evensandboarding contender , like Brazil ’s Pan - American Sandboarding Challenge , Peru ’s Sandboard World Cup , and Oregon ’s Sand Master Jam .
Choose your own sand adventure at Killpecker Sand Dunes.|Courtesy of Sweetwater County, Wyoming
Killpecker Sand Dunes is located in Wyoming ’s Red Desert , an almost 10,000 - straight - nautical mile expanse littered with pungent sage brush and sit a mile above ocean level . Its overseer , the Bureau of Land Management , is also responsible for the nearbyWhite Mountain Petroglyphs , a remarkably preserved 300 - metrical foot cliffside with outstanding cultural significance to the Plains and Great Basin Native Americans . approachable to the populace , here you ’ll bump handprints imprinted into the sandstone alongside etched records of American elk and bison hunts , horses , and rider ( just remember not to touch ) .
A few miles off , you ’ll also findthe Boar ’s Tuskspringing up in the middle of huge malarky . name by trapper , the imposing remains of a vent accomplish 7100 pes in the melodic line , higher than the state ’s other monolith , Devil ’s Tower , but much less famous . Of course , it ’s good that way — stumbling upon it still feels like a secret .
Entry to the dune is free — simply show up with your own sandboard or sled and count for the designated undefended gambol Area . you’re able to also purchase one from the Rock Springs Visitor Center for $ 209 , complete with wax and a lustrous red flag to signal your stead to ATV drivers and other folk out cruising the dune .
Some boarders are better than others.|SOPA Images /lighrocket/Getty Images
You ’ll want to wear foresighted pants and sleeves and something to protect your center and back talk . Knee and elbow joint pads are also helpful , as well as a helmet . unopen - toe shoe are best : Keep in mind that what hail down , must go up , mean you ’ll be hiking a turn in unsound , sometimes outrageous terrain before sledding down . Bring water , and stay hydrated.—you’re in a remote desert , after all .
Then , you ’re good to go . In preparation for my clip on the slopes , I watchedmultiple videosof expert sand dune sledders and boarders surge down the sandy hills , leaning back on their boards to gain momentum . My experience … was a small different . I sit alight on the back of my sled , totter on the crest of a hill and expecting a smooth drive down . You cognise when a baby flash around on its behind because that ’s the only way it can figure out to get from one topographic point to the next ? That was me . The next time I went , I used more wax .
Where to sandboard in the US
Great Sand Dunes National Park and PreserveDuncan , ColoradoNot only does Great Sand Dunes National Park feature the tall dunes in North America , it ’s also anInternational Dark Sky Sanctuary . Which means that activities and other scheduling are just as robust — and even more sensational — when the sun snuff it down . The parking lot does not rent boards , but there areseveral optionsfor finding one locally . Entrance to the green is $ 25 for a seven - day qualifying .
Sand Master ParkFlorence , OregonStationed just off the Oregon slide , the world ’s first sandboard parking lot utilize 40 Akka of natural sand dune sculpture for all types of sandy frolic . you’re able to take embarkment classes if you ’re a newbie , or if you ’re already acclimate , rent sandboards , sleds , boogie instrument panel , and more from their pro shop . assay out your move within the park ’s in camera run facilities , or keep it going by hitting up other nearby sites like theOregon Dunes National Recreation Area . Sand Master Park also offer Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin sculpture clinic and shop at theCircles in the Sand labyrinth beach experienceevery October . Entrance is gratuitous , but gear renting and instructional class pace motley .
Sand MountainFallon , NevadaRather than a stretchability of mounds , this spot Off Highway 50 — a.k.a . The Loneliest Road in America — appeals to off - roaders and sandboarders alike because it pop the question one elephantine sand pile , so to speak , making it ideal for those with a competitive spirit . A $ 40 pass will get you access for a calendar week , but it ’s devoid for non - motorised vehicle use lasting under an hour as well as all - day Tuesdays and Wednesdays . There ’s a designated camping field at the base , but you ’ll need to bring your own equipment ( plus plenty of water ) if you want to advert out . The 4,795 - acre recreation area is managed by the BLM and share a campus with theSand Springs Pony Express Station Historical Site(dating back to 1860 ) , as well as theSand Springs Desert Study Area .
Boar’s Tusk, and some antelope.|Courtesy of Sweetwater County, Wyoming
Killpecker DunesRock Springs , WyomingAbout 35 miles northward of Rock Springs , Wyoming ’s Killpecker Dunes has carve out 11,000 acres of the Red Desert for free recreational playing period . institute your own sleds and board , or pluck one up from the Visitors Center at Rock Springs for $ 209 ( admit wax and a flag to bespeak your locating ) .
White Sands National MonumentLas Cruces , New MexicoThe glistening allure of its 275 sandy square miles is hard to defy , butaccording to the National Park Service , the soft sands of White Sands National Park are probably more conducive to sand sledding than sandboarding . No reasonableness you ca n’t try both , though , and see how you fare . get your own equipment , or pick up a plastic sleigh at the park ’s visitor center for $ 10 . Sledding is allow in designated areas .
Monahan Sandhills State ParkMonahans , TexasThough it for sure looks like it , 3,840 - acre Monahans Sandhills State Park is technically not desert . Do n’t worry , though — they still provide all the same flaxen fun . Entrance be given $ 4 to access dunes that soar 70 feet high , and sand boards , Baroness Dudevant disks , and sand toboggans can be lease onsite .
Examining the White Mountain Petroglyphs.|Courtesy of Sweetwater County, Wyoming
How to Turn a Desert Vacation Into a Sailing Adventure (Minus the Boat)
No water? No problem.
Kelso DunesKelso , CaliforniaAs the provenience of the sport ’s beginner , California is by far one of the most popular destination for sand sleigh and sandboarding . In theMojave National Preserve , the quartz and feldspar pockets of the Kelso Dunes offer 45 mi of refreshment closed to vehicles . You ’ll need to bring your own equipment here — no renting are uncommitted — though there is a visitors center turn up in the ghost town ’s former power train depot .
Little Sahara Sate ParkWaynoka , OklahomaLittle Sahara State Park ’s 1,600 acres of sand dune were originally formed by deposits from Oklahoma ’s ancient Cimarron River . Today , the unpaid area is a haven for dune buggy , ATVs , and sandboarding . Entrance run $ 10 a day , and encampment is available on premises .
The inventor of the sandboard, Lon Beale, showing off his stuff in Oregon.|Gabriel Buoys / AFP/ Getty Images
Heading up Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.|David Spates/Shutterstock
