Size4,795 acres · dune 3.5 miles long, 1 mile wide, 600 feet high · 23 miles of designated trail
Conditions73° · 5 mph ⚠
Trip check
Before you go
Permit required — 🔴 This is a fee area, unusual for Nevada. Buy through Recreation.gov before you travel, confirm current pricing before you go.
A 600-foot dune is a long way down. This is the biggest single dune in the Great Basin and it draws 50,000+ riders a year, expect traffic on the faces at weekends.
Guide
About this area
The largest single dune in the Great Basin — 3.5 miles long, a mile wide and 600 feet high — 25 miles south-east of Fallon. 4,795 acres with 23 miles of designated trail around the open dune, and 50,000 to 70,000 visitors a year. The 1860 Sand Springs Pony Express Station sits on the site.
At a glance
Quick facts
Best season
Spring and autumn — summer is very hot and exposed
Managing agency
BLM Carson City District
Permit status
Permit required
Access
Getting there
Entrance — north side of U.S. 50Entrance
From Fallon take U.S. 50 south-east about 25 miles. The entrance is on the north side of the highway.
This is a fee site. $40 buys 1 to 7 days, $90 buys the year, purchased through Recreation.gov.
Off the open dune, vehicle travel must stay on the designated trail system, 23 miles of it.
Primitive camping is allowed at the base of the dune. During large events camping is restricted to the camping area only.
The Sand Springs Pony Express station dates from 1860. It is protected, look, do not ride on it.
Show all 7 area-specific rules
OHVs from 1976 onward must be registered. Non-residents may ride on a valid out-of-state registration, but check current rules before you travel.
Source: Nevada Off-Highway Vehicle Program — www.blm.gov
🪖 Helmet required for everyone on a straddled OHV.
Standard OHV rules (2)
Common equipment, registration and trail-use rules still apply.
Ride to the highest safety standard, not the legal minimum. A helmet, eye protection, a flag and proper gear are what get you home.
🗺️ BLM publish free georeferenced PDF maps that show your live GPS position with no cell service, download the map for this area before you leave tarmac.
Permits
Permits & registration
Permit required
Day pass
$40 day pass, valid 1 to 7 days.
🔴 This is a fee area, unusual for Nevada. Buy through Recreation.gov before you travel, confirm current pricing before you go.
Where to buy
Recreation.gov, buy before you travel — https://www.recreation.gov
Area information is informational only and may be inaccurate or out of date. Verify access, weather, closures, permits and hazards before and during any trip. See Terms.
Your privacy
We use essential cookies to run the site and, with your consent, analytics cookies to improve it. See our Privacy Policy.