Imperial Sand Dunes — Plan Your Trip
So, you’re wanting to plan a trip to one of the nation’s largest mass of inland sand dunes but you’re not sure about all the details yet. By the end of this blog, you’ll be able to plan your trip to Imperial Sand Dunes from start to finish. You’ll know when to go, what to do, where to stay, and so much more.
Table of Contents
About
The Imperial Sand Dunes, or you might also know them as Glamis Dunes, are California’s most impressive sand dunes. I’ve seen them, so I can absolutely back this statement. They are STUNNING. They stretch over 40 miles long while averaging 5 miles in width. You can find the tallest dunes on the west side of the recreation area reaching heights of 300 feet. Not only are they they largest mass of their kind in California, but they are also the largest dunes open to OHV’s (off-highway vehicles) in the United States. This stunning geographical feature is a part of the Algodones Dunes. The Algodones Dunes are split into a few different sections: Imperial (Glamis), Gordon’s Well, Buttercup, Midway, and Patton’s Valley. Together, they span approximately 45 miles in length and peak at 6 miles in width.
Where Are They Located?
The Imperial Sand Dunes are located in California’s Imperial County. They’re situated in the lower east corner of California between the California/Arizona border and the towns of Brawley and El Centro, California. The dunes range from Calipatria, California to Los Algodones, Mexico.
LATITUDE/LONGITUDE: 32.97321, -115.17314
DIRECTIONS: Access to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area is best made along Highway 78 located East of Brawley, California or along Interstate 8 west of Yuma, Arizona.
History
These massive dunes were created by strong winds pushing sand from the ancient shores of Lake Cahuilla. Lake Cahuilla was formed as the Salton Sink received diverted river flow from the Colorado River. Lake Cahuilla covered Imperial, Coachella, and Mexicali Valley as late as 1450. These strong winds pushed the dunes from this old lakeshore to the location where you can now find them. This process still continues to this day! The dunes are measured to be moving southeast at a rate of 6 to 25 centimeters per year. You can even see the effects of the wind written in the sand from the unique ripples throughout the dunes that are unlike anything else.
These dunes have also played a role in more of America’s history. As the U.S. bought more land, people were naturally curious to want to explore that new land and travel, especially out west. Naturally, the Southern Pacific railroad was started in 1865. With these dunes being such a large geographical feature, they were forced to divert the railroad north in 1877 to avoid the dunes.
In October 1912, “Colonel” Ed Fletcher accepted a challenge to run a road race to determine the best route from southern California to Phoenix. San Diego’s civic leaders wanted to ensure that San Diego became the hub of southern California’s road network rather than their competitor in the road race, Los Angeles. “Colonel” Ed Fletcher found a way to cut across these dunes and easily connect San Diego, California to Yuma, Arizona. The first planks were laid on February 14, 1915 to what is now known as the Old Plank Road. When it was completed 2 months later, the road was 6.5 miles long and made from two parallel plank tracks that were spiked to wooden crosspieces that were laid underneath. The upkeep of Plank Road proved to be difficult, but ultimately proved that a road was possible. Plank Road made way for a paved highway and eventually Interstate 8! You can still see some of the plank road today at Imperial Sand Dunes.
The Bureau of Land Management states, "Today, not much of the plank road remains. The remaining fragments have been designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. The historical significance the plank road has played in early American transportation and western migration history led the State of California to designate it as a California Historical Landmark on January 21, 1971; it was also determined eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. (Dept. of Parks and Recreation 2009) Remnants of the Plank Road are protected and the fenced section may be viewed up close at the west end of Grays Well Road by exiting Interstate 8 at the Grays Well road exit. A Plank Road Monument and interpretive wayside panels are located there."
From 1942 to 1944, the Imperial Sand Dunes were a part of America’s war efforts for World War II . The United States Military created the Desert Training Center, which is also know as the California-Arizona Maneuver Area (CAMA). It was the largest military training grounds in the history of military maneuvers during World War II. This area was used to train the United States Army and Army Air Forces in desert warfare. The CAMA ceased operation on April 15, 1944 and officially discontinued on May 1.
In 1966, these dunes were designated as a national natural landmark by the National Park Service and became the protected landmark that we visit today!
This giant sand box now attracts millions of visitors each year. Even filmmakers! That’s right! Movies have been being filmed here since 1913. Some of the most recent and most popular are Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, The Scorpion King, and Jumanji 3.
When To Go
The best time to visit the dunes is from the month of October through March. I strongly recommend to not visit in the summer like I did as temperatures frequently rise over 100 and even 110 degrees. It makes it extremely difficult to enjoy these magnificent dunes. When visiting, it’s always best to avoid peak sun hours from 12-3 PM, especially if you’re wanting to take photos on the dunes. When visiting before or after this time frame, you can avoid the hottest part of the day. For photos, you’ll want to avoid the sun being directly above you because this can cast crazy harsh shadows on your face and other areas of your body. Of course, as always, sunrise or sunset will be the most impeccable time to capture photos at the dunes. It’ll be the coolest parts of the day and the colors in the sky are absolutely insane at both of these times.
Image from Weather Atlas
What To Do
The sand dunes are definitely one of those sights that you could just stand there and stare at, but what can you do besides that? There’s a few things!
Hiking
One of the most popular areas to view and access the dunes is the Hugh T. Osborne Lookout Park. Located just off of Ben Hulse Highway on Osborne Park Road. The overlook has a parking lot allowing 2 hour parking for viewing and brief hikes. The dunes are easily accessible as you quite literally just step off of the parking lot and you’re in them! If you decide to explore the dunes from here, please be mindful that OHV’s are allowed in these parts of the dunes so keep a lookout for any that are driving around!
If you’re looking for a more tranquil experience, the northernmost part of the dunes, know as North Algodones Dunes Wilderness Area, is closed to recreational vehicles and mechanized use. The wilderness area offers more than 26,000 acres to view and explore. You can also find the tallest and largest dune here in the most central area.
If you’re digging the history of the dunes, take a drive down to the southernmost end of the dunes by Interstate 8 in Winterhaven, California to view the last bit of a historical landmark, the Old Wood Plank Road. There is a small parking lot here for visitors to use while they visit the historical landmark. The remaining bit of the road is fenced off so that they can not be touched or disturbed, but they can be viewed fairly closely.
When viewing and walking the dunes, there are a few things to be cautious of. One of them being, of course, wild life. You’re wandering around their home! So, just be aware of any noticeable holes in the sand. Another thing to lookout for are your children and pets! Keep a close eye on them while viewing and walking on the dunes. Know the signs of dehydration in children as well as the signs in pets. OHV’s are active in many areas of the dunes and small children and pets are more difficult for drivers to see, so stick with your children and make sure to keep all pets leashed for their safety.
All-Terrain Vehicle Riding
All-terrain vehicle riding (ATVing) at the dunes is the most popular activity for the majority of the 1 million visitors each year. It’s the largest ATV recreation area in the United States with approximately 40 miles of drivable land. The dunes are occasionally the hosts to races, but is mainly used for recreational activities. If you plan to drive onto the dunes, permits are required and you can get those here: purchase permits. You can access the dunes with your vehicle from any of the campgrounds or from Hugh T. Osborne Lookout Park.
If you’re not bringing your own ATV, here are a few places that you can rent from:
When ATVing, if you plan to explore further into the central area of the dunes, I would highly recommend a satellite GPS device or even downloading an offline map in the Google Maps app on your phone, which you can learn how to do that here: How To Download Areas & Navigate Offline. There are many signs on the roads to keep you on course to the recreation area, but once inside the dunes there are minimal markers to guide you. Before entering the recreation area with our ATV, please make sure that you have safety flags displayed. ALL vehicles must be equipped with a whip mast and a 6x12 inch red or orange flag. You can head over to the Bureau of Land Management’s page for all rules and regulations. Please review them before you go so that you can plan appropriately and make sure that you have all required equipment for riding in the dunes.
Before you go
Before you start your trip out to the Imperial Sand Dunes, it’s important to know where you can find these three important things: restrooms, water, and gas. The closest restrooms can be found near the Imperial Sand Dunes Cahuilla Ranger Station. For water and snacks, the closest place to pick up those items once you’re in the recreation area is on the far east side off of Ben Hulse Highway at Glamis Beach Store. And finally, if you forgot to fill up on the way in or if you just used all your gas roaming the dunes, the closest location to grab gas without heading back into town is Glamis Dunes Storage also located on the far east side of Ben Hulse Highway.
Fees, Permits, Rules, & Regulations
Recreational permits are required from October 1st through April 15th. They are $35 per week if purchased in advance and $50 per week if purchased onsite. Seasonal permits are available for $150. Seasonal and weekly purchased can be purchased online on the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area website. A permit is required for anyone who is visiting during the seasonal dates and intend to camp, hike, or drive onto the dunes.
To view all rules and regulations you can head over to the Bureau of Land Management’s rules and regulations page on their website.
Where to stay
Campsites
There are a fair amount of campsites throughout the Algodones Dunes. All are first come, first serve. You can take a look at the map below for all available campgrounds in the recreation area.
Hotels, Glamping, & More
There are a ton of other options if you’re not too fond of the idea of spending a few nights with no A/C, no running water, and no electricity. So, here’s a map of some of the hotels, RV parks, and other places in the area where you could stay for your trip without being too far from the dunes! There’s a plethora of options from Yuma, AZ to El Centro, CA to Brawley, CA. They’ve got, the hotels, the motels, and even the Holiday Inn.
You can also check out Airbnb for individual room rentals or even whole homes!
Where to eat
Okay, so you know all about the Imperial Sand Dunes, you know what you want to do, and you know where you’re going to stay. But, where are you going to eat? Here’s a list of a few of the best places to eat around the dunes.
Where To Eat Yuma, AZ
Where to eat El Centro, CA
Where to Eat Brawley, CA
FAQs
Still have more questions? Here are some frequently asked questions about Imperial Sand Dunes.
Is Glamis the same as Imperial? Yes, Imperial Sand Dunes is also known as Glamis Dunes.
Was Star Wars filmed at Imperial Sand Dunes? Yes! The Great Pit of Carkoon scene in “Return of the Jedi” was filmed in the Imperial Sand Dunes. They actually constructed the sail barge here and kept it behind a fence to keep fans away.
Do I need a permit? You will need a recreational permit to visit the dunes between October 1 and April 15 for camping, use of OHV, or extended hiking (more than 2 hours).
Who owns Imperial Sand Dunes? The Imperial Sand Dunes are largely maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management
When are the dunes open? Imperial Sand Dunes and all of the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness are open 24 hours/7 days a week.
What city are the dunes in? The Imperial Sand Dunes encompass the cities of Brawley, Glamis, and Winterhaven, California as well as a few other towns. All of the dunes are located in Imperial County.
Is there cell service? According to signal checker, major carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all have cell service in this area. To be sure, check your carrier’s coverage map before you go!
What should I bring? Sunscreen, tons of water, snacks, and any other appropriate gear depending on what you decide to do once you arrive. If you’re hiking, these things could include hiking boots, hat, CamelBak hydration pack, etc. If ATVing, these things could include a helmet, protective clothing, extra cans of gas, etc.
Are fires allowed? Campfires, barbecues, and gas stoves are allowed with a permit. Get your permit free online here. Make sure to check all California fire restrictions here before you go.
Are there any upcoming events? Check out the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Facebook Page to stay up to date on all events.
Check Out these galleries
Wanting to see what your elopement or engagement portraits could look like at Imperial Sand Dunes? Check out these highlight galleries from previous couples who have opted to have sand dunes as their elopement destination or engagement session location.
Wanting to elope or take your engagement portraits in the dunes?
If you’re interested in having me help you plan the perfect elopement or engagement session in the dunes, I’d love to get to know you better! Check out my pricing, then fill out my contact form so that we can make sure we’re the perfect fit!