Western U.S. – Glamis, California
You can’t really talk about riding in the southern third of the United States from coast to coast without including the Imperial Sand Dunes, better known as Glamis.
The Imperial dunes aren’t the biggest (except for in the state of California) dunes you’ll find in North America and they can be busy with duners during the winter months but if you like riding sand dunes then Glamis needs to be in your off-roading portfolio.
Located in the southeast corner of California and nestled against Mexico, the Imperial Sand Dunes are about 40 miles long and five miles wide and can reach 300 feet tall. Some of the more popular horsepower hills include China Wall, The Wall and Oldsmobile.
Camping is a popular way to spend multiple days at the Glamis dunes and except on the busiest of busy times, it is possible to find relative solitude in various spots at the dunes.
Random fact: The scene from the Star Wars movie Return of the Jedi where Luke Skywalker interacts with Jabba the Hutt on the latter’s sail barge was filmed in Buttercup Valley, on the south end of the Imperial Sand Dunes.
www.blm.gov/visit/imperial-sand-dunes
Western U.S. – Sand Hollow State Park, UT
About a third of Sand Hollow State Park’s 20,000 acres (6,000 to be exact) are open to OHV riding which includes (red) dune riding, sand and desert trails, some rocks and phenomenal scenery. While many say Sand Hollow Reservoir makes a great backdrop for riding and photos (the blue of the water really stands out against the red rocks and sand), we think the views from the bluffs on the southern part of the riding area are equally amazing. From there you can see into Arizona. Or gaze at the snow-capped mountains to the west and east. There is great scenery in most every direction.
About a 15-mile drive from the southern Utah city of St. George, Sand Hollow offers a somewhat unique mix of open dune riding and trails through the desert. The red sand adds to that uniqueness.
You might have to wear a jacket during the winter months as the temperatures range from the low to mid 50s and up into the 60s. It’s very pleasant and a bit warmer in the shoulder seasons of fall and spring.
https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/sand-hollow/
Baja California - Mexico
Okay, we cheated on this one. Baja California is actually in Mexico but we like riding there enough to include it in our five favorites for this issue. For us, what is so appealing is the combination of great riding—desert and mountain—and the flavor (literally and figuratively) of the small towns in the Baja.
Baja California is fairly large and offers lots of riding opportunities from north to south and east to west. Baja California is roughly the same size as Wisconsin or Florida or Illinois. Admittedly, we have only ventured into the Baja on guided rides (www.gobajariding.com) but choosing that route takes out much of the guesswork on the logistics of the trip.
On one of our trips, the day’s ride took us from Ensenada over the Sierra de San Pedro Martir mountains, down to the desert, across the massive Diablo dry lake bed (in the shadow of 10,157-foot Picacho del Diablo) to San Felipe on the Gulf of California. And that was just one of our adventure days. On another day, we rode along the beaches, right next to the ocean.
That’s when we discovered there is more to Baja California than just desert, although that is a big part of it. We were surprised by the stunning scenery, the towering mountains, fun trails and genuinely friendly people.
And then there is the amazing food.
