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PLACES TO RIDE - CALIFORNIA
Dunes, tracks, trails... California pretty much has it all. We have some photo's and a few videos posted. Carnegie and Prairie City riding areas are near the bottom. For dune info regarding permits please visit American Sand Association and for fees, time of use information etc on riding in State Vehicle Recreation Areas around Cal please visit SVRA.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to update our California page.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to update our California page.
BUTTERCUP, GORDON'S, GLAMIS, & DUMONT DUNES:
The Imperial Sand Dunes are impressive! Here is a little info on each of the areas with a few photo's from all the years we rode and camped out there. We hope you'll be able to visit the area some day, if you haven't already. They are amazing. Visit the American Sand Association page for more info.
BUTTECUP:
At the southeast end of the Imperial Sand Dunes, just 15 miles west of Yuma on I-8. Buttercup isn’t as big of an area as Glamis, but the bowls and hills are not to be taken lightly. We have a great time here, during the southwest riding season (Sept – April) we’re out here about every 2 to 3 weekends, always avoiding the holiday weekends for safety reasons. There is a paved access road through the entire camping area and there are also out-houses available, which is the extent of the luxury. There is lots of parking and easy access right off I-8, just take the Gray’s Well exit and you’ll see the entrance on the south side of the freeway. The border Patrol is usually out making their rounds and before the border wall went up you could ride right into Mexico. If your QUAD/BIKE/UTV etc is not registered in your home state, you will need to purchase a California 'Green' Sticker to legally ride in the dunes (along with a flag). The 'Green' sticker is valid for the year and can be purchased from one of the vendors on site.
GORDON'S WELL:
Another portion of the Imperial Sand Dunes. It is most easily accessed off of I-8 a couple miles west of Buttercup. Take I-8 to the Gordon’s Well exit and the entrance is on the north side of the freeway. From Gordon’s you can ride up to Glamis just be sure to bring plenty of fuel. You will most likely find yourself at the base of Patton Hill for the better part of the day, checking out all the toys and trying to whoop on your buddies as you race up the hill. Practice hill is pretty cool too. It’s right along the freeway between the Gray’s Well and Gordon’s Well exit. From Buttercup, you can watch the night races across the freeway. Gordon’s is a large area, with big bowls and tons of places to roost. If your QUAD/BIKE/UTV etc is not registered in your home state, you will need to purchase a California 'Green' Sticker to legally ride in the dunes (along with a flag). The 'Green' sticker is valid for the year and can be purchased from one of the vendors.
GLAMIS:
WOW! These dunes are huge! We made our first outing out here and were extremely impressed. Looking down the bowls, debating whether or not to give it a shot… they’re awesome! We’ll be making several trips here throughout the year. There is a weekly use fee, but it’s valid for a whole week. Knowing that we would be coming back we buy the annual pass, it’s worth it. The annual pass is also valid at Gordon’s Well and Buttercup. Incredibly easy to find, from Phoenix you take I-10 west to Highway 78 (Blythe, CA). Just follow the 78 for about an hour, you’ll see the sand and the infamous Glamis store. You’re there! If your QUAD/BIKE/UTV etc is not registered in your home state, you will need to purchase a California 'Green' Sticker to legally ride in the dunes (along with a flag). The 'Green' sticker is valid for the year and can be purchased from one of the vendors.
DUMONT:
Located about 3 hours from Las Vegas, NV off highway 127. From Las Vegas, NV head SW on I-15 to Baker, CA and then head north on highway 127 for about 30 miles. From Barstow, CA head NE on I-15 to Baker, CA and then head North on highway 127. Follow Highway 127 until you come to the green road sign for Dumont. Turn right onto the dirt road and follow for about 3 miles to the Brown Dumont Dunes Recreation Sign. If you show up on a holiday weekend in the winter you’ll be sure to see a lot of motorhomes out there. Camping is primitive so come prepared. The Dunes are long and steep with some great bowls. You’ll see a lot of rails out here. Bring your snowboard, these dunes are long and steep. If your QUAD/BIKE/UTV etc is not registered in your home state, you will need to purchase a California 'Green' Sticker to legally ride in the dunes (along with a flag). The 'Green' sticker is valid for the year and can be purchased from one of the vendors.
BUTTECUP:
At the southeast end of the Imperial Sand Dunes, just 15 miles west of Yuma on I-8. Buttercup isn’t as big of an area as Glamis, but the bowls and hills are not to be taken lightly. We have a great time here, during the southwest riding season (Sept – April) we’re out here about every 2 to 3 weekends, always avoiding the holiday weekends for safety reasons. There is a paved access road through the entire camping area and there are also out-houses available, which is the extent of the luxury. There is lots of parking and easy access right off I-8, just take the Gray’s Well exit and you’ll see the entrance on the south side of the freeway. The border Patrol is usually out making their rounds and before the border wall went up you could ride right into Mexico. If your QUAD/BIKE/UTV etc is not registered in your home state, you will need to purchase a California 'Green' Sticker to legally ride in the dunes (along with a flag). The 'Green' sticker is valid for the year and can be purchased from one of the vendors on site.
GORDON'S WELL:
Another portion of the Imperial Sand Dunes. It is most easily accessed off of I-8 a couple miles west of Buttercup. Take I-8 to the Gordon’s Well exit and the entrance is on the north side of the freeway. From Gordon’s you can ride up to Glamis just be sure to bring plenty of fuel. You will most likely find yourself at the base of Patton Hill for the better part of the day, checking out all the toys and trying to whoop on your buddies as you race up the hill. Practice hill is pretty cool too. It’s right along the freeway between the Gray’s Well and Gordon’s Well exit. From Buttercup, you can watch the night races across the freeway. Gordon’s is a large area, with big bowls and tons of places to roost. If your QUAD/BIKE/UTV etc is not registered in your home state, you will need to purchase a California 'Green' Sticker to legally ride in the dunes (along with a flag). The 'Green' sticker is valid for the year and can be purchased from one of the vendors.
GLAMIS:
WOW! These dunes are huge! We made our first outing out here and were extremely impressed. Looking down the bowls, debating whether or not to give it a shot… they’re awesome! We’ll be making several trips here throughout the year. There is a weekly use fee, but it’s valid for a whole week. Knowing that we would be coming back we buy the annual pass, it’s worth it. The annual pass is also valid at Gordon’s Well and Buttercup. Incredibly easy to find, from Phoenix you take I-10 west to Highway 78 (Blythe, CA). Just follow the 78 for about an hour, you’ll see the sand and the infamous Glamis store. You’re there! If your QUAD/BIKE/UTV etc is not registered in your home state, you will need to purchase a California 'Green' Sticker to legally ride in the dunes (along with a flag). The 'Green' sticker is valid for the year and can be purchased from one of the vendors.
DUMONT:
Located about 3 hours from Las Vegas, NV off highway 127. From Las Vegas, NV head SW on I-15 to Baker, CA and then head north on highway 127 for about 30 miles. From Barstow, CA head NE on I-15 to Baker, CA and then head North on highway 127. Follow Highway 127 until you come to the green road sign for Dumont. Turn right onto the dirt road and follow for about 3 miles to the Brown Dumont Dunes Recreation Sign. If you show up on a holiday weekend in the winter you’ll be sure to see a lot of motorhomes out there. Camping is primitive so come prepared. The Dunes are long and steep with some great bowls. You’ll see a lot of rails out here. Bring your snowboard, these dunes are long and steep. If your QUAD/BIKE/UTV etc is not registered in your home state, you will need to purchase a California 'Green' Sticker to legally ride in the dunes (along with a flag). The 'Green' sticker is valid for the year and can be purchased from one of the vendors.
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Buttercup 2012:
Buttercup 2010: A few pix showing the new USA / Mexico border wall
Buttercup 2008: We rode the dunes a lot, but didn't always take pix.
Buttercup 2007: A few pix including one with the old border monument between California and Mexico.
Gordon's Well: A few random pix from 2007 & 2008.
Glamis 2000: Coming from the Northwest, it was a tradition for us to hit the dunes over Memorial day weekend. However, the year 2000 was our 1st year in the Southwest and we didn't know any better. There were very few riders at Glamis Memorial day weekend that year. It was also the las time we went in May.
Dumont 1999: Pix from our 1st time at Dumont. The days leading up to Thanksgiving. Coming from the Northwest and the Oregon dunes, Dumont was insane! The dunes are so much steeper and a vast riding area, not to mention the noticeably warmer temps in November. Here are a few pix, but we need to scan them in again, along with some others, at a higher resolution. You may want to do a search on Dumont to see if the access road is still dirt all the way in or if it's been upgraded. We didn't have any problems with our truck and trailer and there were plenty of rv's out there.
PRAIRIE CITY / HANGTOWN:
April 2011 - Prairie City SVRA is about 20 miles east of Sacramento, just off highway 50. You'll find riding for all ability levels, and almost every motorized vehicle you can think of; Quads, Utility Quads, Dirt Bikes, Trial Bikes, UTV's, Short Course Buggy's, etc. The main park entrance is paved and the asphalt leads all the way to the pits. Their sign showed the park being open daily (closed on Wednesday's), $5/truck load, and $10/night for camping. Plenty of shade and there are also water bibs if you bring a hose to clean your machines before you load up. There is shaded/covered parking in the pit area, bbq pits and picnic tables, bleachers, trails galore, a quad track, a couple bike tracks, and a pee-wee (90cc max) track. A great area to bring the entire family.
You will need your State OHV sticker on all offroad vehicles, or you can purchase a California sticker. Also, spark arrestors are mandatory and the park is very well patrolled. For current info, directions, restrictions, limitations, hours, etc visit California's state park Prairie City recreation page or for track info on Hangtown or Prairie City MX page.
You will need your State OHV sticker on all offroad vehicles, or you can purchase a California sticker. Also, spark arrestors are mandatory and the park is very well patrolled. For current info, directions, restrictions, limitations, hours, etc visit California's state park Prairie City recreation page or for track info on Hangtown or Prairie City MX page.
CARNEGIE:
July 2011 - Carnegie SVRA is right off I-5 in Tracy, CA, in Nor-Cal approx 35 minutes west of Modesto, 1 hour south of Sacramento, and 5 hours north of Los Angeles. You'll find riding for all ability levels, and almost every motorized vehicle you can think of; Quads, Utility Quads, Dirt Bikes, Trial Bikes, UTV's, Jeeps, etc. The main park entrance is paved and the asphalt leads all the way to the pits. Carnegie is open daily, $5/truck load, and $10/night for camping. There is shaded picnic tables, bleachers, trails galore, a quad track, a couple bike tracks, 2 pee-wee tracks (70cc & 110 cc), a 4x4 Challenge area, and trails that run all over the place. A huge camping area with full restrooms, showers, and general store. A great area to bring the entire family.
You will need your State OHV sticker on all offroad vehicles, or you can purchase a California sticker. Also, spark arrestors are mandatory and the park is very well patrolled. For current info, directions, restrictions, limitations, hours, etc visit the Carnegie SVRA web site.
You will need your State OHV sticker on all offroad vehicles, or you can purchase a California sticker. Also, spark arrestors are mandatory and the park is very well patrolled. For current info, directions, restrictions, limitations, hours, etc visit the Carnegie SVRA web site.