Imperial Sand Dunes

[treeofliberty]

I've been wanting to hit the dunes since I got my Jeep over two years ago. I missed to good weather opportunity last winter, but don't want to miss it this year.

Does anybody have some wisdom they'd like to impart? I see where I can get the permit online. Where can I get the required flag?

[YJINAZ]

google is a good thing

http://www.imperialsanddunes.org/

[mingoglia]

I've been wanting to hit the dunes since I got my Jeep over two years ago. I missed to good weather opportunity last winter, but don't want to miss it this year.

Does anybody have some wisdom they'd like to impart? I see where I can get the permit online. Where can I get the required flag?

You can get a flag at any shop that sells ATV's. If you want a buggy whip (which is generally thicker and many times shorters since they mount to the top of the cage) you'd have to go somewhere that sells buggies...although ATV shops sometimes have these as well. They're all the same.

You can aslo get your permit once you're down there. There isn't any cost savings online, it's just convenience. It actually costs a couple bucks more due to shipping it. When you go down there you can use your credit card at the machine and get the receipt to put on your dash (for the 1 week camping or the 1 year camping). With the 1 year camping you can either mail it in to get your permanent rear view mirror hanger or bring the receipt to the ranger station to trade it in.

Mike

[DREDnot]

Go on a thursday.
You will be all alone for the first day and last weeks tracks will have been covered over. Nice to ride without worrying about all the idiots.
And the virgin dunes with nothing but your one track.Very sahara-like.
Then by friday and saturday its cool to see all the crazy machines show up.

You can either camp there or get a room in Yuma

[ryan rich]

I've been wanting to hit the dunes since I got my Jeep over two years ago. I missed to good weather opportunity last winter, but don't want to miss it this year.

Does anybody have some wisdom they'd like to impart? I see where I can get the permit online. Where can I get the required flag?


carls customs on broadway and mesa drive 4 a buggy whip if your gonna go out at night you have to have a lighted whip

dont stop in the bottoms of the bowls b/c u might not make it out air down to like 8 psi and u should be good there is air behide the store to fill your tires up when you leave hope this helps have fun

[treeofliberty]

google is a good thing

http://www.imperialsanddunes.org/

I had already seen that site. That's how I knew you could buy the permit online. I was more interested in personal experiences from the collective wisdom of this forum.

[treeofliberty]

You can aslo get your permit once you're down there. There isn't any cost savings online, it's just convenience. It actually costs a couple bucks more due to shipping it. When you go down there you can use your credit card at the machine and get the receipt to put on your dash (for the 1 week camping or the 1 year camping).
Mike

This isn't true anymore, according to the FAQ on their website. BLM didn't renew the contract.

[DREDnot]

Is there a place at the dunes to get a permit or is it on line only?
I thought those machines were a great idea. WTF?

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

I used to go with my prerunner truck!!! If you go to glamis, they do get wild out there!!! Be prepared and don't get stuck, you could pay big $$$$ to get out. Stay away from competition hill at night, bunch of aholes collect there and the sand drags can be fun, but very dangerous..stand back!!! If you go on a weekend, not to bad. If you go on a holiday weekend..all the above can and will happen;) I would like to go out there and run the dunes in my jeep sometime..its been about 5 years!!!! Now if you go to buttercup, next to yuma off of I-8, more family oriented area.

Jason

[ROCRWLR]

we were at buttercup outside of yuma a few weeks ago. the vendors sell the permits.

[cw50must]

Yep, you can get the permit and the flag once you are down there.

[Hunter]

Air down to 12 lbs and have a ball.

Take a shovel just in case.

If you get stuck, air down to 8 to get out.

Being a dune rookie, and if you feel like your up to it and want to go play in the "dunes"... always travel east to west. You will see why when you get out there.
heading west, you see the back side of the dune, heading east, you better check the lip before you go over, it can be a 10 foot drop, or 50 foot drop

There are plenty of places to go and play and be in the mild areas. Chances are, you can get around in 2WD most of the time.

Have fun, its a ball out there.

[mingoglia]

I used to go with my prerunner truck!!! If you go to glamis, they do get wild out there!!! Be prepared and don't get stuck, you could pay big $$$$ to get out. Stay away from competition hill at night, bunch of aholes collect there and the sand drags can be fun, but very dangerous..stand back!!! If you go on a weekend, not to bad. If you go on a holiday weekend..all the above can and will happen;) I would like to go out there and run the dunes in my jeep sometime..its been about 5 years!!!! Now if you go to buttercup, next to yuma off of I-8, more family oriented area.

Jason

They started closing comp hill on the major weekends at night a couple years back... it's not as chaotic as it used to be (at least there). Then again I really wouldn't know anyway since I now have kids I stay away from the busy holiday weekends. Well I did go for Halloween but went to Gordons.

[My1stJeep]

Comp hill at Buttercup is open at night, Glamis is closed.

Another thing to remember, if you start to get sideways on a hill when coming down, don't hit the brakes, that will put you sideways and possible start a roll over. Tap the gas and it will straighten you out.

Driving in the sand is totally different then on the rocks. What John said about the drop is totally on the mark. When you approach the top of dune be sure to turn with the top and run along the top until you can see down the other side. Sometimes it may be level, sometimes only a few feet and others a bowl with about a 50 foot drop.

Be safe and have fun.

I think I am going out over New Years if anyone else is going.

[Spinnas]

Glamis has changed. I go 5 times a year usually and it's not an crazy as everyone "who used to go back in the day" says it is. It does get still get crazy though. They close Comp at night and if you park at the bottom of Olds they close that too. If you don't air down into the single digits, you're not low enough. I usually go down to 5-6psi. Watch out for whoops and don't hit them fast as short wheelbase vehicles get out of control in a hurry and/or break and bent stuff. Don't go straight over a dune fast cause you could front flip it or go airborne. And have a good sense of direction or take a GPS. Have fun, tear up some sand, and put the hammer down.

[My1stJeep]

If anyone is interested I am planning on going out the weekend of January 12 - 15th. Leave sometime Friday Night and come home on Monday. Going to Buttercup and camping at Midway.