North Sand Hills   to
Maps: BLM North Sand Hills Map
USGS 7.5' Map: Kings Canyon, Eagle Hill
Statistics:
Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time:
Easy to Extreme Open Dunes 800 acres 8,400 to 8,700 ft. Hill Climbs NA
County: Jackson
Adopted by:      
Managed by: BLM,
Kremmling Field Office		 2103 E. Park Ave.
Kremmling, CO 80459		 970-724-3000, Email:kfo_webmail@blm.gov
Summary: The North Sand Hills are the only OHV sand recreation area in Colorado. The North Sand Hills are open year round. It is a non-fee, primitive OHV recreation and camping area with 300 acres of dunes, and 1400 acres total within the SRMA.
Attractions: The North Sand Hills offer a dispersed camping experience (limit 14 days) with access to an open sand dunes riding environment. There is also access to Forest Service roads in the mountains to the northeast. The dunes have routes that accomodate full size vehicles and dunes buggies, ATVs, and Motorcycles. There are three restroom buildings available. There is no water so bring what you will need. There is no trash service so pack out what you pack in. Bring your own firewood. The small aspen stands around the dunes affords the only shade in the area, lets not use it for firewood.
Seasonal
Closure:		 Open Year Round
Best Time: June - Best
July - 4th of July weekend is busiest
August - Hot. Be prepared.
September - Best
October - Best. Cool nights.
Trail Heads
Accessed:		 There are plenty of trails through the sage brush, aspens, and open dunes around the North Sand Hills. Government Creek offers shade and a cool place to be on the northeastern side of the dunes.
Camping: The camping areas are dispersed and primitive sites. There is no water so bring up to a gallon a day per person.
Base Camp: Excellent place to base camp to explore the dunes and the old logging roads to the north of the dunes.
Fall Colors: Good - There are aspen around the dunes and some fall colors in the mountains above the dunes.
Navigation: From Walden, CO. head north on CO-125 N/Main Street and go 9.9 miles. Turn right from the highway onto a dirt road and go 0.6 miles. Continue straight onto Co Rd 6e and go 2.1 miles. At the intersection stay right and continue onto County Rd 6e/BLM road BLM2509 go 3.7 miles passing the entrance Kiosk and going under a power line to the edge of the dunes. This last section will be very sandy.
History: The North Sand Hills were designated a "Research Natural Area" in 1965. When the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) was passed in 1976, it required BLM to designate areas that were formally identified as "natural" or "primitive" prior to Nov. 1, 1975 as "Instant Study Areas" (ISA). In 1980, a BLM inventory concluded that the area did not meet wilderness criteria. This did not release the area from ISA status. BLM must manage WSAs to protect wilderness characteristics until Congress acts on BLM's recommendations to either release it or designate it as a wilderness area.
Description:
There are trails between the two main dunes as well as a connection into the National Forest to the north. The North Sand Hills contain large flat areas and small dunes and bowls. The eastern side of the dunes offers the most extreme hill climbs. There are three restroom buildings located in the North Sand Hills SRMA. There is no trash service, pack it in, pack it out. Bring your own firewood.
photo by:
Adam Mehlberg

Paula K

photo by:
Kris

photo by:
Kris

Adam Mehlberg

photo by:
Kris

Paula K

photo by:
Kris

James

photo by:
Paula K

The trail system in the North Sand Hills SRMA begins in the sand, winds through the aspen and sagebrush, and leads both to the dunes and up into the Colorado State Forest and the US Forest Service lands to the northeast. The North Sand Hills SRMA is a great family location for spring, fall, and summertime fun! A donation tube is located on-site to help the BLM keep this unique area open to free use.
  Data updated: February 10, 2013     4WD Road driven: July 23, 2009     Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2013