Sand Mountain Recreation Area’s footprint is 4,795 acres with the largest dune at standing at 600 feet tall and 1 mile wide and 3 and a half miles long! By this measure Sand Mountain is largest dune in the Great Basin. The feature formed on the edge of ancient Lake Lahontan in the Salt Wells Basin. The largest feature in the recreation area is known as a “singing sand dune”, where-for the movement of the sand-creates sound. This happens by wind or by abrasion, for example by footsteps, producing singing, squeaking, whistling, or screeching type sounds.
- OHV fee site
- $40 for Day Passes
- $90 for Annual Passes
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays are FREE
- *23 miles of riding on designated trails
- Primitive camping
- No Water Services
You can find Sand Mountain off the northern side of US Highway 50 about 20 miles east of Fallon. The dunes are situated on the edge of ancient Lake Lahontan. Nearby you will find the Sand Springs Pony Express Station historical site that dates back to 1860 and the Sand Springs Desert Study Area. Sand Mountain Recreation area is also the single home of a rare butterfly called the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly (It’s the salt!)
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