Bruneau Dunes State Park ~ Idaho

Playing in a sandbox as a child may be the reason why some people are fascinated by sand dunes. As far as playing like kids is concerned, the taller the dunes, the more fun times there will be! There are several great sand dune recreation areas in the western deserts, but these natural oddities actually are more rare to encounter than what might be imagined. For example, The Mojave Desert covers a vast amount of land in southern California, yet the sand dune areas only add up to a very small percentage of this terrain. It takes special environmental conditions for ultra fine wind blown sand to gather as dunes over a very long period of time. These conditions have to be even more favorable for gigantic towering dunes to form, which actually are a very rare sight to see. There are only a few places out west to experience sand dunes that are as tall as mountains and one such place can be found in the high desert of southwest Idaho. 

Those who only picture Idaho as being one big potato field that stretches out to the horizon certainly will have a difficult time believing that the tallest single structure sand dune in North America is located in this state. The Bruneau Dunes actually rise 470 feet above the valley floor, so be prepared for the jaw to drop in awe when first laying eyes upon this natural wonder! These towering light gray color dunes truly are an artist's inspiration and they beckon to be experienced up close and personal. The Bruneau Dunes is a place where it is okay for adults to play like kids, so be prepared for some good times!

The Bruneau Dunes State Park covers a vast amount of land around the gigantic dunes, so there will be plenty of opportunities to capture a sought after perfect view. This big park offers plenty of breathing room and the developed campgrounds are spacious. This park offers wifi hotspots, group areas and drinking water is available, so an extended stay will be comfortable. Panfish are easy to catch in the lakes next to the big dunes, which means a Friday night fish fry can be planned any day of the week. Better still, sand boards can be rented at the visitor center, so some world class sand dune surfing can easily be done.

Sand board surfing is high tech when compared to hiking up top and sliding down the dunes the old fashioned way, which is what most visitors spend all day doing. There is something fascinating about sliding downhill on a tall dune that makes a participant beg for more. Knowing that if you tumble and fall on the soft powdery surface no harm will be done will have a way of promoting daredevil acts. Bruneau Dunes State Park certainly is a great place for some extreme fun in the sun, so be sure to chalk this majestic destination high on the list!