A Diamond in the Rough: Christmas Valley Sand Dunes

December 31, 2008 by Seth Fargher

MSRP on a Honda TRX 450R: $6,999. Enough gas to make it there and back: $200. 11,000 acres of windswept, untouched sand beneath your paddle tires: priceless! For one sleepy little town in central Oregon, Christmas lasts all year long. At least for the ATV enthusiasts that live there that is.

If you read ATV Sport Magazine you might recall an article that was run back in the July issue entitle “Secret Sands.” This article highlighted Oregon’s Christmas Valley Sand Dunes. An 11,000 acre sand box smack dab in the middle of the central Oregon desert. To the average person it’s quite a desolate site. Miles and miles of sage covered hills gradually give way to rolling desert sands that if on foot, would seem to go on for miles. While desolate is certainly an accurate term, there is no limit to the amount of fun to be had for the adventurers that make the trek to these magnificent sand dunes.

Nestled about an hour and a half from Bend Oregon, the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes offer something for everyone. Sandy trails zig zagging through the sage brush. Countless crescent shaped bowls that with enough speed can send your stomach reeling to your feet from the G-forces. And of course, ample opportunities for catching air.

The only thing the coastal dunes offer over Christmas Valley are the long power sapping hills. There is no absence of steep dunes in the area but the dunes themselves aren’t particularly tall. What the dunes lack in height they more than make up for in area as these dunes are larger than all three of the coastal dune ranges put together. The best description I have for these dunes; its like a mini Glammis. Fun roller coaster dunes, plenty of flat ground to open it up on, and enough area to explore and keep you busy for a good long weekend.

If you choose to make the trip out to Christmas Valley (which I strongly recommend) there are a few things you should consider before you go. First of all, its very primitive. There is no sanctioned camping on site at the dunes. There are outhouses at both camping areas but no other onsite facilities of any kind. On the bright side, there are no fees other than the mandatory ATV Sticker which you can pick up at any dealership for around $10. If you’d rather have full RV hook ups and don’t mind trailering your machines to the sand, the town of Christmas Valley is about 20 minutes from the dunes. If your like me and your machine tends to break down often, bring every spare part you have lying around your shop. Its a long trip back to Bend for something as simple as handlebars (which I learned about on my last Labor Day trip) or any other typically minor repair. If nothing else, chances are someone else there will break down and you can make some serious cash off of them by selling them parts because they won’t want to make the trip back either. Lastly, pay attention to what time of year you’re going. Summers are VERY hot and dry in the Oregon desert and because this is desert sand it can be very dusty at times. The best times to visit the area are in the spring and late fall months when there is some moisture in the sand.

The video that follows are some highlights from my Labor Day experience with a few friends. Our trip was cut short do to inclement weather and some much needed repairs but I’m eager to get back to these dunes in the near future. If you’d like to go and want more info shoot me an email. Maybe we can put a big group trip together and you can be in the next video Seth@localheroesnw.com