# Are there remote sand dunes in the U.S.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 3, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880 "2013-03-03T03:13:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/1 "2013-03-03T03:13:19Z")
I’ve long been fascinated by the desert and specifically the sand dune deserts such as the Sahara and the Takla Makan. The question is, I live in America and would like to experience something like these endless vistas of sand without ATVs roaring around destroying the tranquilty of the place. I’ve casually looked for such places and reviews online will say “great riding” leading me to believe I’ll be hearing four wheelers running around. Is there anywhere that is truly going to give me the sense of remoteness without flying to Libya or China? Some small section of dunes in an otherwise barren wasteland might be the best I can do… ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/2 "2013-03-03T03:17:06Z")
Yes. For example Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado and Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/3 "2013-03-03T03:19:18Z")
I suggest White Sands is well worth a visit: [White Sands National Park - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Sands_National_Monument) I was there years ago and there were no vehicles on the dunes and I’d be surprised if they were allowed now. Its a peaceful and beautiful place. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/4 "2013-03-03T03:26:06Z")
In Colorado you might try the Great Sand Dunes National Park. No ORVs allowed, hence it should be very easy to walk away from 99% of park visitors in a matter of half an hour. Want really remote, my recommendation is definitely the Athabasca Sand Dunes in SK, Canada, accessible only by float plane. If you go there, be sure to tell us how it was. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/5 "2013-03-03T03:28:56Z")
The [Kelso Dunes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelso_Dunes) are easily accessible, but some days you can have them all to yourself. The [Eureka Valley Dunes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Valley_Sand_Dunes) are smaller, but taller, and much further off the beaten path. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/6 "2013-03-03T03:55:33Z")
If your idea of remoteness is looking out on one of Great Lakes, there’s always [Indiana Dunes.](http://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/7 "2013-03-03T04:49:09Z")
I used to live in Arizona. Not a lot of traditional sand dunes there. Nevada has some wonderful ones. Utah, not so much, but very pretty. Texas just has one sided trees. We did have lots of Russian Thistle, though. (aka tumbleweeds) ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/8 "2013-03-03T04:56:45Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > I suggest White Sands is well worth a visit: [White Sands National Park - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Sands_National_Monument) > > I was there years ago and there were no vehicles on the dunes and I’d be surprised if they were allowed now. Its a peaceful and beautiful place. +1 White Sands is a really neat place. [Here’s a Google image search.](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1066&bih=570&q=white+sands&oq=white+sands&gs_l=img.3..0l10.810.2183.0.2346.11.11.0.0.0.0.120.841.8j3.11.0...0.0...1ac.1.5.img.fyEE3F-W4tY#hl=en&safe=off&site=imghp&tbm=isch&q=white+sands+national+monument&revid=1713674651&sa=X&ei=qNcyUZ_AC83uqAHy1YFQ&ved=0CEwQgxY&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43148975,d.aWM&fp=b41ca664a8fb8477&biw=1066&bih=570) ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/9 "2013-03-03T04:59:04Z")
There’s lots of dunes in Death Valley, none of which are open to vehicles. Some of them are on the paved park roads and will have some tourists, but there’s also ones in the backcountry that might require at least a high clearance to get to but are extremely remote. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/10 "2013-03-03T05:14:57Z")
Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado has the highest dunes in North America, and is very remote. No vehicles allowed on the dunes themselves, and the only access is a road along the southern edge fairly far from the base of the dunes themselves. Hiking them is pretty strenuous and so it is easy to get away from other visitors. Beautiful spot. Also one of the quietest places in the US, because it is far from any major city, highway, airport, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/11 "2013-03-03T07:08:55Z")
My experience at White Sands was that walking around one or two dunes totally cut off the human noises from the parking lot. The dunes are gypsum sand, and gypsum is used in soundproofing materials (although I don’t know if it’s a property inherent in the mineral itself), but it sure seemed to swallow sound quickly. If it’s a sense of “away from the things of man, my friend, away from the things of man” you seek, I echo the recommendation of White Sands. ---
**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/12 "2013-03-03T17:53:12Z")
I’ve known about all these suggestions, I guess I just wanted to know if I’d be swarmed by hikers and off roaders, it doesn’t sound like I’ll have too many problems. Thanks everyone! And, yes, Athabasca would be super cool but reaching it is probably a bit out of my price range this year. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/13 "2013-03-03T20:41:46Z")
[Sleeping Bear Dunes.](http://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/14 "2013-03-03T20:56:17Z")
While lovely, Sleeping Bear is also insanely popular and crawling with tourists from spring through fall, including hikers and campers, so maybe not the best option for someone looking to “get away.” ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/15 "2013-03-04T02:10:50Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/16 "2013-03-04T04:38:46Z")
Another vote here for White Sands. A few years back my kids and I got a camping permit. It was definitely secluded. At night, we [surfed the dunes](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&biw=1024&bih=644&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=sled+white+sands+new+mexico&oq=sled+white+sands+new+mexico&gs_l=img.3...10009.11859.0.12442.6.6.0.0.0.0.121.609.4j2.6.0...0.0...1ac.1.5.img.zbGh3u8KqRI) by moonlight and that was a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/17 "2013-03-06T03:36:41Z")
FYI: They claim there’s a desert in Maine, but I’m not convinced it’s not man-made. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/18 "2013-03-06T15:39:35Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > FYI: They claim there’s a desert in Maine, but I’m not convinced it’s not man-made. It is man-made, just not intentionally: [Desert of Maine - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_of_Maine) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/19 "2013-03-06T15:46:36Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > My experience at White Sands was that walking around one or two dunes totally cut off the human noises from the parking lot. I can attest to this at Great Sand Dunes in Colorado as well. The creek between the parking lot and the dunes is crawling with people (and is a sight in its own right, where you can watch the sand dunes being washed away below your feet, (they will then get re created when the sand gets deposited downstream and blown back by the wind.)) But once you’re past the first couple of dunes, you lose the people and the noise. You can still see the parking lot, but that’s only one direction. Any other direction and it’s like you’re in a wilderness. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880/20 "2013-03-06T15:47:22Z")
I agree with both Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado and White Sands in New Mexico. Back in the 1970’s when I lived in NM, White Sands was occasionally open on nights with full moons. It was like walking in daylight except for the black skies and stars. Very cool. looks like they still have them. I recommend scheduling a trip for then. [http://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/full-moon-nights.htm](http://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/full-moon-nights.htm) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-remote-sand-dunes-in-the-u-s/651880.md?page=2)