Here is some general information that you will find useful when travelling
in the Imperial Sand Dunes. Click here or hit your back button to return to the main Imperial County page.

Bureau of Land Management Rules For The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area - 11/13/01
These rules apply to public lands from one mile north of Mammoth Wash to the Mexican border ( north and south) and from the Southern Pacific Railroad, Ogilby Road and the Boardmanville area, to the old Coachella Canal (east to west). This is a synopsis of the rules, for further clarification please call (760) 337-4400 or contact Cahuilla Ranger Station. Please remember, it is your responsibility to know the law.

SAFETY FLAGS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES IN THE IMPERIAL SAND DUNES REC. AREA.
All vehicles shall be equipped with an 8 foot whip mast and a 6x12 inch red or orange flag. Masts must be securely mounted on the vehicle and extend 8 feet from the ground to the mast tip.

A 15 M.P .H. SPEED RULE EXIST ON THE SAND HIGHWAYS.
No person shall operate an OHV in excess of 15 m,p.h. on public lands within 500 feet of Highway 78, Grays Well Road, Gecko Road, and access roads within Gecko and Roadrunner recreation sites.

FIRES- The burning of potentially hazardous materials e.g. (but not limited to) gas, oil, plastic and magnesium is prohibited.

NO GLASS BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ARE ALLOWED. Possession or use of any glass cup or bottle empty or not is prohibited.

NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED WHILE RIDING ON BLM LANDS.
No person shall drink an alcoholic beverage, have in their possession or person, any open container that contains an alcoholic beverage while operating in or on a motor vehicle on public lands administered by BLM within California. NO PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 21 SHALL BE IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

USE OF AUDIO DEVICES. No person shall: (1) Operate or use any audio device, such as a radio, television, musical instrument, or other noise producing device or motorized equipment between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in a manner that makes unreasonable noise that disturbs other visitors; or (2) operate or use a public address system without written authorization from the BLM.

PUBLIC NUDITY. Public nudity is prohibited in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.

UNAUTHORIZED ORGANIZED EVENT. No person shall participate in or sponsor an unauthorized organized event (Example bands, videos, movies etc. ).

RIDING IN PICKUP BEDS AND OTHER UNSAFE ACTIVITIES. No person shall ride in the bed of a pick up truck or any part of a motor vehicle not designed for passengers on OR off road.

RESERVING OF CAMPING SPACES IS PROHIBITED; SITES AE ALLOCATED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.

TAKING OFF OR LANDING AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING ULTRALIGHTS, IS PROHIBITED WITHIN 1 MILE OF GECKO ROAD.

DUMPING SEWAGE AND GREY WATER IS PROHIBITED.

A 14 DAY CAMPING LIMIT IS IN EFFECT IN THE IMPERIAL SAND DUNES RECREATION AREA.

NO PARKING OR CAMPING WITHIN 10 FEET OF PAVEMENT ON GECKO ROAD.

NO PARKING OR CAMPING WITHIN 30 FEET OF HIGHWAY 78 BETWEEN GECKO ROAD AND Glamis FLATS OFF RAMP.

SHOOTING IS PROHIBITED WITHIN ½ MILE OF CAMPGROUNDS AND SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WELL AWAY FORM OTHER CONCENTRATIONS OF PEOPLE AND PROPERTY.

ANIMALS MUST BE KEPT ON A LEASH NOT LONGER THAN SIX FEET AND SECURED TO A FIXED OBJECT OR UNDER THE CONTROL OF A PERSON, OR OTHERWISE PHYSICALLY RESTRICTED AT ALL TIMES.

BLM supplementary rules re-established under authority of 43 CFR 8365.1-6. Violations of the rules are punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months (43 CFR 8360.0- 7). Also, all OHV's must be operated in accordance with State laws and regulations relating to use, registration, operation, and inspection of OHV's (43 CFR 8341.1 { a} ).