For ATV drivers who are experienced, Glamis Sand Dunes are one of the top experiences to be had. The town of Brawley is just 20 minutes outside the dune area and provides open camping, and an off-road area. They also have places where most amenities necessary for provisioning an outing may be found. Nearer the Dunes is Gecko Road where there are also developed campgrounds, though considered primitive sites, usually meaning no running water for bathroom facilities.
There are ATV events scheduled at Glamis Dunes nearly every weekend from March to December. The Cahuilla Ranger Station is open on weekends and holidays, to be available if needed during these times. The Glamis Dunes have been used in commercials and movies, notably "Star Gate", and "Wayne's World II." This is a very sparsely populated area, but on weekends the ranks swell up to the 30,000s with all the ATV people coming to events.
The sand dunes are deceptive in pictures. TV and the movies do not give a proper proportion of the size of the area or the dunes themselves. There are sand highways in this part of California. Some dunes are 200 feet high or more. Driving an ATV up and over a sand dune is not the same as scaling a rock ledge or wilderness trail. One key attribute of a proficient ATV driver is control over a sand environment. Glamis Sand Dunes is a great place to learn new ATV skills.
