Not everyone loves to go ride the sand dunes and it's not for everyone of course; but if you love to get dusty and dirty riding your 4-wheeler, Washington State has some great riding destinations for you. If anyone in your riding group doesn't want to ride in the sand, there are a lot of other activities just outside the riding area such as swimming, hiking, and picnicking.
After a day of 4-wheeling be sure to check out The Ginkgo Museum and View Area at exit 136 off I-90. This is free to the public and open from May to October. They have a good display of petrified woods. They also have a souvenir shop. Also close by is Ginkgo Nature Area. Here is an interpretive hiking trail system through a prehistoric lake bed. This is a great place to take the kids after 4-wheeling in this area and letting them see all this sand was once covered by water.
Frenchmen Springs Coulee at exit 143 is a dry falls left from an ancient flood. Here, daring members of the group can spend the day rock climbing and hiking, while others 4-wheeling over the dunes. Exit 143 will also access The Gorge. This is a natural amphitheater that you can hike around, and if you plan your ATV outing just right, you can take in a concert here. These are ticketed events and run through the summer into the late fall. Quilomene Creek Sand Bar on the west bank of the Columbia has boating, swimming, and horseback riding.
If you're a family group that loves to go 4-wheeling, make it a long, fun weekend in this area of Washington State.
