Dumont Dunes
Dumont Dunes OHV Area covers 7,620 acres of BLM public land approximately 31 to 40 miles north of Baker, California, in San Bernardino County, accessible from I-15 via Baker at the Mojave Desert's heart, roughly 60 miles northeast of Barstow and 100 miles northeast of the Inland Empire. The dune system rises from the Mojave Desert floor along the Amargosa River corridor, a mostly dry river valley that drains toward Death Valley National Park's Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. Dune heights at Dumont reach 400+ feet at the main dune mass, making the Dumont crest one of the tallest navigable dune faces in the California desert system. ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, and dune buggies are all permitted throughout the open-vehicle area, the BLM's Dumont designation is an unrestricted open-area format rather than a marked-trail system, meaning navigation is by terrain feature rather than posted markers. The primary season runs November through April when Mojave Desert temperatures are moderate; the site's 1,400-foot elevation provides marginally better conditions than the low-desert valley floors during this period but summer high temperatures still regularly exceed 105°F and make daytime riding impractical in June through September. Primitive camping is available throughout the BLM area on a first-come, first-served basis; Baker provides the nearest fuel and supplies. A BLM permit may be required on peak holiday weekends (contact the Needles Field Office at 760-326-7000).