The Christmas Valley Sand Dunes are a natural
sand dune
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...
complex covering of public lands east of
Christmas Valley in
Lake County,
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, about southeast of
Bend. The area is accessible via the Christmas Valley
National Back Country Byway
The Bureau of Land Management Back Country Byways are roads that have been designated by the Bureau of Land Management as scenic byways. Some are also National Scenic Byways or National Forest Scenic Byways
The National Forest Scenic Byways are ...
.
The dunes are up to high.
[ It is the largest inland shifting sand dune system in the ]Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Though ...
.Mount Mazama
Mount Mazama (''Giiwas'' in the Native American language Klamath language, Klamath) is a complex volcano in the state of Oregon, United States, in a segment of the Cascade Volcanoes, Cascade Volcanic Arc and Cascade Range. Most of the mountai ...
that formed Crater Lake
Crater Lake (Klamath language, Klamath: ''Giiwas'') is a volcanic crater lake in south-central Oregon in the western United States. It is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and is famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The ...
7,000 years ago.[Christmas Valley Sand Dunes: Area of Critical Environmental Concern]
(PDF) brochure from the BLM Approximately of dunes are open to vehicles.[
]
Administration
The Christmas Valley Sand Dunes area is administered by Bureau of Land Management. The Bureau of Land Management also oversees the Lost Forest Research Natural Area
The Lost Forest Research Natural Area is a designated forest created by the Bureau of Land Management to protect an ancient stand of ponderosa pine in the remote high desert county of northern Lake County, in the south central area of the U.S. ...
, east of the dunes as well as the land around nearby Fossil Lake
Fossil Butte National Monument is a United States National Monument managed by the National Park Service, located west of Kemmerer, Wyoming, United States. It centers on an assemblage of Eocene Epoch (56 to 34 million years ago) animal and pla ...
to the west In 1983, the Bureau of Land Management joined the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes, Lost Forest Research Natural Area, and Fossil Lake into a single Area of Critical Environmental Concern. There are vehicle restrictions in much of the consolidated Area of Critical Environmental Concern. However, approximately of dune area remains open to vehicle use. Off-road vehicles are allowed only on specific routes and in designated areas. Camping is restricted to designated sites within the Area of Critical Environmental Concern. All of the camp sites are primitive with no water or restrooms. The nearest public facilities are located in the unincorporated community of Christmas Valley, approximately away.[Lost Forest Research Natural Area](_blank)
(PDF), ''Christmas Valley Sand Dunes Area of Critical Environmental Concern'', Lakeview District, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Lakeview, Oregon, 2005.
Recreation
The dunes are available for off-road
Off-roading is the activity of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain. Types of off-roading range in intensity, from leisure drives with unmodified vehicl ...
and ATV recreational use in designated areas. All Oregon state laws and regulations pertaining to off-highway vehicles apply. Vehicle operators must have a valid driver's license, state-issued all-terrain vehicle operator's permit, or be accompanied by someone 18 or older with a valid driver's license. In addition, all off-road vehicles must have a red or orange flag on an extended antenna while driving on the dunes. State alcohol and drugs laws also apply to all vehicle operator and passengers.[http://eastfortrock.com/index-1.html]
The ''Bureau of Land Management Road 6121'' has been improved with gravel allowing access to the dunes during most of the winter and spring months.
See also
*Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is located on the Oregon Coast, stretching approximately north of the Coos River in North Bend to the Siuslaw River in Florence, and adjoining Honeyman State Park on the west. It is part of Siuslaw Nat ...
Gallery
File:Christmas Valley Sand Dunes 02, BLM, 2008.jpg, High shifting dunes
File:Christmas Valley Sand Dunes 03, BLM, 2008.jpg, All terrain vehicle run
References
External links
Christmas Valley Back Country Byway
from the National Scenic Byways Program
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six "intrinsic qualities": archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The program was established by Co ...
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Dunes of the United States
Bureau of Land Management areas in Oregon
Landforms of Lake County, Oregon
Protected areas of Lake County, Oregon