Start with a familiarization ride
Use your first outing to learn how your machine responds to the sand and to establish the group’s pace. Agree on a lead rider and a regroup signal. Keep the first loop within everyone’s ability.
Sperry Wash is a route, not a free-for-all
BLM identifies Sperry Wash as AR0412. Outside the open riding area, stay on designated motorized routes. A visible track does not establish legal access.
A camp conversation worth having
Who is new to sand? Who needs a slower pace? What happens if a rider becomes separated? Answer these before leaving camp, rather than asking the least experienced rider to catch up.
Park safely before checking a phone or changing your plan. Riding boundaries come from BLM’s map and signs, not a route line on a planning screen.
Open maps & access →Main dunes or Little Dunes?
The main field is the place BLM describes in terms of big bowls, steep climbs and linked transitions. Little Dunes offers staging directly from Highway 127. Choose where to unload around the group’s ability and the tow setup, not simply the biggest dune in view.
Treat an initial ride as reconnaissance. Keep it short, look at the return approach and agree where the group will stop before attempting unfamiliar climbs. Sand beyond the main open area belongs to a different set of route rules.
BLM riding-area description · Checked September 10, 2026
Independent visitor guide. Published by MCKINNEY DIGITAL HOLDINGS LLC. Not affiliated with or endorsed by BLM Barstow.
Sources reviewed September 10, 2026. Current agency notices and on-site signs control.