Overview Of St. Anthony Dunes
- Open: Year-round with significant winter closures (The “Big Dune” area is closed in winter)
- Latitude / Longitude: 44.0151, -111.78632
- Managed by: BLM
- Usage: Heavy
- Fee: $5.00 per vehicle/per day / $60.00 season pass
- Camping: 1 government campground/ 2 private campgrounds
- Location: Southeast Idaho
Directions:
From Idaho Falls ID
Travel US-20 northbound
Take the North Rexburg exit
Turn left onto 1900 E. (Parker-Salem Highway and the Red Road)
Travel 6.3 miles north to the 2nd flashing light (at the 4-way) to St. Anthony Sand Dunes
Turn left and travel 0.85 miles to the split in the road
Stay right, over the railroad tracks
Continue on 500 N for 2.9 miles
At the Egin Lakes Access sign, turn right onto the paved access road
Traveling South Through St. Anthony ID
Take US-20 southbound
Take exit #346 (Saint Anthony City Center)
Turn right onto Bridge Street
Continue through the stop light to West 4th N.
Turn left onto West 4th N (turns into 600 N outside city limits)
Follow 600 N approximately 3 miles until you reach the intersection with Red Road.
Turn left to go to Egin Lakes access
Turn right to the parking and dispersed camping areas along Red Road
UTV Invasion
UTV Invasion
Labor Day Weekend@ Idaho Dunes RV Park
Industry Vendors – Test Drive New Models – Group Rides – Concerts
Kids Bounce House – Food Vendors – Raffles
Free Attendance
St. Anthony Sand Dunes
At 35 miles long and 5 miles wide these are the largest dunes in Idaho. The St. Anthony Sand Dunes are 10, 600 acres with terrain from 50 to 400 feet high.
It has soft white quartz sand making it an ideal ATV playground. Portions of the region are also open to hiking, day use, wildlife viewing and horse back riding. In the winter, some areas are open snowmobiling.
This dune complex has something for off-roaders of all riding abilities. Plus, it’s enormous; there’s enough terrain variety that you can ride for days without getting bored.
St. Anthony offers virtually every type of riding: epic climbs, huge bowls, rolling hills, jumps and wide open space.
Choke Cherry offers a steep heart pounding climb that gives adrenaline junkies bragging rights. Or make your way over to Devil’s Dune on the western edge of the sand dunes and fly around the steep wide open bowl at a 40 degree angle.
Check out Thunder Mountain which delivers a long steady climb for racers. Of course, you can’t miss Dead Horse Bowl which is one of the more popular areas for riding, at 1 mile wide and 400 feet deep, it’s huge.
Spring and fall are the best time for a visit. Summer temperatures get into the mid 80s, but the sand gets even hotter which can make riding during the day unpleasant.
This is area is abundant in elk, some 2,500 elk call this area home. There are two private elk preserves abutting the dunes providing a large habitat as well as all the public land.
The winter closures are to protect the elk as well as the mule deer and moose that also make this area their winter home.
In spring, it’s the perfect place to gather antlers. Hundreds of horn hunters comb the area looking for the antler sheds.
BLM Website: St. Anthony Sand Dunes
BLM Brochure: St. Anthony Dunes Map and Usage Area
Coordinates For The Major Features of St. Anthony Dunes
| GPS Coordinates at St. Anthony Sand Dunes | |
|---|---|
| Devil's Dune | 43.974443, -111.987430 |
| Choke Cherry Hill | 43.968059, -111.974605 |
| Dead Horse Bowl | 43.961915, -111.972358 |
| Middle Bowl | 43.968053, -111.908868 |
| Staircase | 43.989148, -111.877887 |
| Thunder Mountain | 43.972631, -111.859469 |
| Egin Lake | 43.968253, -111.860272 |
St. Anthony Dunes Campgrounds
BLM Campground
Egin Lakes Campground (@ St. Anthony Dunes)
Latitude / Longitude: 43.96222222, -111.8544444
Camping: $25 – $60 a day
ADA Accessible: N/A
Facilites:
- 48 total spaces
- 28 electric sites
- Tents and RV spaces
- Water available (No hookups)
- Dump station ($10)
- Picnic Tables
- Fire Rings
- Concessionaire
- ATV unloading ramp
- Horse trailer parking
- First come/first serve (no reservations available)
- Restrooms
- 14 day limit
BLM Website: Egin Lakes Campground
Private Campgrounds
Idaho Dunes RV Park
Open: April – October
General Info: This is the closest private campground to the “Big Dune” area, you can ride directly from the campground to the dunes. You must make reservations for dry camping on holidays and special events. Holidays may cost more. Home of UTV Invasion.
Camping:
$25 dry camping
$85 full hook-ups
Facilities:
- 24 sites with water, sewer, 30 amp electric, concrete patio slab
- 32 sites with water and 50 amp electric
- 25 acres of dry camping (first come, first serve – no reservations)
- Dump Station ($10)
- Showers (for guests only, takes quarters)
- Toilets
- ATV Rentals
- Trailer Rentals
- Seasonal RV Storage
- Convenience Store
- Wi-Fi Hot Spot
Website: Idaho Dunes RV Park
Sand Hills Resort
Open: April – October
General Info: Large full service private campground with direct drive in access to the dunes. Holidays may cost more.
Camping:
Tent/Small Camper: $19 – $29
Full Hook-Up: $45-$65
Partial Hook-Up: $39-$59
Facilities:
- 109 RV Sites – Full Hook-Up or Partial
- Pull-Thru and One-Way Sites
- Water, Sewer, 20, 30 and 50 Amp Power
- Wi-Fi Hot-Spot
- General Store
- Washer and Dryer Facilities
- Playground
- Two Bathroom Areas With 6 Showers
- Fire Pits (select sites)
- Picnic Tables (select sites)
- Race Fuel
- Firewood
- Propane Tank Exchange
- Idaho OHV Stickers and Flags
- Tent Sites
- Overflow Parking
- Day Parking
- Gated RV Park
Website: Sand Hills Resort
- A lot of dune area is closed from January 1 through sunrise on April 1, including the big dunes, the area south of Egin – Hamer Rd and the areas completely surrounding the open sand of the St. Anthony Sand Dunes.
- The smaller dunes, east of Egin Lakes Campground to Red Rd. are open year-round, but are usually covered in snow by January 1.
Rules & Regulations
Off-Highway-Vehicle Recreation Rules for Motorized Use on the Dunes
- All off-highway vehicle use must occur on the open sand areas or roads and trails displaying a “Designated Route” sign.
- STAY ON THE OPEN SAND AND AVOID ALL VEGETATED AREAS.
- All vehicles must be equipped with a minimum 8-foot above level ground whip mast and brightly colored flag.
- Idaho residents must display a valid Utility Type Vehicle (ATV) sticker on all off-road motorized vehicles.
- All OHVs are required to have spark arrestors and mufflers that meet the maximum 96 decibel sound level.
- Out of state off-road motorized vehicle users must have a valid registration sticker for the state in which they reside or purchase an Idaho “out of state registration sticker.”
- Idaho law requires all riders under the age of 18 to wear helmets.
- Seasonal winter closures: January 1st –sunrise April 1 or sunrise May 1 annually. The closure is a critical winter range for 2,500 elk, 1,500 mule deer and 500 moose. This area is home to the largest high desert wintering moose herds in North America.
Guidelines for a Safe Experience
- Yield the right-of-way to uphill riders.
- Check over dune crest before descending.
- Watch for hikers, horse riders, sunbathers or those unfamiliar with surroundings such as children or beginners.
- Be cautious until you know what the sands are like and how to read them.
- If you are jumping, please have a spotter sit at the top of the dune you will be jumping.
Suggested Equipment
- Helmet
- Gloves
- Face Protection
- Boots —Chest Protection
- Heavy Jersey
- Pants
- Goggles