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Places to ride · California

Glamis
Imperial Sand Dunes

The big one. More than forty miles of dunes, Oldsmobile Hill on a holiday weekend, and the culture that built this whole industry.

~300 ftElevation at the staging area
−1%Power lost to thin air, naturally aspirated
Oct–AprPrime season

Know before you go

Fees, rules and the lay of the land.

Managed byBureau of Land Management

Rules, closures and current conditions come from them. Fees and rules below are from their page, read November 10, 2026.

Fees$55 a week in advance · $70 onsite · $185 season

Permits are required October 1 through April 15.

The placeMore than 40 miles long, about 5 miles wide

Dunes often reach 300 feet above the desert floor.

Where the riding is

Most of the off-road action is in the recreation area south of Highway 78.

Closed ground

The North Algodones Dunes Wilderness is closed to vehicles.

Fees and rules change. Check the Bureau of Land Management page before you haul.

What the elevation does

Thin air takes 1% here.

Pick a naturally aspirated machine

Rated225 hp
At ~300 ft~223 hp

Standard atmospheric math: roughly 3% per 1,000 feet for a naturally aspirated engine. Not a dyno claim.

Turbo and supercharged cars.

A turbocharged machine (Can-Am Maverick R, Can-Am Maverick X3, CFMOTO Z10) can spin its turbo harder as the air thins, so it loses far less. We don’t put a number on that.

A supercharger breathes the same thin air, so it gives up a similar share. It just starts from much higher.

Tunes written for your fuel and elevation →

What to run

Set up for Glamis.

Paddles, obviously. Near sea level your machine makes its rated power. Here, the dyno sheet is the truth.

Sand tiresSteers and paddles → Forged wheelsBeadlock or standard lip → TunesFor your fuel and elevation → SuperchargersPower to spare up high → FitmentWhat fits your machine →

Where it is

Glamis, California.

ArizonaCaliforniaOregonUtahIdahoNevadaPackard · ClearfieldGlamis

Dunes often reach 300 feet above the desert floor.

Open in Google Maps ↗Bureau of Land Management page ↗

More places to ride

Oceano Dunes Sea levelDumont Dunes ~800 ftSand Hollow ~3,000 ftSand Mountain ~4,000 ftSt. Anthony Sand Dunes ~4,900 ftLittle Sahara ~5,200 ftCoral Pink Sand Dunes ~5,900 ftAll places →

Questions

Glamis questions.

What is the elevation at Glamis?

About 300 feet at the staging area.

How much does it cost to ride at Glamis?

$55 a week in advance · $70 onsite · $185 season. Permits are required October 1 through April 15. That is from the Bureau of Land Management page as of November 10, 2026; check the official page before you haul.

How much power does my machine lose at Glamis?

A naturally aspirated engine loses roughly 3% of its power per 1,000 feet, so about 1% here. A Polaris RZR Pro R rated at 225 hp makes about 223 hp. Turbocharged machines lose far less.

When is the best time to ride Glamis?

Riders go mostly Oct–Apr. Permits are required October 1 through April 15.

Who manages Glamis?

The Bureau of Land Management. Rules, closures and conditions are on their page.