Provo, UT

Looking for a great “staycation”? Staycations are all the rage these days as gas prices get in the way of distant getaways. Lucky for you, Utah is packed with more diversity and fun locations than most residents realize.

A short hour drive from Provo, Utah, for example, can transport you to a different - and surprisingly interesting and beautiful - world. Introducing Little Sahara State Park, a.k.a Jericho Sand Dunes.

The dunes were formed by sand exposed by the Sevier (say “severe”) River Basin. They roll over 700′ Sand Mountain and extend for vast stretches. It’s a gorgeous site from atop a tall dune as you watch the dunes stretch away in the distance.

My favorite activity at the dunes is motorcycle riding, though this can get tricky if you don’t have a paddle tire on your rear wheel. The sand can get a bit soft which can result in some work to get yourself unstuck now and then.

Which is why four wheelers are more common. You’ll see dads and kids puttering along, quads jumping dunes, jeeps, SUV’s, and fifty-thousand dollar sand rails racing up Sand Mountain.

You’ll also see the occasional Corolla full of college kids, often surrounded by a handful of riders helping them get unstuck from the deep sand. If you get yourself stuck in the sand, you can get out a little easier by letting some air out of your tires, but you’ll want to have a little $25 cigarette-lighter-plug-in air compressor to fill them back up once you return to the road!

I once got my rental car stuck on a beach in North Carolina and had to get creative. I placed a floor mat under the jack to lift the car, then slid 4×4 posts (from nearby signs saying “Four wheel drive only beyond this point”) under the tires. I could get a run and make it about 20′ before having to do it all over again.

All vehicles must have safety flags to help prevent collisions (or someone landing on your head). If you forget, you may be able to buy one at the park entrance or zoom over to Nephi, 31 miles to the east, and get one at the Garret Honda (563 N Main (435) 623-0823).

< Raise your hands if you love Little Sahara!

The seriousness of safety concerns is accentuated by a sign as you enter the park: “5 days since last serious accident.” I’ve never seen the number higher than fifteen, though it probably climbs higher in the off season. The main dangers seem to be collisions and abrupt drop offs. Slow down if you don’t know what’s over the next dune crest.

You don’t need a vehicle to have fun, though. The map you can get at the entrance shows areas where vehicles are not allowed. These areas are surrounded by wooden fences and you can run around, set up treasure hunts, dune jump, or just lay in the sun with no danger of being run over. Also note that most of the vehicle traffic seems to stick to the east side of the park, closest to the paved roads.

If you decide to go wandering, go prepared with plenty of water and at least a light jacket if there’s a chance of being out when the sun goes down and temperatures drop. If you get lost, just head east (if you don’t know how to orient yourself by the North Star, then head toward the majority of vehicle headlights) and you’ll eventually reach a road that runs along the edge of the dunes to all camping areas. If you have a GPS, marking a waypoint at your campsite can save you hours in finding your way back!

Inexpensive FRS radios are also a great idea for communication since cell phone coverage is extremely spotty. If you need to use your cell, get to the top of the highest dune around and try your luck.

The entire area is open for camping (please leave no trace) or you can find improved camping at four camping areas that offer amenities varying from pit toilets, tent sites, drinking water and big crowds (Sand Mountain) to flush toilets, drinking water and fenced in play area for the kids (White Sands, Jericho) to paved pads for trailers and motor homes (Oasis).

I prefer the solitude of camping away from other groups, but you’ll want to mark your site well enough that no one will accidentally run over you, and most people seem to prefer having amenities nearby.

To get to Little Sahara, either travel through Nephi or Eureka. Map

From Nephi (along I-15), turn west on SR 132. Go about ten miles and watch for the TINY sign labled “Little Sahara” on your right. Follow county route 1812 for about 17 miles until you reach a stop sign. Continue straight through the intersection about 4 miles until you see the sign indicating the park entrance to your left.

Through Eureka, turn west from I-15 at the Santaquin exit (Highway 6 West), continue winding up into the mountains, pass through Eureka and just stay on the main road as it curves south (as opposed to turning north toward Tooele). Drive about ten miles and watch for the sign and turn off to the right. You’ll immediately cross railroad tracks, then turn

The entrance fee is $9 per vehicle per day (from about 2 p.m. to 2 p.m.). Some camp sites may have an additional fee.