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| Home > Oregon > Christmas Valley |
Christmas Valley Sand Dunes
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
| Other Names | Lost Forest, Fossil Lake |
| Last Known Status | Open |
This area (open year-round) mainly consists of medium sized dunes with some fun sand bowls. The main access roads are largely un-maintained and these roads can also be very muddy in the spring so 4WD is recommended.
Nearby Fossil Lake (a 6,500 acre dry lake) is off-limits to OHV use but has prehistoric post-ice age fossils such as camels and mammoths. Visitors should note there is private land surrounding the dunes and the Lost Forest. Respect land owners by not cutting any trees for firewood, carry out what you bring in and respect your fellow users. The right to use private property is a privilege and will remain open as long as people respect it.
Frequent visitors to dune areas like this might consider using a Sand Snake or something similar for motorcycles, or Sedona Cyclones for ATVs. Failure to use a paddle tire in deep sand can result in overheating and cause unnecessary damage to your motor.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | Yes | Oregon ATV Permit stickers required |
| Dates Open | Year-Round | |
| Other ATV Stickers Accepted | Yes | An operating permit issued for another state will be honored, but only if the issuing state also honors Oregon operating permits. (As of October 1, 2021, Oregon no longer honors stickers from Washington.) (AZ, CA, ID, IN, MO, NV, PA, SC, UT, VT) |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes | A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles. |
| Noise Limit | Yes (99 dB) | |
| Whip Flags | Yes (108 inches) | Whip Flags Required For Safety |
| Maximum Vehicle Width | No Restriction | |
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | |
 ATVs | Permitted | |
 UTV & SXS | Permitted | |
 4x4 & Jeeps (registered) | Permitted | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Permitted | Oregon ATV Permit stickers required |
| 2 Stroke Engines | No Restriction | |
| MX Helmet Required | Youth Only | required for persons under 18 by state law (RiderPlanet strongly recommends helmets for all riders.) |
 Camping | Some Areas | (camp in developed sites only) |
 Campfires | ||
| Night Riding | Unknown | |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | |
| Rule Enforcement |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Off-Road Dunes |
| Land | BLM |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | (None) |
RATINGS
| Our Rating |  Good |
| Recommended Stay | Full Day |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Christmas Valley, OR | ||
| Address | Lost Forest Road, Christmas Valley, OR 97641 | ||
| From: Christmas Valley, OR
1) Take Christmas Valley-Wagontire Road east about 8 miles 2) Turn left (north) on CR-5-14D/Fossil Lake Road, continue 8 miles 3) Turn right (east) on CR-5-14E/Lost Forest Road, continue about 11 miles toward the dunes. |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | BLM - Lakeview Office 1301 S. "G" St Lakeview, OR 97630 (541) 947-2177 blm_or_lv_mailbox@blm.gov www.blm.gov |
| Contact Info | Christmas Valley Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 65 Christmas Valley, OR 97641 (541) 576-3838 info@christmasvalleychamber.org www.christmasvalleychamber.org |
| Contact Info | Oregon State Parks Online Store 725 Summer Street NE, Suite C Salem, OR 97301 (800) 551-6949 park.info@oregon.gov store.oregonstateparks.org |
Christmas Valley Dune Area Photo
Photo Submitted 12/15/2011 (Thanks!)
Christmas Valley Dune Area Photo
Photo Submitted 2/16/2020 (Thanks!)
Christmas Valley Dune Area Photo
Photo Submitted 2/16/2020 (Thanks!)
ADD PHOTOS
TERRAIN
| Approx Size | 8,900 acres (14 sq mi) | |
| Climate Type | Desert | |
| Elevation | 4300 to 4400 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Unknown | |
| Loose Dirt |  Little | |
| Hard Pack |  None | |
| Sand |  All | paddle or sand tire recommended for best experience |
| Mud | Little | |
| Dust | None | |
| Rocks | None | |
| Trees |  Some | |
| Steep Hills | Some | |
| Small Jumps | Some | |
| Large Jumps | Some | |
| Single Track | None | |
| Hazards |  Few | (hazards assumed marked but use caution) |
 Novice | Some | |
 Amateur |  Mostly | |
 Expert | None |
GPS POINTS
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 30+ Miles (SW) | Chevron |
| Diesel | 30+ Miles (SW) | Chevron |
 Water | Christmas Valley, OR | |
 RV Hookup | 30+ Miles (SW) | Ana Reservoir RV Park (541) 943-3240 |
 RV Disposal | 30+ Miles (SW) | Ana Reservoir RV Park (541) 943-3240 |
| Campground | On Site | |
 Conv Store | 30+ Miles (SW) | Sagewood Grocery (541) 576-2500 |
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS