BLM announces April 15 as opening date for North Sand Hills Special Recreation Management Area

Organization

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Office:

Kremmling Field Office

Media Contact:

KREMMLING, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced April 15 as the opening date for the North Sand Hills Special Recreation Management Area (SMRA).  

Located in Jackson County, approximately 11 miles northeast of Walden, North Sand Hills SRMA is Colorado's only open sand dune area for Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) recreation.

The area consists mostly of sagebrush and rabbitbrush, intermixed with stands of aspen. East of the active sand dunes is a lodgepole pine forest. Faunae include deer, elk and black bear. Activities include hiking, backpacking, camping, hunting and photography.

The boat-shaped bugseed, Corispermum navicula, inhabits the vegetated periphery areas of the dunes, and can only found within the confines of the North and East Sand Hills of Jackson County, Colorado.

The dunes are open to OHV riding, but vegetated and fenced areas are closed to motorized use. Colorado OHV registration is required on all non-licensed vehicles; out of state OHV registrations and license plates are not valid in Colorado.

As a reminder, there is no garbage services within the SRMA, and visitors must pack out all refuse.

 “North Sand Hills is Colorado’s only dune complex open to off-highway vehicles. We have a great partnership with Jackson County, the State Land Board and Colorado Parks and Wildlife who assist us in managing this tremendous resource,” said BLM Kremmling Field Manager Bill Mills.

Maps and additional information are available online at https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/recreation-activities/colorado or via hard copy at the Kremmling Field Office at 2103 East Park Avenue in Kremmling. While office access may be limited during ongoing COVID-19 impacts, please call ahead at 970-724-3000 to ensure availability of documents and staff.

Last year, recreation on lands managed by BLM Colorado generated $692 million and supported nearly 6,000 jobs.  

-BLM-


The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.