Six Excellent ATV Riding Areas in the Pacific United States

At about 3.79 million square miles, the United Statesand extreme high-altitude experience is worth a little
is a vast nation - the world's third largest by landrisk. If you go by atv and stay on the marked trail
area. The diversity of our terrain provides off-roadsystem, you can get a similar thrill without having to
riders with an all-you-can-eat buffet of ATV ridingpack and carry camping gear, and you'll probably
choices available for the taking -deserts and dunes ofmake it out alive at the end of the day.
the southwest, towering peaks in the RockyMount Hood is incredibly beautiful, and the
Mountains, dense forests and the countless lakes ofabove-the-clouds (in some cases) ATV trails offer
the Midwest, stunning views from atop the Ozarkriders great variety and make for a very amusing
Mountains and the colossal riding areas of the rollingand scenic ride. This is dream-like riding on a grand
Appalachians.scale.
If you live in the Western United States or want toOceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area
travel out there for a change in your ATV ridingLocated along the beautiful Pacific coast in Southern
terrain, here are six great spots in the Pacific U.S.California just north of Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach's
region to get you started.Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is a
Imperial Sand Dunespopular ATV destination for sand dune riding right on
Perhaps the most famous off-road destination in thethe ocean coast. Formerly known as the Pismo
country, and one of the most popular ATV ridingDunes, Oceano is a geologically unique location. The
areas in the world, the Imperial Sand Dunesprevailing ocean winds create uncommon riding
(frequently called Glamis) of Southern California nearconditions, but all riders must exercise extreme
the Mexican border includes approximately 118,000caution in spotting dangerous slipface drop-offs.
acres for off-highway vehicles like ATVs, dirt bikes,Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area
sand rails, side-by-sides and trucks.As California's largest State Vehicular Recreation Area
Riding the Imperial dunes for the first time is(SVRA), Ocotillo Wells has more than 80,000 acres
daunting, with difficulty ranging from easy to whiteof desert that's open to off-highway exploration,
knuckles. Getting lost is a concern, as the terrain iswhich is a gargantuan amount of riding possibilities.
always morphing, and the scenery blends together.Even better, Ocotillo is affordable: no fees are
The payoff is riding in an endless desert paradisecollected for camping or day use, and camping is
seemingly designed exclusively as a high-speed ATVpermitted for up to 30 days a year - so stay a while!
riding oasis.Key attractions include the eroded Blow Sand Hill, the
Mojave Desert200-foot-high Devil's Slide, Barrel Springs sand dunes,
A spectacular getaway for residents of thethe unusual Shell Reef and Pumpkin Patch sandstone
Southwest, and anyone looking for a change ofconcretions.
pace, the Mojave Desert in California contains someOregon Dunes National Recreation Area
of the greatest high desert riding in the country.Like no other place on the planet, the Oregon Dunes
Terrain varies from enormous valley stretches tobring fantastic dune riding, the Pacific Ocean and pine
mostly treeless hillsides that bring riders thousands oftrees together in one remarkable spot. The dunes
feet above the desert floor. Don't let the extremestart at the sea and, at points, stretch two miles
weather scare you off. Springtime in the Mojave isinland and reach up to 500 feet above sea level.
particularly delightful, as the desert is bursting with lifeThe continent's largest expanse of coastal sand
and blanketed by bright patches of wildflowers.dunes, approximately half of the Oregon Dunes are
Mount Hood National Forestopen to motorized vehicles. Campgrounds, staging
There's a reason you periodically hear of exploringareas and several annual events make this a top
hikers trapped on Mount Hood in Oregon - the viewATV destination.