Can you reserve a site at Olancha Dunes OHV Area?

No. Olancha Dunes OHV Area is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Olancha Dunes OHV Area — sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Located at the south end of the Owens Valley, Olancha Dunes OHV Recreation Area offers a diverse landscape for off-highway vehicle recreation. It is characterized by wide, rolling dunes framed between the towering Sierra Nevada and the Coso Range.

The riding area is about 1,000 acres of short, gentle sloped dunes that peak at a height of 75 ft. Most area visitors ride motorcycles or ATV/UTVs, or tour the area in four-wheel drive vehicles.

STAGING AND CAMPING AREAS: The entire OHV area and surrounding public lands are open to primitive camping. Within the dune area, there are a number of excellent primitive camping sites and OHV staging/off-loading areas.

Know Before You Go

Out of State Vehicles: OHV users must comply with all California rules and regulations governing Off-Highway vehicles. Please see below for a partial list of key regulation and visit the California OHV Page for more information.
Weather: The area is hot and arid, with summer high temperatures ranging from 100 to 120 degrees F. Winter low temperatures may drop below freezing with highs in the 70's. Winds are frequent and strong, and humidity is generally low.

Off-Highway Vehicle Use

The following partial list of regulations and tips should help OHV users and other recreationists appreciate and enjoy the use of these public lands.

OHVs owned by California residents must be registered with the California DMV and must display a valid “Green Sticker” or “Red Sticker”.
If you are NOT a resident of California and your OHV is not registered in your home state, you are required to have a NON-RESIDENT Green Sticker OHV permit.
On the ground, motorized vehicles should yield to non-motorized craft and aircraft.
OHVs must be equipped with an approved muffler, brakes, and spark arrester.
It is illegal for anyone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs to operate an OHV.
It is illegal to bring, dispose of, or possess any glass container, empty or not, within the open area.
It is illegal to bring, dispose of, or possess any firewood containing nails, screws or other metal hardware within the open area.
NO PALLETS!
It is illegal to possess and/or discharge fireworks.
Persons on an ATV under 14 years of age must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
All persons, regardless of age, who operate an ATV on Public Lands must wear an approved safety helmet; Carrying passengers is prohibited on ATVs; Remember—Safety First, Every Ride, Every Time!

Camping

Camping is allowed anywhere with in the riding area that does not block travel on a road, but is limited to a maximum of a 14 day stay. Enjoy your stay!

Burning of tires, magnesium, wires, petroleum products or any other hazardous or explosive material is prohibited.
Pack it in - Pack it out.
Draining of holding tanks, littering and trash dumping is prohibited. PLEASE TAKE YOUR TRASH WITH YOU. Thank you.

Getting there

Map Directions: https://bit.ly/2ZklvC7

36.29133, -117.99259 · 36°17'28.8"N 117°59'33.3"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 94°F in Jul, down to 50°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	51	55	62	69	78	89	94	93	87	75	60	50
Low °F	27	30	34	39	47	56	62	61	54	43	33	26
Precip in	1.2	1.5	0.8	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.3	0.3	1.0

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 10.8 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Olancha Dunes OHV Area

Can you reserve a site at Olancha Dunes OHV Area?: No. Olancha Dunes OHV Area is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Olancha Dunes OHV Area

Tuttle Creek Campground 20.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lone Pine 23.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Whitney Portal 24.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cottonwood Pass Walk in Campground 14.6 mi · Campground
Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground 14.9 mi · Campground
Kennedy Meadows Campground 18.2 mi · Campground
Blackrock Trailhead 19.5 mi · Facility
Blackrock Visitor Center 19.5 mi · Facility
Fish Creek Campground 19.9 mi · Campground
Troy Meadow Campground 20.6 mi · Campground
Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground 24.6 mi · Campground
Domeland Wilderness 28.8 mi · Facility

Contact

Phone 760-384-5400
Info Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Olancha Dunes OHV Area