North Sand Hills

Tim Palmer

Official Crew

39450

Seasonal Closure

Visited: 12/15/2021

Its time for this trail's seasonal closure. Please look forward to this trail as part of your adventure in 2022.

Tanner Mitchell

2600

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 08/28/2021

Quiet weekend before Labor Day. Plenty of room to roam without worrying about what others were doing. Open dunes were fun but loved cruising around the trail system just as much. The kids LOVED playing in the sand!

Tim Palmer

Official Crew

39450

Open

Visited: 04/25/2021

The North Sand Hills are finally open. The Mountaineers, a Fort Collins, CO 4 x 4 club, took to the hills for their April club trip. The area was nearly empty of visitors so the group had unencumbered access to the freshly wind-blown sand. There were only a few patches of snow anywhere to be found and the sand in perfect shape to test out a driver's ability to climb sandy hills. It was a bit breezy with temperatures hovering around 50 degrees so not yet topless weather. Although ATVs can fill the area during the summer, none were to be found this weekend.

Tim Palmer

Official Crew

39450

Open

Visited: 05/17/2020

The sand dunes are open and free of snow. Considerable snow is still present in the mountains to the east of the dunes, but the dunes are open. There were quite a few campers, ATVs, and side-by-sides in the area for the weekend. It seems that people are needing to get outdoors.

Grant L

600

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 05/15/2019

We came here every year when I was a kid with MHJC. We had a sandrail then which was awesome. It's fun no matter what you're in and the place really comes alive at night! Some of the outer trails are now closed but that's okay. Be careful out there and I suggest a whip or having your buddy with a radio scout out the top before you give any big hills a go (to make sure there are no collisions). Beware of skeeters in the spring...they get bad! We took the north way out up by the Wy border and then home through Ft. Collins. That was a lot with the trailers but fun!

Tim Palmer

Official Crew

39450

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 12/15/2018

The BLM has implemented an new land use management plan that takes affect in 2018 for the North Sand Hills Recreational Area. The North Sand Hills will now have a seasonal closure from December 15 through April 15 each year. This area is deemed a crucial winter range for big game species that needs protection from motor vehicle use.

Tim Palmer

Official Crew

39450

Open

Visited: 06/30/2018

Mother Nature's mountain showers have helped the USFS contain the Badger Creek fire allowing for the trails is this area to open for regular use. Enjoy the forest responsibility, remember that fire danger remains high.

Tim Palmer

Official Crew

39450

Seasonal Closure

Visited: 06/14/2018

The US Forest Service has closed all road around the area of Old Roach. The closure is because of the Badger Creek fire burning just north of the Wyoming / Colorado State line near Mountain Home, Wyoming. The area will remain closed until the fire is brought under control. Closed trails include: Hohnholz Lakes Road, North Sand Dunes Road, North Sand Hills, and Mendenhall.

Autumn Stinton

200

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 05/18/2018

North Hills Sandunes are always a favorite for us. We go with ATV’s and RZRs. The camping and community is part of the fun. The terrain changes a lot week-to-week and definitely every year depending on the snow fall and weather. It is sandy, noisy, late night, rowdy camping, but people have always been helpful and fairly respectful. We’ve never had anything messed with in camp. There have been a lot of our favorite parts, (ie - trails north of the beach) that have been blocked off recently because of jerks who aren’t being respectful. However, the North Trail is still open and that is a great change from the sand if you are looking for diversity. There are also some cool trails northwest that offer mines and something different.

Tim Palmer

Official Crew

39450

Open

Visited: 01/19/2018

The unusually dry winter season has dropped very little snow fall in the Rocky Mountains. As a result, many areas are very accessible. The North Sand Hills Recreation Area is one such trail. The snow on the ground ranged from none to about 6 “. The tempeture softened up the snow making traction exceptional. If you have the urge to enjoy a ride in you 4X4, then the North Sand Hills Recreation Area just north of Walden, Colorado could be just for you. Trails Offroad had recently received a report that the sand hill were closed. Today, we found that information to be inaccurate and enjoyed a day in the sandbox.

Tim Palmer

Official Crew

39450

Open

Visited: 04/23/2017

What great time of the season to visit the North Sand Hills. Although there have been some recent spring snow storms in the North Park of Colorado, we happened to pick a great day with no snow and great conditions. There were very few visitors to the North Sand Hills this late April day and the lack of congestion made the day exceptional. Grab some friends and some picnic supplies, then enjoy the sandy goodness.

Tim Palmer

Official Crew

39450

Open

Visited: 07/03/2016

The North Sand Hills is a very popular area for ATV, UTV, and dirt bike riders. I visited on the 4th of July holiday weekend and observed that it was very busy with riders and campers enjoying the beautiful Colorado summer weather. It was difficult for a jeep to explore and enjoy an off-road adventure during the busy weekend because of the sheer number of ATVs and dirt bikes. I noticed many young ATV drivers, pre-teen to early teenage, racing about the sand hills unsupervised. If you are inclined to visit the North Sand Hills during peak times or summer weekends, please use extra caution and watch for others who may not fully understand the inherent hazards associated with off-roading.

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Tim Palmer

North Sand Hills

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