Little Sahara - Brochure

BLM Info at a Glance Fees There is a day use fee which includes use of campgrounds. An annual permit is also available. Please pay at the self-registration station located on the entrance road when the visitor center is closed. Visit our website for current fee information: www.ut.blm.gov Water Drinking water is available year-round at the Willard R. Fullmer Visitor Center and in campgrounds during frost-free months. Visitor Center Canyonlands Natural History Association Located just inside the visi- tor center, Canyonlands Natuaral History Association offers a wide variety of items including everything from books to lip-balm. You are the proud owner of 60,000 acres of sagebrush flats, Juniper covered hills and free moving sand dunes? Ride freely across sand dunes, unending trails, and enjoy a 700-foot mountain of sand. Come and enjoy the unusual white sand while playing, sun bathing and castle building. Close your day by relaxing to a sage tinted sunset. Enjoy the most beautiful sunsets you’ll see anywhere. Discover Little Sahara... Fillmore Field Office The visitor center is open year-round from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed on Tuesdays. The visitor center telephone number is (435) 433-5960. Weather information (435) 433-5961. Did You Know? Willard R. Fullmer Visitor Center Gasoline and Groceries Services are available in neighboring communities of Nephi, Delta, Eureka and Lynndyl. The Land... Kit Fox A Sandy Reminder of Ancient Lake Bonneville The Kit Fox eats small mammals (primarily rabbits and mice), small birds, invertebrates and plants. It is primarily nocturnal, but may be found outside of its den during the day. Antelope Ground Squirrel How to Get There A plentiful sand source and strong prevailing winds have combined to create Little Sahara, one of the largest dune fields found in Utah. Most of the sand at Little Sahara is the result of deposits left by the Sevier River, which once flowed into ancient Lake Bonneville some 15,000 years ago. After the lake receded, the southwesterly winds that flow across the Sevier Desert picked up the exposed sand. Sand Mountain, in the middle of the dune field, deflected the wind upward, causing it to slow and drop its load of sand. Sand particles, composed mostly of quartz, fell downwind among the sagebrush and Juniper around Sand Mountain ultimately creating a 124 square-mile system of giant, free-moving sand dunes. RockwellWhen It’s Time to Relax and Hike a Hill From Nephi (West): 28 miles via SR 132 and Juab County Route 1812. From Eureka (South): 23 miles on US 6. From Delta (North): 38 miles on US 6. Little Sahara is approximately 115 miles from Salt Lake City via Nephi. The entrance road to Little Sahara is 4 miles west of the Jericho Juntion. You can experience the quiet side of Little Sahara at the Rockwell Outstanding Natural Area. Set aside as a vehicle-free zone, this 9,000-acre unit is a miniature version of the larger surrounding desert ecosystem. Rockwell’s sand dunes, scattered Junipers, and sagebrush flats provide habitat for a diverse array of plants and animals. Mule deer and antelope, 15 species of birds, the Desert Whipsnake, and 8 other species of reptiles live here. Stands of Utah Juniper, sagebrush, grasses typical to the Great Basin, and an extremely rare variety of saltbush dot the landscape. Preserve the natural beauty and enhance the hiking, birding and other muscle-powered recreational opportunities found in Rockwell by keeping motor vehicles outside the boundaries of the natural area. Unique Plants Little Sahara Recreation Area is home to the Neese narrowleaf penstemon (Penstemon angustifolia variety dulcis). The aeolian sands provides a wonderful home for this May and June flowering plant. Neese narrowleaf penstemon Sand Sanctuary for Good Ol’ Atriplex canescens var. gigantea Atriplex canescens var. gigantea Atriplex canescens variety gigantea, also known as “Giant four-wing saltbush”, is a unique plant species. The dune fields of Little Sahara are the only place in the world where this particular variety of saltbush grows naturally. Special adaptations, such as rapid root growth, huge size, and the ability of stems to develop roots, enable the giant four-wing saltbush to survive in Little Sahara’s harsh environment of shifting sand. Please help protect these extremely rare inhabitants of Little Sahara. Avoid running over these plants or their roots and do not break off branches for firewood. The Experience... Little Sahara is not just one type of riding. With nearly 60,000 acres of dunes, trails and sagebrush flats, you’ve got choices . . . plenty of them. What’s your pleasure? May We Suggest . . . Sand Mountain: A wall of sand climbing nearly 700 feet high provides the ultimate challenge to rider and machine. This is the prime focal point for hill climbing. White Sand Dunes: Easy access to dunes and plentiful riding bowls attract riders of all abilities to this spot on the north end of the recreation area. Dunes southwest of Black Mountain: The low-lying dunes provide good terrain for beginners or for those who just want to get away from the crowds. The candystriped homing pole in the White Sands Play Area serves as a visual reference point. A beacon light is on at night. Black Mountain: A net- work of dirt trails around this peak offer excellent trail riding for just about any kind of off-highway vehicle. Utah’s Greatest SandPlay Areas Two of Utah’s largest play areas have been set aside, adjacent to the White Sands Campground and the Jericho Picnic Area. Each play area covers several acres, and each is fenced to provide a clean, safe haven for children. Please remember that tunneling in the sand can be dangerous. Children should be supervised at all times to ensure their safety. Motorized vehicles are not permitted inside the fenced play areas. Emergency Information Nearest Hospital Central Valley Medical Center (30 miles from Visitor Center) 48 West 1500 North (435) 623-3000 At Nephi, proceed north on Main Street 1.4 miles past traffic light to the hospital at 1500 North Main. There also is a First Aid Station at the Visitor Center. Pay Telephone BLM Visitor Center or Lynndyl is 21 miles south on US 6 or Eureka 23 miles north on US 6. Law Enforcement Emergency Call: 911 BLM Law Enforcement Officer Fillmore Field Office: (435) 743-3100 Juab County Sheriff: (435) 623-1344 How to Keep a Great Place Great • Helmets are the law if you are under the age of 18. If older, why tempt the law of averages? • Broken Glass in the sand is dangerous. Glass containers, paintball guns, and wooden pallets are prohibited. • Drinking and driving is against the law. Riding ATVs while under the influence, puts yourself as well as others at risk. • Safety flags. For safety’s sake, Federal and State regulations require the use of whip flags within recreation area. •Forget the firearms. Discharging them at Little Sahara is illegal, so please leave them at home. • Vandalism of toilets and tables is everyone’s loss and costs all of us money. If you observe vandalism, please report it to a BLM employee. • If you pack it in, pack it out. Aluminum and glass don’t burn, so please keep them out of your campfire. • Play safe, not sorry. Each year several people are seriously injured or killed on the dunes due to accidents. Always check for steep drop-offs or other riders before powering over the crest of dune. • Remember, watch out for pedestrians, children, and their pets playing in the dunes. • Tread Lightly! Drive responsibly to protect the environment and preserve your opportunities to enjoy the many recreational experiences Little Sahara offers. Dispersed camping is permitted throughout the Little Sahara Recreation Area. Please follow “Leave No Trace” camping techniques to preserve the beauty of the area. Camping White Sands: Campsites nestled among the Juniper trees and immediate access to the dunes makes this a popular destination with 100 campsites, flushable toilets (vault in winter), drinking water and a fenced play area. Oasis: The most developed site in the recreation area. Paved pads for trailers and motor homes combined with ready access to the dunes makes this a popular site with families. There are 115 campsites, flushable toilets (vault in winter), RV flush station and drinking water. Jericho: Originally designed as a fenced picnic area, Jericho now serves as a picnic and camping area. This is a good area for large groups. Paved parking access road, 40 picnic tables with shade ramadas, flushable toilets (vault in winter), drinking water, amphitheater and a fenced play area. Sand Mountain: Primitive camping/ staging area. This place really rocks during popular holiday weekends with 3 paved parking loops, flushable toilets (vault in winter), and drinking water.