Christmas Valley contains 11,000 acres of sand dunes available to off-highway vehicle use. The area
"open" to vehicles is surrounded by several sensitive areas with
more restrictive vehicle designations. The Fossil Lake area is closed to vehicles (and is
fenced off), and in the Lost
Forest vehicles are restricted to roads which are posted open. Although the bare
dunes are open to vehicles, since they are within a Wilderness Study Area,
vehicles are required to stay on trails that are posted open until they reach
the bare dunes.
The area is bordered by and includes private land.
Please respect their property, or you will find yourself fenced out.
Wilderness Study Area - In 1981, 16,440 acres were
designated as the Sand Dunes WSA. Although BLM later determined in 1991 that the area
was not suitable for Wilderness, the area must be protected until Congress makes the final
decision.
The dunes are composed largely of ash and pumice which blew
into the area over 7,000 years ago when Mt. Mazama erupted forming Crater
Lake. During dry times of the year, it can get quite dusty.
Elevation - 4290 ft.
Directions:
Follow State Highway 31 south from Bend about 60 miles and turn east on County Road 5-10 toward Fort Rock/Christmas
Valley. After about 20 miles turn right (east) on 5-14 (Christmas Valley Hwy) to the community of Christmas Valley. Continue
east past Christmas Valley approximately 10 miles, then turn left (north) on 5-14D (Fossil lake Rd.) and go 8 miles to a "T". Turn right on
5-14E (gravel), and follow it until you see small signs for the Sand Dunes (approx. 6.85 miles to
camp). Road narrows and becomes washboarded. It is about 16 miles from the
dunes to the town of Christmas Valley.
GPS Coordinates:
Main Camping Area - N 43 21 38, W 120 22 26
Juniper Camping Area - N 43 21 20, W 120 23 14
Alternate Camping Area - N 43 20 98, W 120 24 11
Camping Area(s):
Juniper Camp - Stay on main road until you see signs for
Juniper Camp.
½ mile west of the Lost Forest.
Main Camp south of Lost Forest - Continue past Juniper camp until road ends.
There
is camping available to the left and a large area to the right. Access
to the
dunes is to the right (south). Access to the Lost Forest is to the left
(north). Please be aware that this area is actually private land and
access can be taken away if users do not respect this privilege.
Lost Forest Research Natural Area - 8,960 acres closed to OHVs
Fossil Lake - 4,160 acres closed to OHVs
The dunes used to be at Fossil Lake, and the are moving into the Lost Forest.
Although BLM determined in 1991 that the 6,440 acre Sand Dunes
WSA was not suitable for Wilderness, the area must be protected until Congress makes the final
decision.
If continued access to Christmas Valley is important to you, please
take a few minutes to do the following:
1. Contact
Congressman Walden (R-OR) and ask him to author a bill to release the Sand Dunes Wilderness Study
Area (WSA) back to
its' former use.
2. Contact
your members of Congress and ask them to support a Wilderness Study Release bill so that WSA's are not left in limbo
forever.
