What Is It?
Explore the tallest freestanding sand dunes in North America at Bruneau Dunes State Park in southwest Idaho.The tallest sand dune is more than 470 feet tall.
How AreThey so Big?
The dunes were formed roughly 14,000 years ago, during the last ice age. Glaciers formed a large lake—Lake Bonneville—that covered more than 30,000 square miles in northern Utah. When the glaciers damming the lake broke, the water rushed northwest, reshaping the landscape.
Experience the Dunes
Bruneau Dunes has plenty of hiking and equestrian trails that give visitors a variety of views of the park. For those looking for a quick way down the dunes, the park has sandboards available for rent. Boards for sitting or standing are available for carving or sliding down the dunes.
See the Stars
If you’re at the dunes at night, consider visiting the Bruneau Dunes observatory, which is expected to reopen this month after a remodeling. The observatory is open Friday and Saturday nights in the summer—typically June through October—and has a variety of telescopes for peering into the constellations.
More Information
Entrance into the state park costs $7 per vehicle. To start planning your trip, visit parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/bruneau-dunes or call 208-366-7919.