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18 – Bruneau Dunes State Park

From Parks and Recreation Idaho Website:

With one of the longest camping seasons in the Idaho Parks system, Bruneau Dunes State Park offers camping opportunities throughout the year. Campsites and cabins are available with plenty of first-come, first-served sites too.

Bruneau Dunes park boasts the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America with a peak rising 470 feet above the surrounding desert floor. Explore the dunes in your hiking boots or rent a sandboard from the Visitor Center, but off-road vehicles are only permitted  on the main road. You can also fish for bluegill in the lakes at the foot of the dune; unlock the mystery of the desert with a breathtaking hike or horseback ride; plan a group picnic or visit the Bruneau Dunes Observatory and gaze at the night sky through the Observatory’s collection of telescopes.


Coordinates: 42.911461, -115.715202
Elevation: 2508 ft
Difficulty: 1
What to Expect: Coordinates are at the entrance, you must pay to go further.

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Check In

Use the form below to check in. Check-ins must include a photo of you or your bike at the challenge site with the 2025 bandanna. All participants must be registered IAMC Challenge Members. Leave a description of your ride and share road conditions — snow, water, obstacles, and tips for future riders are all appreciated.

Replying to another person's check-in is encouraged, but take care not to accidentally create your own check-in.

The stated difficulty is an estimate. Rating your experience helps future riders stay safe. You alone are responsible for the safety of your ride.

Check-Ins are Closed for the 2025 Challenge.

21 Check-Ins

November 17, 2025 10:35 am
Bike: R1200GS
Difficulty: 1 / 5

I arrived right at sunset. Wish I could have stayed longer, but I got my photo and headed to get some wings in Mountain Home. And so ends a great ride!

Check-in photo
August 8, 2025 9:09 pm
Bike: 990 ADV
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Nice feature.

Check-in photo
August 3, 2025 9:15 pm
Bike: Tiger 900 RP
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Warm day easy ride

Check-in photo
July 27, 2025 12:33 pm
Bike: BMW 1250 ADV
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Big fan of the Dune. Make sure go down some time when the Astronomical Society is star gazing. Worth the ride.

Check-in photo
July 26, 2025 2:11 pm
Bike: GSA 1200
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Spent the night at the state park. Very enjoyable, I usually camp here in the fall/spring but the weather wasn't too hot.
Unintentionally leave my 2025 bandana at home.

Check-in photo
June 22, 2025 3:40 pm
Bike: KLR650
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Off to a good start for our first day!

Check-in photo
June 21, 2025 11:27 am
Bike: KTM 890
Difficulty: 1 / 5

I got this site on Alec’s 3 day 1300 mile ride, nice place to bring the family

Check-in photo
June 21, 2025 6:14 am
Bike: GSA1250
Difficulty: 1 / 5

We meandered in, to see if it might be a future camping site 🙂

Check-in photo
June 5, 2025 9:24 am
Bike: Husqvarna 701LR
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Great place to take the kids for a summer sledding. Caught bluegill out of the large pond as a kid. Good memories. If you have time, check out the Bruneau Dunes Observatory.

Check-in photo
May 31, 2025 2:08 pm
Bike: Tenere 700
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Holy mosquitos, Batman!!! The ride to and from was nice though.

Check-in photo
May 3, 2025 8:38 pm
Bike: Yamaha XT250
Difficulty: 1 / 5

After Rattlesnake Station, we rode to Bruneau where we had a great dinner at the Cowboy's Pastime. Around sunset, we rode to the Dunes, hoping to nab a site and enjoy some stargazing at the Observatory. The mosquitoes were so bad, we didn't stick around. From past experience, I highly recommend the stargazing parties they have each weekend there, but don't go without your repellent! The parties cost $5/person, and as mentioned, without a Parks Pass, the entrance fee to the Dunes is $7/vehicle.

Check-in photo
May 2, 2025 7:41 pm
Bike: HD Heritage
Difficulty: 1 / 5

The gate was open, but the guard house was closed. They have a nice little gift/information center. Good place to stretch your legs for a bit.

Check-in photo
May 2, 2025 6:32 am
Bike: DR
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Up to the gate also

Check-in photo
April 22, 2025 8:17 am
Bike: DR650
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Just outside the gate. If I had my grandkids with me I would have stayed to play.

Check-in photo
April 19, 2025 2:26 pm
Bike: Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Took the pic from the dirt road to the right of the entrance.

Check-in photo
April 19, 2025 8:23 am
Bike: BMW R1250 GSA
Difficulty: 1 / 5

That's some big sand dunes out there.

Check-in photo
April 18, 2025 8:35 pm
Bike: BMW R1200GSA
Difficulty: 1 / 5

I didn't go in. She wanted $7.00 to get to the parking lot and I didn't plan to stay so just pics from the road. Chilly tonight but clear weather and paved all the way.

Check-in photo
April 12, 2025 4:55 pm
Bike: 2003 Suzuki DR650
Difficulty: 1 / 5

6th site for the day. I stopped outside the entry point on the dirt road for a quick picture, showing the visitor center and big dune. I wasn't planning to go into the park and there was a short line of cars I didn't feel like waiting for, lol.

Check-in photo
April 9, 2025 10:52 pm
Bike: BMW R1250GSA
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Last stop out of six, or maybe seven, for today. BDSP is a pretty nice park this time of year. The temp was about perfect when we were there. Wish they'd open the sand dunes to paddle-tire-equipped 450's for a day. LOL!

Check-in photo
April 9, 2025 10:18 pm
Bike: Ducati Monster 1100 Evo
Difficulty: 1 / 5

Super cool tall sand dune you can hike up. They do have an observatory here, too.

This was the last stop on an almost 400 mile great riding day with FW190Pilot.

Check-in photo
April 7, 2025 4:30 pm
Bike: 690 EnduroR
Difficulty: 1 / 5

A very unique dune, all by its lonesome. Lots of camping spots, and I bet the observatory would be pretty interesting.

Check-in photo
Check-Ins are Closed for the 2025 Challenge.

21 thoughts on “18 – Bruneau Dunes State Park”

  1. I arrived right at sunset. Wish I could have stayed longer, but I got my photo and headed to get some wings in Mountain Home. And so ends a great ride!

  2. Big fan of the Dune. Make sure go down some time when the Astronomical Society is star gazing. Worth the ride.

  3. Spent the night at the state park. Very enjoyable, I usually camp here in the fall/spring but the weather wasn’t too hot.
    Unintentionally leave my 2025 bandana at home.

  4. Great place to take the kids for a summer sledding. Caught bluegill out of the large pond as a kid. Good memories. If you have time, check out the Bruneau Dunes Observatory.

  5. After Rattlesnake Station, we rode to Bruneau where we had a great dinner at the Cowboy’s Pastime. Around sunset, we rode to the Dunes, hoping to nab a site and enjoy some stargazing at the Observatory. The mosquitoes were so bad, we didn’t stick around. From past experience, I highly recommend the stargazing parties they have each weekend there, but don’t go without your repellent! The parties cost $5/person, and as mentioned, without a Parks Pass, the entrance fee to the Dunes is $7/vehicle.

  6. The gate was open, but the guard house was closed. They have a nice little gift/information center. Good place to stretch your legs for a bit.

  7. I didn’t go in. She wanted $7.00 to get to the parking lot and I didn’t plan to stay so just pics from the road. Chilly tonight but clear weather and paved all the way.

  8. 6th site for the day. I stopped outside the entry point on the dirt road for a quick picture, showing the visitor center and big dune. I wasn’t planning to go into the park and there was a short line of cars I didn’t feel like waiting for, lol.

  9. Last stop out of six, or maybe seven, for today. BDSP is a pretty nice park this time of year. The temp was about perfect when we were there. Wish they’d open the sand dunes to paddle-tire-equipped 450’s for a day. LOL!

  10. Super cool tall sand dune you can hike up. They do have an observatory here, too.

    This was the last stop on an almost 400 mile great riding day with FW190Pilot.

  11. A very unique dune, all by its lonesome. Lots of camping spots, and I bet the observatory would be pretty interesting.

Comments are closed.