- Giant Four-wing Saltbush
- Neese Narrowleaf Penstemon
- Rockwell Wilderness Study Area
- The small desert dwellers
- Watching without wrecking it
Giant Four-wing Saltbush
Atriplex canescens var. gigantea is found nowhere else on Earth. It survives shifting sand through sheer size, fast root growth, and the unusual ability of its stems to put down roots when they get buried. The dunes bury it; it turns the burial into an advantage.
Neese Narrowleaf Penstemon
Penstemon angustifolia var. dulcis is the second endemic plant here, adapted specifically to the area's aeolian (wind-blown) sands. It blooms in May and June, which is the best argument for a late-spring visit that has nothing to do with riding.
Rockwell Wilderness Study Area
The 9,000-acre vehicle-free zone on the northwest side is where the wildlife concentrates. Mule deer and pronghorn antelope use it, along with reptiles including the desert whipsnake. Birdwatchers can find up to 15 species among the juniper, sagebrush, and native grasses. Great horned owls nest in the junipers.
The small desert dwellers
The kit fox hunts rabbits, mice, birds, and insects at night. The antelope ground squirrel stays active even through the heat of the day, which almost nothing else here does.
Watching without wrecking it
Use binoculars, stay on designated roads and trails, avoid riding over vegetation, and give animals a route away from you. Sagebrush and juniper stands that look like empty space between dunes are the habitat.
- Stay on designated roads and trails
- Never ride over vegetation
- Pack out all food scraps
- Keep pets leashed in developed and high-traffic areas
- Early morning is the quietest time to look for anything
BLM Little Sahara Recreation Area · Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation
435-433-5960 · BLM Fillmore Field Office