WHITE WASH ยท HISTORY
Trees in the sand,
cameras on the dunes.
A small dune field with a big look, set in working ranch and oil country south of Green River.
Trees where dunes should be bare
What makes White Wash different is the cottonwoods growing straight out of the dunes. BLM asks visitors to protect those trees by giving them a wide berth.
Sources: RiderPlanet USA: White Wash Sand Dunes, BLM: White Wash Sand Dunes Trailhead. Checked September 10, 2026.
On film
The dunes have played a part in Hollywood's long history in the Moab area. Discover Moab lists White Wash Sand Dunes among the locations for Geronimo: An American Legend in 1993, alongside Professor Valley, the Potash Trail and Needles Overlook.
Source: Discover Moab: movie sites. Checked September 10, 2026.
Working country
The dunes sit among ranches and oil production facilities, and BLM's guidance for visitors asks them to respect private property and stay clear of both. Desert bighorn sheep share the same landscape.
Source: BLM: White Wash Sand Dunes Trailhead. Checked September 10, 2026.
A fenced dune area
BLM manages the dunes as an open OHV area of about 1,400 acres, delineated and fenced so riders know where cross-country travel is legal. The routes beyond the fence are designated and marked in white, which keeps machines off the surrounding desert.
Sources: BLM: Whitewash Sand Dunes Open OHV Area and Trail System, BLM: White Wash Sand Dunes Trailhead. Checked September 10, 2026.
River history next door
For the bigger story of this country, the John Wesley Powell River History Museum in Green River covers river exploration. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Source: John Wesley Powell River History Museum: plan your visit. Checked September 10, 2026.
This is an independent planning guide. Fees, hours, closures, fire orders and riding boundaries change. Confirm the current details with the BLM Moab Field Office.