The open dune area
BLM has delineated and fenced about 1,400 acres of dunes for open OHV play. Cross-country travel is allowed only inside that fenced area.
Source: BLM: Whitewash Sand Dunes Open OHV Area and Trail System. Checked September 10, 2026.
The routes beyond the fence
Outside the open area, motorized travel must stay on designated routes. BLM marks them with white arrows or white paint, and the trail system reaches well beyond the dunes into the surrounding desert.
If you cannot see a white arrow or white paint, you are not on a designated route. Turn around rather than making a new track.
Sources: BLM: White Wash Sand Dunes Trailhead, BLM: Whitewash Sand Dunes Open OHV Area and Trail System. Checked September 10, 2026.
Cottonwoods in the sand
Cottonwood trees grow straight out of these dunes, which is what makes White Wash look like nowhere else. BLM asks riders to protect them by giving them a wide berth.
Sources: BLM: White Wash Sand Dunes Trailhead, RiderPlanet USA: White Wash Sand Dunes. Checked September 10, 2026.
Flags and paperwork
Utah law calls for a red or orange whip flag on OHVs in sand dune areas and helmets for riders under 18. Operators need a Utah education certificate, and machines from outside Utah need the $35 non-resident permit.
Sources: Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation: OHV laws, Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation: OHV education FAQs, Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation: non-resident permits. 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.