New Restroom for West Rim on Sand Mountain
UPLA and Tread Lightly will be installing a new composting restroom on Sand Mountain at the end of West Rim, just north of Sundial Rock. Tread Lightly has applied for and received a $34k grant for half the cost and UPLA will fund the other half. DRATS will provide transportation of the kit to the site, and completion should be by late Fall, 2022.
Waddy’s Corral is Ready for Parking
The tractor work is done and the fencing is going up. This huge project has been done on time for another busy summer on Sand Mountain. Desert Roads and Trails (DRATS) did an excellent job managing and fund raising for this project to eliminate the poor parking available near Sand Mountain OHV area. The area developed is over 5 acres and should handle at least 50 trucks and trailers for Side-by-Side unloading and will be the new air down spot for Jeepers. Located next to the Water Tanks, this area was needed to replace the area between the two tanks for a third tank.
The following agencies and businesses donated funds to make the project a reality:
Hurricane City $150,000
State Parks OHV $100,000
UPLA $50,000
Washington County $50,000
DRATS $47,000
Utah 4Wheel Drive $10,000
FMCA Jeep Club $5,000
Public Donations $4,000
Tri-State UTV $2,500
Dixie 4 Wheel Drive $2,000
Mad Moose Rentals $1,500
Tread Lightly $1,500
Thanks also goes to the many attendies to the Winter 4×4 Jamboree which was responsible for the much of the proceeds donated from returns from the event.. We should all be proud of the tremendous support from the local groups to undertake this large of a project and to the BLM for their continued support of our activities to improve the OHV site.
BLM APPROVES WADDY’S PARKING CORRAL AT SAND MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY
ST GEORGE, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) St. George Field Office hopes to improve public safety by approving the creation of parking and off-highway vehicle staging areas at Sand Mountain Recreation Management Area in Washington County. This decision authorizes a five-acre parking corral for up to 50 vehicles and trailers with two retention basins, a vault toilet restroom and an information kiosk to be built, as soon as possible. The surrounding 15 acres will be reserved for future expansion, as funding allows.
“This decision assists with the growing interest in the Sand Mountain Recreation Area, allowing outdoor enthusiasts and their families a safe place to park and gather,” said BLM Color Country District Planning and Environmental Specialist Callie Goff. “We appreciate the partnerships that make these types of improvements possible on BLM-managed public lands.”
This area is experiencing a rapid rise in outdoor recreation and is increasingly popular with off-highway vehicle users who enjoy the dunes at Sand Mountain Recreation Area. In 2021, more than 375,000 people visited Sand Mountain. The current parking and staging areas are simply not equipped to accommodate all users. Recreationists have turned to parking along State Route 7, the Southern Parkway that loops east of St. George, and other undesignated parking areas, causing backups, congestion and even accidents to occur. By building the new parking corral, visitors will not only have a designated place to park, but also a location to safely gather, orient themselves and review safety protocols before entering the sand dunes.
This project would not be possible without our continued partnership with Utah Public Lands Alliance and the Desert Roads and Trails Society. Both non-profit organizations are dedicated to supporting the use of public lands for outdoor recreation. These organizations will fully fund the project in order to enhance the overall recreation experience at Sand Mountain. The parking area will take 30 days to complete once construction begins.
Our Utah BLM & Public Land Preservation Projects
How We Make A Difference In Utah Land Use
Saint George BLM Field Office Travel Plan 2014
We are working with the BLM and Washington County to ensure that the travel plan includes all the trails and roads to preserve access.
Installation Of Sand Mountain OHV Trail Signs
This project will develop and install permanent trail signs for the popular trails in Sand Mountain. This project is financed by Recreation Permit Funds from the BLM.
Creation Of Ridgeline Trail To West Rim Trail
We worked with the BLM and the Desert RATS to construct a new trail to access the West Rim trail system. This was a cooperative program between the UPLA and the BLM. This project is financed by Recreation Permit Funds from the BLM.
Addition Of Composting Toilets To Sand Mountain
We have acquired the funds to purchase our first Composting Toilet for Sand Mountain! This Hi Tech facility will be installed at the top of Competition Hill on Sand Mountain – a popular gathering spot for many of the motor sports crowd. Installation will begin June 12 and is expected to be completed on June 22.
This low maintenance toilet will be the first of what we hope to be several that will be located throughout the OHV area.
Stay tuned for more details!
Sand Mountain Land Exchange Land Swap Issue
In December of 2013, the Washington County Utah County Commission formally requested that the Bureau of Land Management initiate the process for a land swap of 1,200 acres inside the designated OHV area on Sand mountain for a residential development… READ MORE