This natural free-standing phenomena are just one reason to make sure you plan a visit to St.Anthony when you travel to the Yellowstone Teton Territory.

Created by prevailing winds carrying the sand from the nearby Teton and Snake Rivers, the dunes are deposits among the hills. Once active volcanic vents, these hills poured great depths of lava over the earth. Today the St. Anthony Sand Dunes are a Wilderness Study Area and home to one of the largest herds of wintering elk in the United States.

With summits up to 400 feet high that move about eight feet each year, the sand dunes are a marvel of organic beauty with unbound recreation opportunities. Off-road vehicle enthusiasts travel from around the globe to enjoy the wide expanse of terrain, proximity to area attractions, and backcountry access.

This Idaho wonderland is enjoyed by horseback riders, racing against the dunes and open sagebrush and enjoy the Egin Lakes Trail. It’s also one of the few destinations in the country where downhill enthusiasts can strap in and ride the dunes.

Sandboards are available for rent at the BYU Outdoor Resource Center→ and
at the St. Anthony Sand Dunes Visitor Center. The visitors’ center offers both stand-up and sled-style sandboards for rent daily, for $15 for one board or $25 for two. You must be at least 18 years old to rent a board.

A blend of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding, sandboarding is certain to become your favorite new sport.

Adventure Dune Rentals is located on-site at the St. Anthony Sand Dunes and rents ATVs, UTVs, and SxSs for all experience levels. St. Anthony Dune Rentals rents ATVs and UTVs. And, Patriot Sand Dune Rentals offers UTV and ATV rentals. 

The riding area on the west side of St. Anthony Sand Dunes, west of Egin Lakes Campground (aka. “the big dunes”), is closed from January 1 through sunrise on April 1. The area south of Egin-Hamer Rd is also closed from January 1 through sunrise on April 1. The areas surrounding the open sand of the St. Anthony Sand Dunes are closed from January 1 through sunrise on May 1. The smaller dunes, east of Egin Lakes Campground to Red Road, are open year-round but are usually covered in snow by January 1. See the map→ for more details on the dunes’ layout.

One of the local favorite off-road experiences includes a beer run–that would be Beer Run Trail→. Accessible spring, summer, and fall, the fifty-three-mile trail is technically easy and shows off Idaho vistas like no other. Kick off through desert cattle land and head into the dense forests lining the Island Park Reservoir before riding the rugged terrain alongside the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River→. Other popular ATV dune hot spots include Devil’s Dune, Choke Cherry Dune, Dead Horse Bowl, Middle Bowl, and Crapos Hill (aka Thunder Mountain)→.

Visitors can travel back in time at the Egin Bench Petroglyphs→ and observe the ancient rock carvings created by indigenous peoples thousands of years ago. The petroglyphs provide a glimpse into the lives and beliefs of the area’s early inhabitants they etched their everlast marks into the basalt rock formations of the Egin Bench→.