Most of the sand at Little Sahara is the result of deposits left by the Sevier River, which once flowed into ancient Lake Bonneville 15, years ago. After the lake receded, the southwesterly winds that flow across the Sevier Desert picked up the exposed sand.
Sand Mountain, in the middle of the dune field, deflected the wind upward, causing it to slow and drop its load of sand.
Sand particles, composed mostly of quartz, fell downwind among the sagebrush and juniper around Sand Mountain, ultimately creating a square-mile system of giant, free-moving sand dunes. Looking for solitude and quiet recreation? The ecosystem provides habitat for a diverse array of plants and animals. Mule deer and antelope, 15 species of birds, the Desert Whipsnake and 8 other species of reptiles. Stands of juniper, sagebrush, grasses typical to the Great Basin, and an extremely rare variety of saltbush dot the landscape.
I had not really paid attention to the map to see that reaching the top of dune required more than ft of elevation gain. Started my hike at a. It was 37 degrees F and elevation was ft. Started walking up the hill fast trying to keep away from what looked like the main motorized vehicle pathway. Did not want to get run over by a fast moving one. I got paranoid thinking that maybe hiking was not allowed there but I had not seen any signs to that effect.
It became quite steep and the sand became unbelievably hard to the point that I could barely sink my hiking poles into it. Did not know if the sand was frozen, compacted by vehicles or was in the geologic process of turning into sand stone. Had to slow down and in some places was even afraid of slipping on the hard surface of the sand.
A cold wind began to blow. Finally reached a big bowl just below the summit. Went up more steep slopes to reach a soft sand ridgetop that lead to the cliffs on top. I heard the loud annoying ATVs starting down below but they did not come up where I was.
Followed the ridgetop to reach the first cliff. The true summit was a little farther away but to go there I would have had to traverse a steep very hard sand slope. Did not want to slip on that slope and was in a hurry to get back down before the vehicles came my way. Could not believe that crampons and ice axe would have come in handy traversing that slope.
I was at an elevation of ft and had gone 0. It was a. Stood there to take a few pictures. I then began to go down the way I had come. The two ATVs and a motorcycle had come on the big dunes but where fortunately still not on my path. Reached my Jeep at a. Had a little to eat and drink. Leaving the area, I stopped to take another picture of the big dunes. Wondering where you can power a hill and glide A place where you can hang with the crowd or saddle up and ride off into a sage-tinged sunset?
Then look no further than Little Sahara. A plentiful sand source and strong prevailing winds have combined to create Little Sahara, one of the largest dune fields found in Utah. Most of the sand at Little Sahara is the result of deposits left by the Sevier River, which once flowed into ancient Lake Bonneville some 15, years ago.
After the lake receded, the southwesterly winds that flow across the Sevier Desert picked up the exposed sand. Sand Mountain, in the middle of the dune field, deflected the wind upward, causing it to slow and drop its load of sand. Sand particles, composed mostly of quartz, fell downwind among the sagebrush and juniper around Sand Mountain ultimately creating a square-mile system of giant, free-moving, sand dunes.
The dunes are still moving to the north and east between 5 and 9 feet per year. Set aside as a vehicle-free zone, this 9,acre unit is a miniature version of the larger surrounding desert ecosystem.
Rockwell's sand dunes, scattered junipers, and sagebrush flats provide habitat for a diverse array of plants and animals. Mule deer and antelope, 15 species of birds, the Desert whipsnake, and 8 other species of reptiles live here. Stands of Utah juniper, sagebrush and grasses typical of the Great Basin, plus an extremely rare species of saltbush, dot the landscape.
Great horned owls are one of several different species of birds of prey that nest in the juniper stands inside the Rockwell Outstanding Natural Area. Preserve the natural beauty and enhance the hiking, birding and other muscle-powered recreational opportunities found in Rockwell by keeping motor vehicles outside the boundaries of the natural area.
Atriplex canescens variety gigantea, also known as giant four-winged saltbush, is a unique plant species. The dune fields of Little Sahara are the only place in the world where this particular variety of saltbush grows naturally.
Special adaptations, such as rapid root growth, huge size, and the ability of stems to develop roots, enable the giant four-wing saltbush to survive in Little Sahara's harsh environment of shifting sand.
Please help protect this extremely rare inhabitant of Little Sahara. Start planning now! The Story of Starvation State Park. Push your ATV to the limit or enjoy a more mellow family ride while taking in amazing scenery in destinations only accessible with four-wheel drive. Read all about it and plan your off-road adventure today! Learn more.
A day on the dunes. Photo: Frank Jensen. Photo: CMK Photography. Share On. About the Author — Matcha Matcha formerly RootsRated is a media platform that connects users with the best outdoor experiences, hand-picked by local outdoor retailers and their networks of local experts.
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