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Idaho’s
St. Anthony Sand Dunes ATV & SxS Riding Area
::Continued::
St. Anthony’s is dotted with many camping
areas including Sand Hills Resort and the Egin
Lake Campgrounds. Reservations are highly recommended
for Egin Lake as spots fill up quickly in the
warmer months due to the close proximity to the
lake. Many of the camping areas offer showers
and RV hook ups, but a few are primitive and offer
little to no amenities besides parking and tent
areas. It is wise to do a little research before
heading out to decide what best suits your specific
needs.
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| During
the winter months St. Anthony Sand Dunes
plays host to the largest desert elk population
in the United States during the winter months |
Although you might expect the dunes to be inhospitable
for animals due to all of the off-road activity,
visitors will usually find the dunes crisscrossed
with the tracks of small rodents, birds, and insects.
In addition, many hooved animals migrate long
distances to winter in and around the dunes, including
antelope, mule deer, elk and moose. In fact, the
St. Anthony Sand Dunes hosts the largest desert
wintering elk population in North America.
The riding area of the larger dune area is open
April 1st - December 31st. The smaller dunes between
Thunder Mountain and the Red Road are open year-round,
but are usually covered in snow by late December.
The big dunes and the surrounding area are part
of a Winter Closure Area that starts January 1st
- March 31st on the sand, and thru the month of
April for the surrounding area, outside the open
sand dunes, due to migrating Elk, who call the
area home in the winter months.
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| There
are several areas at St. Anthony's that
you can catch some air even on a SxS! |
Another great thing about St. Anthony’s,
and something that makes it the perfect destination
for a family vacation, is that it is only a two
hour drive from two of the most amazing and scenic
places on earth; Yellowstone National Park and
the Grand Teton’s National Park. One of
the best times of the year to visit the St. Anthony
area is in the spring when temperatures are still
mild and plants are blooming, making for a more
scenic riding experience. Additionally, if you
are planning a jaunt to Yellowstone it is prime
time for viewing new born animals, including Bison,
Elk and Deer.
If you really feel the need to get back to civilization,
however, the nearby town of Rexburg, just 15 miles
southwest of the dunes, offers plenty of activities
from shopping and dining, to waterskiing and golf;
but with such an amazing riding area at hand,
why would you ever want to leave the St. Anthony
Dunes?
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