In December 2008, we headed to Dumont Dunes with two machines that represented the rapidly changing UTV market: a first-generation Polaris Ranger RZR 800 and a Kawasaki Teryx 750.
The trip combined several days of dune riding with an exploration of the Sperry Wash OHV route, remnants of the historic Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad and mining sites around Salt Creek Hills. Looking back, it also provides a snapshot of the early sport side-by-side era, when the RZR and Teryx were helping redefine what owners expected from a UTV.
This article documents our December 2008 visit. Access conditions, regulations and fees can change. For current directions, camping information and operating requirements, see our Dumont Dunes OHV Area guide.
Riding the Dumont Dunes
Dumont Dunes is located in California’s Mojave Desert, approximately 31 miles north of Baker along State Route 127. Its steep dunes, open bowls and sharp transitions make it one of the most recognizable sand-riding destinations in the Southwest.
Our vehicles for this trip were heavily modified examples of the two leading sport UTV platforms of the time. The lightweight RZR brought a more aggressive, driver-focused feel to the dunes, while the V-twin Teryx provided a wider platform that worked well for dune riding and longer desert excursions.
Leaving the Sand for Sperry Wash
Dumont offers more than open-dune riding. The nearby Sperry Wash OHV route provides a designated motorized corridor through the Kingston Range Wilderness and can be reached near the Dumont Dunes access road.
For this portion of the trip, dirt tires were a better choice than dune paddles. The route begins near the creek crossing before the Dumont pay station and continues toward Tecopa. From the trailhead, it initially follows the Amargosa River before turning into Sperry Wash near the former townsite of Sperry.
The route passes through a remote desert landscape surrounded by designated wilderness. Motorized travel is permitted within the marked corridor, but the land on either side is closed to vehicle use. Staying on the designated route is essential.
A Motorized Corridor Through Wilderness
Sperry Wash is one of the non-wilderness corridors that divides portions of the Kingston Range Wilderness. These narrow corridors are sometimes described as “cherry stems” because they provide access through an otherwise protected wilderness area.
During our ride, signs clearly identified the boundary between the open OHV route and the surrounding wilderness. Those markers remain an important reminder that access depends on riders respecting the designated corridor.
Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad History
One of the most interesting parts of the ride was following portions of the old Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad grade. The railroad once crossed remote sections of the Mojave Desert and connected mining areas in California and Nevada.
Francis Marion “Borax” Smith built the line primarily to serve mining operations and transport borax. The Tonopah & Tidewater operated from the early 1900s until 1940. After the railroad was abandoned, its rails were removed, but sections of the grade and related structures can still be found in the desert.
By 2008, parts of the grade near Sperry Wash had already been damaged or washed out. The remains were fascinating to explore, but they also demonstrated how quickly desert storms can change a route.
Salt Creek Hills and Amargosa Spring
We also stopped at the Salt Creek Hills area near Amargosa Spring. This portion of the trip required leaving the UTVs in the appropriate parking area and continuing on foot. The surrounding Area of Critical Environmental Concern is closed to motorized travel.
Interpretive signs described the area’s mining history, while the landscape contained old mine workings, milling equipment and structural remains. Abandoned mines are unstable and potentially deadly, so they should always be viewed from a safe distance.
Historic Ore-Processing Equipment
The remains included a stamp mill reportedly built during the 1880s. Stamp mills used heavy metal weights that were repeatedly raised and dropped to crush ore so valuable metals could be separated from the surrounding rock.
We also found the remains of a Chilean-style arrastra. An arrastra used heavy stones dragged around a circular pit to crush mineral-bearing ore. Interpretive information at the site indicated that three arrastras were once known to exist in the area.
Amargosa House
The remains known as Amargosa House were reportedly constructed during the early 1850s and may be among the oldest surviving structures in this part of the Mojave Desert.
Accounts associated with the site describe violent conflicts involving miners and Native American groups during the 1860s. Details vary among historical retellings, so these stories are best understood as part of the documented and interpreted history surrounding the mining site rather than as fully settled accounts.
Geocaching Around Dumont
We also spent some time geocaching around Dumont. Geocaching was a good excuse to slow down, navigate to less obvious destinations and explore areas outside the main dune field.
Cache locations and access conditions can change, so riders should verify that any destination remains on an open route before attempting to reach it by UTV.
A Snapshot of the 2008 Sport UTV Era
This trip came during a pivotal year for sport side-by-sides. The original Polaris RZR had opened the door to a more performance-oriented type of UTV, while the new Kawasaki Teryx brought V-twin power and another capable platform into the growing category.
Our modified 2008 Polaris RZR 800 project and 2008 Kawasaki Teryx build demonstrated how quickly owners were adapting these early machines for dunes, desert trails and long-distance exploration.
For more context on why these machines mattered, read UTV History 2008: The Sport Side-by-Side Takes Shape.
Dumont remains an outstanding UTV destination, but this trip showed that some of its most memorable riding could be found beyond the dune field. Sperry Wash, the old railroad grade and the surrounding mining history turned a weekend of sand riding into a much broader Mojave Desert adventure.
Before planning a current visit, review our complete Dumont Dunes OHV Area guide for directions, camping information, fees, safety considerations and operating requirements.
Explore more destinations and firsthand adventures in the UTV Guide Trip Reports archive.
