Sand Mountain Recreation Area, located in Churchill County, is an OHV (off highway vehicle) recreational area near Fallon. In addition to ATVing, driving dune buggies, and riding dirt bikes—which are quite popular—the area is also known for its sledding and sandboarding. For winter enthusiasts awaiting late autumn and winter snow in the northern part of the state, Sand Mountain provides a welcome and fun alternative where you can go sandboarding and sledding year round. Take a look at this unique Nevada attraction.

Sand Mountain sits just off Highway 50 (the Loneliest Road in America) approximately 25 miles east of Fallon and 85 miles east of Reno in Churchill County. A two-mile dirt road takes visitors to the base of the 600-foot sand mountain.

Don Barrett/Flickr

Instead of a “sea of sand dunes” such as is the case in areas like the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado, Sand Mountain is a single mountain that many consider to be the best competition hill in the country for a variety of sand-related activities.

Jimmy Emerson DVM/Flickr

The sand here originates from the ancient glacial Lake Lahontan that covered most of the central part of the state and, largely, dried up approximately 9,000 years ago.

mitsy mcgoo/Flickr

In addition to the many activities in which to participate at this geological beauty, perhaps the most fascinating is that this huge six-story mountain of sand is one of only a handful of singing sand dunes in the entire world. This natural sound phenomenon can reach 105 decibels and last for several minutes.

Jimmy Emerson DVM/Flickr

Day use fees are $40; however, for $90 you can purchase a yearly pass.

mitsy mcgoo/Flickr

Even though San Mountain is open year-round, the best times to visit are in the spring and autumn as the winter is quite wet and the summer can be a bit hot and windy.

dubh/Flickr

In addition to sledding, sandboarding is also quite popular…

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Monument/Flickr

…as are ATVs, dune buggies, and dirt bikes.

Nevada Tourism Media Relations/Flickr

Have you gone snowboarding or sledding year round at Sand Mountain? Or visited for another reason? Please share your comments below.

Don Barrett/Flickr

Jimmy Emerson DVM/Flickr

mitsy mcgoo/Flickr

dubh/Flickr

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Monument/Flickr

Nevada Tourism Media Relations/Flickr

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