Sand Mountain Recreation Area
One of the many interesting places to visit on Nevada Highway 50, the Loneliest Road in America, is Sand Mountain Recreation Area. Located twenty-five miles south east of Fallon, ATV and off-roading enthusiasts from near and far flock to this off-roading paradise.
The sand dunes originate from the ancient glacial Lake Lahontan that for the most part, dried up 9,000 years ago—which means that you’re basically ripping around on what could’ve been beachside property 10,000 years ago. The area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is open to off-highway vehicle use without limits.
Sand Mountain in the distance from Highway 50
While there are many things to marvel at when visiting this geologic wonder, perhaps the most fascinating is the fact that Sand Mountain is one of only a handful of singing sand dunes in the world. This natural sound phenomenon can reach 105 decibels, lasting as long as several minutes.
Massive mountain of sand with RVs parked near the base for scale
Near the base of the mountain is a large RV parking area. We visited on a weekday and the mountain was buzzing with ATV's. There were several empty spaces in the parking area but beware of soft sand if you're visiting the area. We didn't venture off the paved road since we were not planning to boon dock there for the night. Overall, the stop was well worth it. The scale of Sand Mountain from up close is a spectacular sight.
RV parking area at Sand Mountain
RV parking area at Sand Mountain
Military helicopters over Sand Mountain
Nearby Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon has served as a training facility since its inception thanks to the area’s perfectly empty wide-open spaces. In 1996 it became the premier air-to-air and air-to-ground training facility when the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) was transferred to the base.
US military flyby at Sand Mountain
We enjoyed our visit to Sand Mountain and look forward to returning to stay a few nights in the area.