Bruneau Dunes State Park - Southwest Idaho

Idaho is full of unexpected natural features. Southwest Idaho is home to one of the most unexpected and also one of the most fun places to visit. Bruneau Dunes State Park is like a giant sandbox located a few hours south of Boise. There are two prominent dunes in the state park. The tallest dune is actually the tallest free standing dune in all of north america.  It is 470 feet tall. When you visit the park you can hike to the top of the dune or just play on the smaller dune.

Location: The dunes are located in the middle of a small valley east of the small town of Bruneau, Idaho. The park is about 64 miles south of Boise and 84 miles west of Twin Falls. The park entrance is about 18 miles west of I-84.

Hiking Distance and Time: The trail from the picnic area to the top of the Big Dune is approximately 1 mile long. There is also a loop trail option that starts and ends at the Visitor Center. That option is almost 6 miles long. Hiking in sand is difficult so consider this trail moderately strenuous and plan for extra hiking time on the dunes.

Cost: $5 per car or free with your Idaho State Park Pass which is $10 for residents or $40 for non-residents. Camping starts at $21 per night for a tent campsite.

Operating Seasons and Hours: The park is open all year long. Star Gazing programs run from March to October. Camping is available all year however the water is turned off in the winter months. Visit the website for exact dates.

Official Website: https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/bruneau-dunes

Date of Visit: Saturday, May 5, 2018 and Saturday, September 28, 2019.

This was the eighth and last stop on the first day of the Idaho Road Trip that my family went on in May of 2018. Our kids had been asking all day when we were going to stop and set up the tent so they were very happy when we got in the car at Malad Gorge and told them that we were camping at our next stop.

I can't remember exactly how I first heard about Bruneau Dunes. But as soon as I heard about a free standing sand dune in Idaho I knew I had to visit this state park. Staying at this state park was on my itinerary for the trip from the very beginning.

My family loved our time at Bruneau Dunes. About 18 months later we moved to Twin Falls Idaho which is closer to the dunes. We decided to go on a day trip out to the dunes for my daughters 6th birthday. And as I wrote this post I decided it was time to reserve a spot for another camping trip to the park. I don't think that will be the last visit either.

The sand dunes are what makes this place unique. The big dune is the highest free standing sand dunes in North America. But this isn't the type of state park where you just look at a cool feature. No this is a place where you interact with the landscape until it becomes part of you. (And since this place is full of sand you will literally take home some of this place no matter how hard you try to clean up before leaving.)

Here are 10 things I recommend doing to enjoy your time at Bruneau Dunes State Park

1. Play in the Sand
You drove all this way, now it's time to see what those dunes are all about. The first dune you encounter from the park road is a fun place to play. It isn't as tall as the big dune so you can climb it in only a few minutes.  This is a perfect place to kick off your shoes and run up the dune. But beware, it's very steep. The dune is like an extremely vertical beach. When you make it to the top you'll have a great view of the lake/pond behind the dune. Depending on the way the wind is blowing you can pick a side of the dune to hang out on.  My family loves playing on this dune.

My son was sliding down toward me as I worked my way up to the top.

2. Sled Down the Small Dune
If you really want to enjoy playing on the sand dune grab a sled. Sledding down the smaller sand dune is a very popular activity. The park rents sandboards from the visitor center for a small fee. You are also welcome to bring your own sleds. We discovered that it's a good idea to wax the bottom of your sled to make it go faster.  We didn't sled on our first visit to the park (because we were on a week long road trip and traveling with sleds didn't sound like fun) but later we came back just to sled as a family activity for my youngest daughters birthday. Sledding on sand is much more fun than sledding on snow because you don't get cold. We stayed for hours.

3. Go on a Hike

You can hike all over the dunes - even to the highest points. There are trails that lead to the base of the dunes, but once you get to the sand you are forging your own trail. It's tough work because you sink into the sand about 6 inches every time you take a step. We found it was easier to hike barefoot than in sandals.

Hiking was easier once we reached the ridge line.

The hike was worth it for the pictures. Who knew pictures like this were possible in Idaho?

If steep, sandy inclines aren't your thing you can still go on a nice hike. There is a loop hiking trail that is 5.6 miles from start to finish. Beware that this loop trail will go on sandy surfaces and there may be some inclines near the big dunes. There are long stretches of level trail in the area near the visitor center so you can hike on that part of the trail as long as you feel comfortable and then turn around.

4. Eat a Picnic Lunch (or Dinner)
There is a shaded picnic area near the big dune. There are also some picnic tables near the small dune. You'll appreciate having somewhere to sit that isn't covered in sand.

5. Go Fishing

There is a small lake located at the base of the dunes. Blue Gill fish are in the lake. There is a boat ramp just south of the picnic area. You'll need an Idaho State Fishing Licence to fish here. 

6. Learn about the Night Sky
Thanks to the remote location, the night sky above Bruneau Dunes is ideal for star gazing. There is an observatory just a little to the north of the sand dunes. Ranger led star gazing and education programs are available on Friday and Saturday nights from March to October. Programs usually begin at dusk. Check with the Visitor Center for exact times.

7. Fly a Kite 
Near constant wind is what keeps the dunes in place and so this is an idea place for kite flying. There are large fields near the tent campground that make a perfect place to fly a kite.

8. Ride on the Equestrian Trail
Bring your own horse and enjoy the trails around the state park. The equestrian trail takes visitors to areas of the park behind the big dune. There is a corral with water available. The equestrian area also has 19 non-reservable campsites.

9. Stay Overnight
There are three options for accommodations if you want to stay the night. There is a large grassy area with improved sites for tent camping, an RV area, and there are even a few cabins with heaters if you don't want to brave any cold nights. You can make reservations on the State of Idaho State Park's website. Reservations are strongly recommended for weekends and holidays.

10. Take Awesome Pictures
Some of my favorite pictures were taken at Bruneau Dunes. These are definitely memories we will remember forever.

The kids all joined hands on their own as they ran down the trail from the tall dune. Such a perfect picture!

A few other things to know.

I expected to see the dunes towering over us when we arrived in the park.  However, when we saw the dunes they looked small compared to the surrounding hills. Don't worry though, they are plenty big when you are climbing up them.

Watch out for how hot the sand can get on warm days. So far we've only visited in the Spring and Fall so this hasn't been an issue for us. But be aware that the sand can get very hot. If you are visiting during a warm time of year plan to play on the sand in the morning or evening. 

It's easiest to hike barefoot. We needed our sandals on the flat part of the trail, but after that we discovered it was much easier to hike deep sand with barefeet.

Don't Forget Bug Spray!

My husband just reminded me that we dealt with quite a few misquotes on our first visit. Remember to bring bug spray on your visit. 

Recommendation: My recommendation is that everyone should visit Bruneau Dunes. It's a unique place with plenty of fun activities. Whether you spend a few hours or a few days at this state park it will be well worth your time. 

Directions: The most direct route to Bruneau Dunes State Park is to take Exit 112 off of I-84.  From there you will travel west on I-78.  After about 15 miles you'll make a left turn onto Bruneau Sand Dunes Road. There are signs on the road that will help you know you are going in the right direction.  

Additional Information: Bruneau Dunes are the only dunes in Idaho. I'm hoping to visit St Anthony Sand Dunes this year. After that I'll publish a guide comparing the two sandy locations. 

Next Stop: Our next stop of note on the Idaho Road Trip was the Greenbelt in Boise.