I saw the same map and had the same concerns. But I think you can access easily into the dunes by the drag area. I could be wrong but I'm thinking the new closure covers the area of the first set of small dunes and the flats before the larger dunes, which is usually nothing more than a transit area. I won't know for sure until dune season rolls back around in September (I may be a lifelong Arizonan, but I don't dune when it's over 100.)

Overall, the new areas of access will only make for more great riding!

 

That transit area is our way in and out of the big dunes, would hate to think they are gonna choke us all down to one narrow corridor to get in and out of the dunes.

 

I think I will be able to deal with the new restrictions considering all the new riding area we are getting back, does anyone have a link to the new closure areas?

 

I'm thinking the same thing. Looks to me like the flats and rollers east of the sand drags. My guess would be there may be a couple access paths into the dunes from the drags. I'm hoping it doesn't make much of a difference. It may be a small price to pay for more access to the bigger dunes.


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Here are a couple shots of the area overlaid on google earth. Might help clear it up a little. Can't be sure until it is all final and marked off again. Looks like they might be keeping the corridor from sand highway to Patton. Also the closures appear to be further from sand highway than it originally appeared. I lightened the closure area colors to help see a little of the terrain. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for posting I saw a map somewhere but can't find it now. If they leave us a spot by the freeway and a spot to get into Patton that would be ok, unless something breaks somewhere between patton and test. Would be a long tow back in around the closed area.

 

Trade big dunes North of Patton for that dune access strip. Still a bummer as that strip is how most come and go from camp. Still maintains the opening from sand highway to Patton.

 

My question is what the hell are these tree hugging idiots protecting? If something is tough enough to live out there, then we sure aren't going to bother it! Just another example of liberals with to much time & money!

 

Here is a link to the Record Of Decision that was signed last year. Page 129 has a good map of what is being implemented. I have not heard if any of this changed since it was signed so use it for what it is worth. We will see what is on the ground throughout this year.

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/media...b/blm/ca/pdf/elcentro/planning/2010.Par.89984.File.dat/isdra_rod-ramp_final.pdf

 

Here is a PDF map (page 129) from the 2013 Recreation Area Management Plan that was finally put into action. Kudos to FJK and all the other volunteers that made it out. I couldn't make it last Saturday and was bummed about it. If they do another session I will be there for sure.

 

From what I have read and seen, they did in fact close the access to Patton Valley. To me that is a really dumb move. If they left it open, I would hope that most people would obey the closures and enter the big dunes from I-8 or at Patton. But, with the only access at the very Southern end, I am sure that many people are going to drive right through the closure area to get to the new big dunes.

They should have just left the existing corridor open ... the logic of closing it baffles me.

Here is a map: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/media...alib/blm/ca/pdf/elcentro/maps.Par.96652.File.dat/2014_imperialdunesmap_8x11.pdf

Here are some FAQ, specifically discussing Patton: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/media...ta/etc/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/elcentro/isdra.Par.78681.File.dat/RAMPFacts&FAQs.pdf

 

Going to be interesting for sure. I'm still unclear if it will close down the drags at Gordon's well.

 

Yea they did, they screwed all of us that camp or I should say used to camp at Gordon's, most dirtbike's quads dont have the range to really access any of the new opened areas from Gordon's. If something breaks how to get it out is gonna be a bitch, or if there's an accident with injuries. I've. Been steaming about this all summer... I dont think people will understand untill they show up at Gordon's next season and find out there's a 15 mile long road block lol.

 

So your saying the drags will be closed down? Or just east of them?

 

It will be east of the drags from all the maps I have seen with satellite images.


Sent from my iPad since I'm not out riding

 

The sand highway will stay open according to the blm, so the drags I would think are ok. The problem I have is the only access we will have is right next to the canal. Its crazy to think there will never be a reason to cut thru the closed area to get back to camp asap, people crash, stuff breaks, your idiot buddy forgot to gas up before he left camp and so on...

 

If the socialist/communist democrats ever think they could close the entire dune area they would. Don't doubt me on that. Almost all of these politicians, republicans and democrats lie through their teeth. We're dealing with people who hate any type off off roading, the businesses that produce off road vehicles and anyone who disagrees with them. They're Marxist. Just look at what they say about people who disagree with illegal immigration. They call us racist, hate mongers and worse while knowing those statement aren't true. Before anyone suggest I hate immigrants, you should know I come from a family of immigrants. We followed the law in order to get our citizenship. Most of us didn't want to break the law as our first act on American soil. Good luck to all of you who ride there, I know glamis is my number one on my bucket list.

 

Any updates? Anyone been out to gordons well yet this season? Headed out Friday morning and curious...

 

Yea I was out there this last weekend, it's worse than I thought. The closure is not in the flats between the sand highway and the big dunes. It's in the big dunes basically cuts off that first set of really big dunes at the start of each set of dunes that run out east. I had a hard time figuring it out at first, it's so random and hard to make since of it at first. You need to really look at the map b4 you ride or you'll end up in a closed section..