Im headed out to Cali this month and want to take my banshee with me and hit the dunes. I'm wondering if you could help me out. I'm looking for directions to both of these places like where you actually enter on the dunes. I can find about where the places are at online, but not the entrances to get on the dunes. I also need some info on campsites. Locations and prices per night or free spots if you know of any. I heard you can camp on the beach, but theres no way my truck would be able to drive on the sand. It has a hard enough time in the snow.

Thanks

 

Don't be afraid of the beach at Pismo. You have to drive on it to get your quad to the legal ride area anyway. The place is actualy called Oceana Dunes you can check the out online at http://www.oceanodunes.com/. Just air down your tires before you head down the beach. It's a good idea to Identify a front tow point before you get stuck because you will get stuck. Then just wait for someone to come by and give you a hand. You may also want to check out Dumont Dunes while your here.

Woodo

 

Along Highway 78 on the map, "Glamis" (the store) is at the northeast corner of the riding area. Gecko road is at the northwest corner. I prefer camping at Roadrunner Campground, which is at the end of Gecko Rd. You just park off to the edge of the pavement, and there are a couple of outhouse bathrooms. Bring your own water! At the entrance to Gecko Rd there is a ranger station, and you will have to buy a camping permit ($10 for a week).

At Pismo, try to arrive at low tide (there are tide tables in the newspapers, usually on the weather page). There are 2 ramps where you can enter at Pismo. One is at the end of the main street of town, and the other is south about a mile off Highway 1 (or just follow everybody else who has a trailer full of bikes, that's what I did the first time-sorry, I can't remember the street names). You have to drive down the beach a couple miles before the camping/riding area starts. There is a small camping fee, and you just park wherever you can. Again, there are some outhouses, and bring water.

 

OK, I found my Pismo map. From Highway 101, take the Grand Ave. exit, and head west. This goes on for several miles, but Grand runs right into the ocean, and there is an access ramp there. If you use this ramp, you will have to drive a couple extra miles on the beach.

To get to the other ramp (my preference), from Grand avenue turn left (south) onto Highway 1 (just after you cross the railroad tracks). Go south for about 1.5 miles until you come to Pier Ave. Turn right, and it will take you down to the beach.

Like he said, depending on the route you take out here, you may go by Dumont (near Las Vegas). There is lots of great cross-country riding too, so bring along your regular tires as well as the paddles. Don't wait to long though, the desert starts getting real hot, real soon!!!

Let us know when you are going, just in case someone is there at the same time.

 

you wont get stuck on the way in...its right on the beach...the sand is packed...its like driving on well......really really hard sand.....whenever people tell you theese stories about getting stuck and paying the couple hundred dollars to get pulled out by Angelos (all terain towing company located right at the entrance to the beach) they are talking about trying to get to the campsite when you have to drive on the soft sand...

if you can spare 70 dollars you can get an escort from angelos they will pull you in and out whenever you want to leave...its better to be safe then sorry..

later
pismoguy

 

Pismo is a pretty kool place, watch out for rangers. My freind got a DUI on his dirt bike drag racing on the beach. I guess they have a 10 MPH speed limit there so be carefull. The dunes are full of razor backs, I have a banshee and I get good air at Pismo, the Dunes are really steep. I go there every year, in mid-July look for me in a huge Yellow Ryder moving truck me and my freinds throw all of our toyz in the Ryder. Check out Dumont Dunes in Death valley there really big, but I only recomend going there in the winter its way to hot. Later

jay