Wshrdskin: I'd revise that to read: May (Memorial Day) though Sept (labor Day). Also Thanksgiving is becoming busier and busier. I'd also reserve for that weekend as well. Overall the place has gotten much busier over the last 3-4 years with ATV recreation becoming more popular.

Rude Dog.

 

You're better off just making reservations. For a few dollars more you don't have to be worried about whether or not you'll get a spot. If you plan on going on a holiday you will need reservations. Last I heard 4th of july resv. were being made in February. I made my reservations for Labor Day in March and almost 50% was already taken.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

wshrdskin-We were there Friday thru Monday. We had a group come in Saturday evening without reservations, and they had no problem. You should have tried again on your way out!! I guess they got your spot. I would have risked the fine after a 4 hr drive. Nobody came around checking.

I thought the place was really torn up, and the dunes were rounded off into hills. They need a few days of really strong winds to get the place back in shape!! I would have gone somewhere else if I had known how bad it was! Saturday night, comp hill was nuts. There was a guy getting 60 ft of air in his buggy. He did that a few times, then pancaked it in on a Whitch hole, and blew his tires off the rims.

 

Camping without reservations is a hit and miss deal. You never know when the rangers will come around. I heard they make their rounds real early in the morning (like 5:00am). That they go around checking for tags and feeling hoods. If there's no tag and the hoods cold, they figure you stayed the night and leave you a ticket. As far as the fine goes it used to be cheap @ about $75.00 per night, but since so many people were violating it they bumped it up to $280.00 per incident/night. Signs with the increased fine amount were posted over the 4th weekend.

Rude Dog

 

Remember that you need to make reservations at least 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE.

 

Yes, we considered staying anyway. But a 250.00 plus fine I didn't need. I realy wanted to see the action on the dunes on Saturday night also. I'll get reservations next time and join the festivities at night. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

For Labor Day, currently all that's left is Monday night. Last time we couldn't get a pass, we just camped in the SLO hospital parking lot (a member of our group was in intensive care, so it worked out well). Since I didn't get reservations this time, I'll probably do the same.
Fish