In today's article, we are going to delve into the fascinating world of Bruneau Dunes State Park and discover everything that this theme has to offer us. From its origins to its relevance today, through all the advances and changes it has experienced over time, in this article we will thoroughly explore every aspect of Bruneau Dunes State Park. In addition, we will learn about the opinions of experts in the field and the experiences of people who have lived closely Bruneau Dunes State Park. So get ready to immerse yourself in a journey of knowledge and discovery that will leave you with a complete and enriching vision about Bruneau Dunes State Park.
Bruneau Dunes State Park | |
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IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
Location in the United States Location in Idaho | |
Location | Owyhee County, Idaho, U.S. |
Nearest city | Mountain Home, Idaho |
Coordinates | 42°54′36″N 115°42′35″W / 42.91°N 115.70972°W |
Area | 4,800 acres (19 km2) |
Elevation | 2,470 ft (750 m) |
Designation | Idaho state park |
Established | 1967 |
Administrator | Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation |
Website | Bruneau Dunes State Park |
Bruneau Dunes State Park is a public recreation and geologic preservation area in the western United States, located in Owyhee County in southwestern Idaho. It is northeast of Bruneau and fifteen miles (25 km) south of Mountain Home.
Featuring large sand dunes and small lakes, the state park is the site of North America's tallest single-structured sand dune, which is approximately 470 feet (140 m) in height. The park encompasses 4,800 acres (7.5 sq mi; 19 km2) and features the Bruneau Dunes Observatory, where visitors can use a telescope for stargazing.
The park's dunes are unique in the Western Hemisphere: where others in the Americas form at the edge of a natural basin, the Bruneau dunes form near the center. The basin has acted as a natural trap for over 12,000 years. The dunes may have started with sands from the Bonneville Flood about 15,000 years ago. With prevailing winds blowing from the southeast 28 percent of the time and from the northwest 32 percent of the time, the dunes stay fairly stable, and unlike most dunes, do not drift far.
The state park includes desert, dune, prairie, lake and marsh habitat. Desert wildlife is prominent along with birds of prey and waterfowl.
Land for the park was purchased under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act in May 1967. Additional acreage was acquired in 1980 and in 1984, bringing the park's total area to 4,800 acres (19 km2).
Activities include sandboarding, fishing, birdwatching, camping, hiking, swimming, and viewing the stars at the public observatory. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the dunes but climbing and sledding are permitted. There are seven-mile (11 km) and nine-mile (14 km) horseback riding trails around the dunes. An educational center offers natural history displays and a gift shop. The astronomical observatory is open Friday and Saturday evenings mid-March through mid-October. Two cabins, 82 RV sites (with water/electricity) and 32 standard sites are available year round in two campgrounds: Eagle Cove Campground and Broken Wheel Campground. An equestrian overnight facility, with corrals, is also available. Fishing for bass and bluegill is popular in the park's small lake. Only non-motorized canoes, rafts and float tubes are allowed.