MOSES LAKE, Wash. (18MAY2015) - The Memorial Day weekend brings thousands of visitors to Grant County, and one of the more popular places is the Moses Lake Sand Dunes.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office provides public safety at the dunes through its ORV Unit. The following information is a guide for people who intend to visit the dunes this year.
CAMPING RESTRICTIONS: To allow access for emergency responders, starting this year there is no camping anywhere west of the third restroom building to the intersection of Sand Dunes Road and Powerline Road. See the attached graphic. The reason for the camping restrictions this year is due to large amounts of campers near the roadway. Combined with day user traffic, camping in that area causes huge traffic issues, sometimes leaving only enough room for one vehicle at a time to pass. In 2014, there was close to 11,000 people in the dunes throughout the Memorial Day weekend, many of them at or near the beach. The camping restrictions allow us better access to respond to emergencies with a lesser amount of congestion in the beach area.
SAND DUNES ROAD ACCESS FROM THE WEST: Access to the dunes is now possible from the west end. Last year, the west end access from Sand Dunes Road was closed to a problem with a dam. The dam has been repaired and people can access the dunes.
YELLOW ZONE: The Yellow Zone is closed, and reopens each year on July 1. See the attached graphic for reference.
ALCOHOL: Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Moses Lake Sand Dunes.
Additional information on recreation at the Moses Lake Sand Dunes is available on the sheriff’s website, www.grantcountywa.gov/SHERIFF/SpecOps/ORV/.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office ORV Unit will be in the dunes during the Memorial Day weekend conducting education and enforcement. We wish everyone a safe and fun time.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Off-Road Vehicle Unit is supported by grants from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.
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