Bruneau Dunes State Park

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Located south of Mountain Home, Idaho, outside of Bruneau, Idaho, Bruneau Dunes State Park is home to the several large sand dunes and a small lake. The park is the site of North America's highest sand dune which is approximately 470 feet high. The park is also the site of the Bruneau Dunes Observatory, where visitors can use a telescope for star gazing.

Bruneau sand dunes

1 Natural history
2 Plants and animals
3 Access
4 Park history
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Natural history

Reportedly the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America rises to 470 feet high above small lakes. The dunes at Bruneau Dunes State Park are unique in the Western Hemisphere. Other dunes 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. The prevailing winds blow from the southeast 28 percent of the time and from the northwest 32 percent of the time, keeping the dunes fairly stable. Unlike most dunes, these do not drift far.

[edit] Plants and animals

The state park includes desert, dune, prairie, lake and marsh habitat. Desert wildlife is prominent along with birds of prey along with waterfoul. Fishing for bass and bluegill is popular in the park's small lake. Only non-motorized canoes, rafts and float tubes are allowed.

[edit] Access

From Mountain Home travel south for 18 miles on ID 51 to the Snake River. Cross the bridge and turn left onto ID 78 for two miles to a signed road leading to the park entrance which is one mile ahead. From the east, take exit #112 at Hammett, and go 15 miles west on ID 78.

Activities include fishing, birdwatching, camping, hiking, swimming and viewing the stars at Idaho's only public observatory. No vehicles are allowed on the dunes but climbing, sledding and horseback riding is allowed. An educational center offers natural history displays and interpretive programs. An astronomical observatory is open Friday and Saturday evenings March-November. Two cabins and a 98-unit group camp is available and are open from early March until late fall. Along with an equestrian overnight facility is also available.

[edit] Park history

Purchased under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act (May, 1967). Additional land was acquired by the Department in 1980 and in 1984, bringing the total acreage to 4800.