Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area fee changes effective October 1

EL CENTRO, Calif. - The Bureau of Land Management's adjusted recreation permit fees at Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area take effect on October 1. The recreation permit fees are $55 for off-site weekly permits, $70 for on-site weekly permits, and $185 for season permits.

Recreation permit fees are an important revenue source for Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area's continued operation, management, and maintenance. Revenue from recreation fees support essential services including emergency medical services, search and rescue, and law enforcement; road and facilities maintenance; trash collection and removal; and to improve recreation opportunities and experiences for visitors.

Permits are required between October 1 and April 15 annually. Permits are not required for short-term visitation (day use) at Osborne Overlook, Plank Road Cultural Resource Site, Buttercup Ranger Station, or the Watchable Wildlife Area. The recreation permit fees are for primary vehicles - the street-legal vehicles used for transportation to ISDRA.

All recreation fees collected at sites are reinvested directly back into the local recreation program to expand and improve recreational opportunities as authorized by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004.

The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area is one of the most popular off-highway vehicle areas in the United States, attracting the highest concentration of visitors of any BLM recreation area nationwide with more than 1.2 million visitors each year.