Best Imperial Sand Dunes National Recreation Area Day Trips & Things to Do

Also called Algodones Dunes and Glamis Dunes, this 40-plus mile-long recreation area can reach heights of up to 300 feet in the Sonoran Desert in Southeastern California. Imperial Sand Dunes National Recreation Area is made up of sand that blew over from the former Lake Cahuilla that's last existence was recorded back in the mid-1400s. It is used often by off-road vehicles and campers. The sand dunes can be viewed in several movies including "Road to Morocco," "Flight of the Phoenix" and "Return of the Jedi."