Killpecker Sand Dunes

Welcome to the Greater Sand Dunes Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). ACECs are areas within the public lands where special management attention is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important resources. Important resources in this area include wildlife, cultural, scenic, and wilderness. The Greater Sand Dunes ACEC is part of the larger Killpecker Sand Dunes. The western portion of the ACEC includes the Sand Dunes and Buffalo Hump Wilderness Study Areas (WSA). These are areas of land that have potential for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. No motor vehicle traffic is allowed in the WSAs. The Steamboat Mountain area is crucial birthing habitat for deer and elk. This area is closed to motor vehicles from May 1st through June 30th to protect this habitat. Access to the area is by the Tri-territory Road (County Road 4-17), which leaves U. S. Highway 191 approximately 12 miles north of Rock Springs. The OHV open area is designed as multiple use. Part of the OHV area is an active producing gas field. There are a number of facilities including pipelines, storage tanks and valves. Changing winds can bury or expose these facilities. PLEASE STAY ALERT! DO NOT tamper with these facilities! Many of the dunes are very steep on the lee or downwind side. Use caution when approaching the crest of a dune. Even in this desert environment there are small ponds of water. Most of the ponds are on the lee side of the dunes.