Location
The nearest main road leading to the Little Sahara region is US 6 from Provo to
US 93 in Nevada - one of only four paved routes that cross the state border. This skirts the edge of the
Sevier Desert, part of a huge empty area of mud flats and salt plains which also includes the
Great Salt Lake Desert; all this area was once under the waters of ancient Lake Bonneville. The entrance road to the Recreation Area leaves US 6 near Jericho, a lonely stop on the Union Pacific railway between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. After a few miles it passes a visitor center and the entrance station (the entry fee, in 2020, is a rather steep $18, but this includes an overnight stay) and leads into the center of the dunes; the vegetation becomes more and more sparse and the road finally ends, White Sands National Monument style, in a large flat area of compressed sand with dunes all around.
Sand Mountain
Little Sahara Recreation Area seems quite popular; many visitors bring large RVs with dune buggies or other off road vehicles in tow and stay for some time. There are four official campsites and dispersed camping is allowed anywhere away from the road. The most impressive location is
Sand Mountain - an elongated ridge, highest point of which is almost 700 feet above the dunes with steep, smooth slopes of sand devoid of any plants; these represent the biggest challenge for the ORV crowd. The mountain can also be climbed on foot. This is difficult but rather fun, especially when sliding back down - the ascent takes half an hour but only a few minutes are needed to return. Some parts of the hillside have outcrops of weathered, bluish grey sandstone which help when scrambling up, and the ridge on top is formed by the same rock. From here there are great views over vast areas of undulating sand, stretching away to the southwest, a view only slightly spoiled by a power station a few miles away. The top is usually very windy with much airborne sand blown by the prevailing southerly winds - not a good place for expensive camera equipment.