Little Sahara State Park
Waynoka, Oklahoma
If
you are new to dune riding, or have never ridden Little Sahara State Park in
Waynoka, Oklahoma, why not try it in the dark?
That is how my first adventure in the land of sand started. We hit the sand at 10:00 pm and rode until sunrise. We saw all kinds of little critters scooting across the sand you would never see during the daylight. The constantly changing sand, combined with headlights casting shadows that danced all over the place, illuminating all kinds of real and imagined obstacles, made for an unforgettable ATVing experience.
Most
of us ride the dunes by sunlight, but if you ever get a chance, give it a try
by headlight!
Waynoka, as it is commonly referred to, is a 1,520-acre sand playground that offers many different types of riding within the dunes. On the east side is a relatively large flat area where many impromptu drag races seem to just magically happen.
To
the West and Northwest are the largest dunes, offering fantastic views, especially
of sunsets with the Glass Mountains in the distance. In the middle there are
cottonwood trees, yucca plants and stands of tall grass that form trails. For
the aggressive riders, this is where some of the best games of "cat and mouse"
play out.
For those of you who are new to sand riding, you can have a great time on just about any old ATV you have in the garage. From 90cc two-wheel drives to 700cc 4x4's, even on stock tires, you can have a blast. Once you become addicted to slinging sand— and trust me, you will become addicted—you can always add paddle tires to give you that added traction that always comes in handy in the dunes.
The
original entrance to the park is just four miles south of Waynoka, Oklahoma,
on highway 281. This area includes primitive tent camping, RV hookups, covered
pavilions, toilets and showers, as well as a dune entrance. You can even ride
your ATV to a convenience store with everything from snacks and gas to hot meals.
A new campground on the north has been expanded into two separate areas that include even more camping and RV hookups, plus new showers and bathrooms. This area is a little more family orientated, but you are not allowed to ride an ATV into town from this campground. As with many OHV areas around the country, plan to arrive very early on holiday weekends, as large crowds are the norm.
Little Sahara safety rules require all vehicles have a whip that extends 10 feet from the ground with an orange or red flag that is a minimum 6x10 inches. Fires and alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the dunes. The park is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Daily riding fees are $7, tent camping costs $8, and RV sites are $10 with an additional $6 fee for electricity. RVs sharing electricity will pay an extra $5.
There are a grocery store, gas station and restaurant in the town of Waynoka, along with very limited lodging opportunities. If you are not into camping, you'll find several motels 26 miles to the north in Alva, Oklahoma.
Little
Sahara is operated by the Okalahoma State Parks system, which is to be commended
for numerous improvements to the park over the last few years to try and keep
up with the site's growing popularity.
For more information, call Little Sahara State Park at (580) 824-1471.