Destination spotlight: Sand Lake
By Shannon L. CheesmanNEAR TILLAMOOK, Ore. - ATV riders from across the Pacific Northwest know all about Sand Lake - head over there on any given weekend, especially a sunny one, and the place will likely be packed with quads, three-wheelers, sand rails, four-wheel drive vehicles, toy haulers and more.
And with over 900 acres of open sand dunes to explore, it's no wonder this is a hot spot on the Oregon coast. If you've been there, you know all about it but if you haven't, here's a quick guide with all the details. Overnight Camping Sandbeach
East Dunes / West Winds
Sand Camping
Camping Notes
Expect to get sand in your shoes, pants, shirt and all sorts of places you never imagined - and forget about keeping it out of your tent or RV. They don't call it Sand Lake for nothing. Expect to have a lot of fun. This isn't the place to go if you're looking for a nice 'getting back to nature' camping experience. This is a hard charging, fast moving, loud kind of place. Things slow down at Sand Lake during the weekdays, so if you want a little more of a relaxing atmosphere, try to carve out some time during the week to head on over. And finally, a note for RVers - the dump site is currently closed indefinitely due to sewer problems and with no hookups, that does pose a problem. Check out www.rvdumps.com for a list of alternate dump sites.
Day Use
Beach/Dune Riding Rules
Oregon ATV Rules and Regulations
Effective Now Children under 18 ride must with their helmet chin-straps fastened and they must be supervised by someone who is at least 18 years old, has received accredited ATV training and can provide immediate assistance to the child. Effective January 1, 2009 Riders under the age of 16 must ride on a properly fitting quad and will be required to complete a mandatory safety education course developed to teach safe, responsible riding behavior. Upon passing the test, they will be sent an ATV Education Card which must be carried while riding on public lands. In addition, all riders under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years of age and holds a valid ATV Education Card, so anyone supervising young riders must complete and pass the course and carry their card. Effective January 14, 2009
The course will be available on the website beginning January 1, 2009. Those without internet access may call the toll-free number for a printed copy of the study guide and test. The course is free, and riders who wish to receive a reminder when the course becomes available can visit the website now to sign up for an email announcement.
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It's noisy at Sand Lake, especially on a packed weekend. The Sandbeach campground is quieter than the parking lot camping areas but you'll still hear plenty of off-road vehicles and generators. New quiet hours (12 a.m. to 6 a.m.) help.
New ATV regulations that were signed into law by Gov. Ted Kulongoski in 2007 are currently being phased in. The idea behind the new regulations is to keep people safe, especially kids.
All ATV riders will be required to complete the safety education course, pass the test and carry a valid card. For the schedule of the minimum age requirements being phased in, along with complete information on the rule changes for Oregon’s ATV riders, go to 
