Volunteers called to participate in 2-day service project of ‘unprecedented’ scope on Sand Mountain

Written by Alysha Lundgren
March 14, 2023

ST. GEORGE — The parking lot offers a stunning 360 view of the snow-covered Pine Valley Mountains and a stretch of sandy, red dunes. It’s here where volunteers will gather for a two-day service project to benefit the Sand Mountain Off-highway Vehicle Area, starting this Friday.

The view from the Sand Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Area, Hurricane, Utah, March 12, 2023 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News

The Utah Public Lands Alliance organized the event in collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management, the Desert Roads and Trails Society, St. George Jeepers, and Ride Utah, according to the alliance’s website.

“We are expecting this event to be unprecedented in scope and size,” the site reads.

Utah Public Lands Alliance President Loren Campbell told St. George News that he expects between 50-100 people each day of the event, which starts at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 17, and resumes Saturday, March 18, at the same time.

Volunteers will meet at Waddy’s Corral off Sand Hollow Road before splitting into four separate groups, which could then subdivide as they work on projects, Campbell said.

Projects include completing fencing around Waddy’s Corral, installing education street signs and obstacle plaques, cleaning the Warner Valley and Washington Valley staging areas and repairing Competition Hill’s composting toilet.

Waddy’s Corral offers parking near the water towers near Sand Hollow Trails, as indicated in red, Sand Hollow State Park, Utah | Image courtesy of Google Maps, St. George News

Waddy’s Corral was constructed to “eliminate the poor parking available near Sand Mountain OHV Area” with over $400,000 in funds from various agencies and businesses, including Hurricane City, Washington County and the Utah Public Lands Alliance.

While the project’s first phase was mostly completed last year, Campbell said they hadn’t finished installing the split rail fence, which was designed to “fit in with the environment.” They hope to complete the installation this weekend.

The educational signs will help people navigate the mountain, as “it’s a huge area and people get lost all the time,” Campbell said. Other signs will indicate where the 40-50 obstacles are throughout the area. These have been given to search and rescue teams to locate riders more easily in an emergency.

If these projects are completed or if there is an abundance of volunteers, the group could work on additional projects. They are still seeking volunteers and those interested should email Campbell for more information. However, people arriving the day of will also be welcome, he said.

The BLM will provide logistical support, including dumpsters, trash bags and some tools. Volunteers are encouraged to bring hand tools, such as shovels, pick axes, 5-gallon buckets and trash grabbers. Additionally, they should pack gloves, water, lunch and snacks, the website states.

An off-road vehicle at the Sand Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Area, Hurricane, Utah, March 12, 2023 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News

“Nobody has to bring them all,” Campbell said. “If everybody brings something, we’ll have plenty.”

The Sand Mountain OHV Area is one of the few open off-road areas in Utah where there aren’t designated trails and riders can go “pretty much anywhere (they) want,” Campbell said.

“But what that also means is that we have to spend a lot of time making sure that we take care of the land,” he added. “And that’s really what it’s about.”

Those interested in volunteering can view the event’s details on Facebook, visit the Utah Public Lands Alliance’s website or email Campbell.

Event details

  • What: Sand Mountain Service Project
  • When: March 17-18, beginning at 9 a.m.
  • Where: Waddy’s Corral near Sand Hollow Trails in Sand Hollow State Park.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alysha Lundgren joined the St. George News team in 2022. She began her career as a freelancer, writing resource articles for families of children with disabilities. She's also covered topics such as astronomy, recreation and nature. Originally from Nevada, Alysha fell in love with Utah quickly after moving to Cedar City. In her free time, she enjoys wandering and photographing Utah's gorgeous landscapes or hunkering down in a blanket to play video games or read a good book.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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