Sand Has
Its Own Rules.
Here's what to know before you gas it to the top of your first 300-foot face.
Momentum is everything.
Hesitation is the enemy.
Sand punishes hesitation. When you're climbing a dune face, commit — steady throttle, weight slightly forward, don't let off mid-face. If you stall out on a steep slope and start sliding backward, that's when rollovers happen. If you're not confident you have enough speed to summit cleanly, don't start the climb. Come at it with more momentum from the bottom, or pick a different line.
Descending has its own rule: come down straight. Don't traverse a steep face sideways — the loose sand won't hold your lateral weight the way hardpack would, and a side-hill will tip you fast.
Look before you commit
to the crest.
"The most important habit at Coral Pink: crest every dune slowly your first time. You don’t know what’s on the other side. Every experienced dune rider does this every time. The ones who skip it have stories they’re not proud of."
Pop to the crest, check what’s there — another rider coming the opposite direction, a steep drop, a bowl that changes your landing angle — then commit. Takes two extra seconds. Worth it every time.
Morning is the only answer.
Afternoon is a different story.
Morning riding at Coral Pink is exceptional. The sand holds firmer shape, the light turns the dunes luminous orange-pink, and the temperature is manageable even in summer. By early afternoon in July the surface sand goes soft and powdery, the heat is serious, and the experience degrades fast. Plan to be on the dunes by 8am. Plan to be done by noon. Use the afternoon for Kanab or the drive back.
Ready to feel what
real dune riding is?
Book your Coral Pink rental. Drive two and a half hours from Las Vegas. Leave with the best photos of your year.