1. Named After a Railroad Man
Dumont Dunes was named after Harry Dumont, a railroad engineer for the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad in the early 1900s. The tracks once ran near the dunes to haul borax from Death Valley.
2. Old School Buggy Mecca
Dumont was where early rail builders tested their homemade creations. Some of the first long-travel rails ran there in the late ’70s and early ’80s.
3. “Comp Hill” Has Always Been the Proving Ground
Comp Hill (short for “Competition Hill”) got its name back when duners used to line up and drag race to the top for bragging rights.
4. Home of the Dune Masters & Sand Pipers
Two long-time dune clubs — the Dune Masters and the Sand Pipers — have been organizing events, races, and charity runs at Dumont for decades. Their Thanksgiving and Presidents’ Weekend races are legendary.
5. The Tallest Dune Tops 400 Feet!
The biggest dunes at Dumont rise more than 400 feet from base to crest — that’s taller than the Statue of Liberty!
6. A Movie Star Dune
Parts of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi were filmed nearby in the Dumont/Death Valley region. Locals claim a few props and set pieces were once spotted buried in the sand.
7. Razorbacks Are Born Every Summer
Each off-season, windstorms reshape the dunes completely. Riders who return every fall say it’s like a brand-new playground every year.
8. Ghost Towns Nearby
Just beyond Dumont lie the remains of Amargosa and Ibex, old mining ghost towns that supplied borax and salt to the region — perfect side trips for history buffs.
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