Imperial Sand Dunes National Recreation Area

While in Yuma, AZ for a few days, we drove west on I-8 into California to observe the massive sand dunes of the Imperial Sand Dunes NRA.  More than 127,000 acres of wind swept sand is piled into dunes, some up to 300 feet high...it has created a massive sandbox for off-road vehicle enthusiasts to play in.

History lurks here too with the preservation of remnants of the Plank Road. The Plank Road was originated in 1915 to provide a route from Yuma, AZ to San Diego, CA which did not involve driving all the way to Los Angeles first.  San Diego merchants helped raise money to bring the planks and construct the 6 1/2 mile Plank Road across the shifting desert sands.  The road consisted of two parallel tracks, each 25" wide spiked to wooden cross pieces underneath.  In April, 1915 work was completed and the first automobiles traveled the new route....they declared it a success!  However, with time and wind against them, the planks would shift and move and create a difficult mess.  Drivers often had to stop and put the planks back in place to continue their travels...it became known as the "Do-It-Yourself Highway".
In 1916 the California Highway Commission developed improvements that kept the Plank Road in place and provided more stability.  However, the road was still not wide enough for two cars to pass and occasional disputes resulted.  Pull-out and passing areas were added. The road was used until 1926 when a two-lane asphalt road was built to replace it.

Preserved sections of the Plank Road can be seen in place at a site near Gray's Well Road.