From maybe to shoreline

Build the weekend in the order that matters.

Most trips here go wrong in the planning rather than on the sand, and usually for one of two reasons: the zone calendar, or an equipment spec nobody measured.

Add it to a trip

Interactive trip builder

Build your Moses Lake plan.

Choose the trip you are actually taking, work through the destination checklist, then save, print, or share one plan with the whole group.

ArrivingLeavingPeople in the groupMachinesArrival planWhere are you staying?Group experienceTrip notes

Before anyone leaves homeYellow Zone and Mud Flats calendars checked for these datesThe Yellow Zone is closed October 1 through June 30. Mud Flats access is seasonal from July 1 through October 1.Current Washington ORV tag confirmedCheck the registration situation for every machine, including out-of-state vehicles.Required four-foot square flag measured at homeGrant County calls for a bright red or orange flag at least 48 inches square and at least 108 inches above the ground. Motorcycles are exempt.Helmet, cage, and belt rules checked for every riderA helmet is required unless the machine has both a roll cage and seatbelts. Riders under 16 need a licensed adult.Spark arrester and 105 dB limit checkedThe county limit is 105 dB at 20 feet. Do not assume another riding area's spec applies here.Drinking water and anchored shade loadedDark sand, open exposure, and Columbia Basin heat make water and shade trip-critical.Zone map downloaded and camp marked in Camp CompassSave the current county map and mark camp before riding.911 plan, MACC number, regroup points, and home contact sharedCell service is often available, but every driver still needs the same camp coordinates and regroup plan.

Your choices stay on this device unless you use Share.

Start with which zones are open

The Yellow Zone is closed October 1 through June 30. The Mud Flats are open July 1 through October 1. Look at your dates and work out how much ground you actually get, because a July trip and an April trip are different destinations wearing the same name.

Then check the equipment

A red or orange flag at least 48 inches square, flown at least 108 inches above the ground when stopped, a helmet unless the machine has a cage and belts, noise under 105 decibels at 20 feet, a spark arrester, and a current Washington ORV tag. Measure the flag at home, because the county code asks for a four-foot flag and most stock whips do not carry one. Riders under 16 need a licensed adult with them.

Plan both halves of the trip

This is not a single-activity destination and treating it as one wastes it. Build the riding day and the lake or town time into the same plan. That structure is also your weather insurance, because the afternoon that gets too hot or too windy to ride has somewhere to go.

Water, shade, and heat

No shade in the riding area, dark sand that runs hot, and Columbia Basin summer temperatures. Bring a shade structure and anchor it, and carry more drinking water than seems reasonable. Assume no restrooms and be pleased if you find some.

Sort camp and the holiday rule

Camping is allowed almost anywhere, which is generous, except on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekends when a corridor west of the third restroom building to Sand Dunes Road and Powerline Road must stay clear. If that is your weekend, know the line.

Supply in town, four miles out

Fuel everything in Moses Lake, do the grocery run there, and trailer to the area on Potatoe Hill Road via Division South or exit 174. Having a city that close means you can plan lighter than at a remote destination, so take the advantage.

Share one version and agree the stop rule

Give every traveller the same itinerary, map links, camp location, regroup points, and emergency plan, including whoever stays home. Then agree in advance what ends the day: wind, lightning, smoke, heat, fading light, or a tired rider. Deciding that in a driveway is far easier than deciding it on the sand.

Verify before travel. Conditions, zones, and regulations can change. Use the responsible agency's current information for final decisions.

Open Grant County's official source →