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Before Thanksgiving gets here, there’s another weekend worth putting on your dune calendar! Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, November 11 this year, but Friends of Dumont Dunes’ annual Veterans Day Flag Run is scheduled for Saturday, November 14. Make a weekend of it November 13–15, enjoy some dune runs, and take a little time to honor those who have served. A More Laid-Back Weekend Veterans Weekend typically has more of an off-weekend feel at Dumont. Think smaller crowds, room to spread out at camp, and evenings around the fire with friends. If you enjoy a quieter trip between the big Halloween and Thanksgiving weekends, this is a good one to keep in mind. Friends of Dumont Dunes Flag Run Bring your American flags and show your support for our veterans! The flag run traditionally gathers at Vendor Row before heading to Veterans Hill, near the swingset, for a flag-raising ceremony. Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026 Meeting time: To be announced! Watch for the final meeting time and any updated ride details from Friends of Dumont Dunes as the weekend gets closer. No Holiday Pass Required Although we call it Veterans Weekend, November 13–15 is not a designated holiday pass period at Dumont. A regular $30 non-holiday weekly pass or a valid Dumont season pass covers the weekend. An entrance pass is still required. View Dumont pass information and purchasing options Pack your flags, bring some firewood, and enjoy a relaxed weekend in the sand. To all our veterans, thank you for your service!

Halloween is behind us, and Thanksgiving weekend is next! November 26–29, 2026 means another long weekend of dune runs, campfires, turkey dinners, and hanging out with friends and family at Dumont. Thanksgiving still draws a decent crowd, but it usually isn’t quite as crazy as Halloween. The weekend has more of a family atmosphere, with duners spending their days riding together and their evenings sharing food and hanging out around the campfire. Whether you’re heading out early for the whole week or squeezing in a few days, there’s something pretty hard to beat about Thanksgiving dinner at camp after a day in the sand. For many families, cooking Thanksgiving dinner at Dumont is part of the tradition. From deep-fried turkeys to everyone bringing a favorite side dish, camps find plenty of ways to put together a full feast out in the desert. It’s a good excuse to slow down, enjoy camp, and spend a little extra time with your people. Waterpumpers: Dune Masters & Sandpipers The waterpumpers are a longtime Thanksgiving tradition at Dumont. These V8-powered buggies bring a little old-school dune history to the weekend, with drag racing and hill climbs that are always worth checking out. Hill Climbs: Slowest to the Top Wins The hill climbs aren’t about who can get to the top the fastest: it’s just the opposite! The goal is to be the last one to reach the top without stopping. On the steep side of Comp Hill, that’s harder than it sounds. Go too slowly and the paddle tires dig in, sinking the buggy into the sand. Give it too much throttle and you climb faster than you want to. It takes careful throttle control and a well-built machine with the right combination of power, gearing, and traction to keep crawling uphill while outlasting the other racers. More than anything, the waterpumper tradition is about nostalgia. It’s a connection to the early days of Dumont, when these V8-powered buggies helped shape the dune scene. Seeing them line up again brings back memories for longtime duners and gives newer generations a look at a tradition that families have kept going for decades. Friday & Saturday Schedule FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27 10 a.m. Drag Races Back stretch of Sand Highway heading toward the North Pole. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 10 a.m. Hill Climbs Steep, left side of Comp Hill. Racing is open to club members only, but everyone is welcome to come watch! Getting Ready for the Trip Make sure your entrance pass includes holidays, get the toys ready, and leave room for the turkey! Before heading out, check DDR’s weather page and nearby services directory for help planning your trip. If you’re making a longer stay out of it, plan ahead for fuel, water, propane, and everything you’ll need for Thanksgiving dinner. Bring warm layers for evenings at camp, and browse our Vendor Row directory for food, parts, and supplies. Take care of the dunes, pack out your trash, and keep an eye out for each other during the busy weekend. Who’s spending Thanksgiving in the sand? Share your plans in the comments, and post your photos and trip reports when you get back!

Weather 77 light winds no crowd! Perfect riding!

Halloween Weekend at Dumont Dunes! Halloween Weekend returns to Dumont Dunes October 30 - November 1, 2026! After a long, hot summer, it's time to get back to the sand, kick off another dune season, and enjoy one of Dumont's favorite holiday traditions. Halloween at Dumont Saturday, October 31 is the big day! Bring your costumes, decorate your camp, and stock up on candy for an evening of Halloween fun throughout the dunes. Friends of Dumont Dunes Trunk or Treat Saturday, October 31, 2026 Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Location: Vendor Row Friends of Dumont Dunes (FODD) will be hosting their annual Trunk or Treat! Bring the kids in costume for some afternoon Halloween fun before heading back to camp for the evening. View the FODD Facebook announcement » Trick-or-Treating & Camp Decorations After Trunk or Treat, the fun continues with traditional camp-to-camp trick-or-treating Saturday night. Many families participate, so have plenty of candy ready for the kids making their rounds! Halloween decorations are also a big part of the weekend. From spooky lights and pumpkins to elaborate camp displays, get creative and join in the fun! Let the 2026-2027 Dune Season Begin! Halloween Weekend is one of the first big weekends of the season, so expect plenty of activity in the dunes and around camp. Keep speeds down near camps, watch for kids and pedestrians after dark, and ride safely in crowded areas. Get the toys ready, load up the candy, and we'll see you at Dumont!

The dunes are calling, and DDR is ready for another season! We've been busy behind the scenes giving Dumont Dune Riders some much-needed attention for the 2026–2027 dune season. From server and software upgrades to improvements throughout the website, there's plenty that's new and improved! YOUR DUMONT TRIP STARTS HERE Explore the Improved Dumont Guide Everything you need to plan your next Dumont trip, all in one place! Directions Camping FAQs Facts & Info Landmarks Maps Rules Passes Services Vendor Row Weather Photo Gallery What's New & Improved? 🌤️ Dumont Weather Check our upgraded 14-day forecast with hourly predictions, wind speeds, gusts, and more before your next trip. Check the Forecast → 🔧 Services Directory Need fuel, water, RV dumping, repairs, recovery, or supplies? Find useful services near Dumont in our expanded directory. Find Services → 🛒 Vendor Row Find food, ice, parts, and supplies from Dumont vendors. We're expanding the directory and welcome additional vendor listings! Explore Vendor Row → 🤘 It's All About the Dumont Community! DDR is more than just a website! Share your trip reports, photos, builds, and questions in our forums, browse the gallery, and stay connected with other duners. 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Dune season is finally getting underway! Paul Carter sent us some fresh photos from Dumont today along with an update on the dune conditions and entrance road. He said the wind was whipping pretty good out there today. The tops of the dunes are getting razor sharp, but they're also pretty chunked up in spots. Razorbacks are typical of what we call "summer dunes." After sitting all summer with very little traffic, the dunes can get crazy steep with big drop-offs and some nasty transitions. Throw in some rain followed by high winds and the dunes can really get torn up. The rain can leave the sand hard-packed and uneven, and then the wind comes through and reshapes everything. These early-season conditions can be pretty sketchy, especially if you're used to riding the smoother dunes later in the season when they've had more traffic. If you're heading out, take it easy on those first few rides and pay attention to the terrain. The dunes can look completely different from how they were last spring. Entrance Road Conditions Paul also sent over a couple photos showing standing water and muddy runoff across the entrance road. He mentioned that his motorhome scraped in one spot on the way in, so watch those rough spots, especially if you're bringing a big rig or trailer. He also confirmed there are no speed bumps in the entrance lane right now. Keep the Updates Coming! We've started a new ongoing Dumont Conditions & Trip Reports thread in the DDR forum for the 2026/27 season. If you're heading out, already camping, or just got back from a trip, jump in and share some photos or let everyone know how things are looking. Road conditions, weather, dune conditions, whatever you've got! [Join the Dumont Conditions & Trip Reports discussion Big thanks to Paul Carter for sending over the photos and keeping everyone updated! Be safe out there and enjoy the start of dune season! 🤘 Photos courtesy of Paul Carter – October 13, 2026.