Bruneau Dunes State Park

Bruneau Dunes State Park, south of Boise near the town of Bruneau, protects the tallest single-structure sand dune in North America, rising about 470 feet. Because it sits in a desert basin where wind currents converge from several directions, the dune stays largely in place rather than migrating like most dune formations. Two small spring-fed lakes lie at its base, and the park's dark, unpolluted skies support an on-site public observatory used for stargazing programs. Visitors can hike or sandboard up the dune itself.