Last Updated on October 2, 2023

One of the first things that comes to mind when you think about Canada is probably, well… snow.

What may be surprising is that there are actually a few deserts and sand dunes across Canada which make sandboarding and sand duning in the country possible. 

Carcross Desert Sand Dunes Canada
Carcross Desert, Yukon, Canada. Photo courtesy of Diego Delso. CC-BY-SA

Sandboarding Locations

Carcross Desert – Yukon

Welcome to the Carcross Desert, what is possibly the smallest desert in the entire world!

This is not your standard desert, but rather what was left behind from an ancient lake drying out. 

Because of its size, you can sandboard in a crater surrounded by very green hills with snowy peaks, in what is a truly unique sandboarding landscape that you won’t find anywhere else.

All-terrain vehicles and offroad dune riding are also permitted on the fine-grained dunes, and hiking is a very popular activity amongst tourists of Carcross.


Great Saskatchewan Sand Hills – Saskatchewan

In the middle of the Saskatchewan prairies you can find a little hidden gem: a 1,900 sq. km area of desert-like sand dunes.

These pearl white dunes are in constant movement because of wind activity, which gives them a new shape every day.

Sandboarding is not popular and you may have to bring your own board or sled, but it will be worth the effort.

The Great Sand Hills are truly a unique area where you can practice a variety of additional desert activities that you cannot do anywhere else!

Have you ever been bone hunting?

Start digging in the sand and you are likely to find the remains of local wildlife, particularly, the small rodents known as kangaroo rats which inhabit the dunes.

If you hang around there at night, you may even be able to see them roaming around.

Different types of birds, deer, coyotes and cows are also easy to spot around the area.

You can learn more about the area by visiting the Great Sandhills Museum & Interpretive Centre in the nearby town of Sceptre.


Sandhill Park – Port Burwell, Ontario

Sandboarding in Ontario is confined to the coastal sand dunes of Port Buwell, a few hours away from Toronto.

The Sand Hill Park has sandy mountains up to 450 feet above water, where sandboarding can be practiced – surfing all the way down to Lake Erie.


Tadoussac Dune – Tadoussac, Quebec

There are sand dunes in the municipality of Tadoussac where people sometimes go sandboarding.


Northern Québec Sand Pits

In the video below you can see Antoine Beaulieu sandboard down sand pits surrounding the side of logging road in Northern Québec.


Deserts of Canada

Okanagan Desert – Osoyoos, British Columbia

Unsuitable for sandboarding

The Okanagan desert is Canada’s only desert, although it is really more of a pseudo-desert.

It consists of a semi-arid zone with a very hot, dry climate in the summer and very mild winters, but unfortunately it does not have any dunes that are suitable for sledding.

If your wish is to go sandboarding in the Okanagan desert or the area near Kelowna, I have bad news for you.

The sand dunes in Osoyoos are quite short and rather “green”: filled with bushes, cacti and wildlife, and they are better explored on foot wo that you enjoy some great hikes.


North America Sandboarding Map

This Post Has One Comment

  1. Co MO

    Is there any place in Western Canada suitable?

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