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Sand Dune Park - CLOSED
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
89 reviews for Sand Dune Park
To everyone who loves the manhattan beach sand dune park. I am entering a review / plea for your help.
Manhattan Beach politicians are threatening to close the sand dune park in 2 days! We need your HELP!
We have created an online website asking for you to take 15 seconds and sign our petition. Let's NOT make this happen please! Please spread the word especially to people who live in the south bay! We need to tell our politicians to leave our recreational areas alone! http://sanddunepark.co...
I love this place. My goal is to get to 15. Simply watching people really go out and work their butts off on this hill is a great motivator.
If you're tired of the hill you can hit the stairs. If you're tired of the stairs, then you can get on the swings. I've seen dogs up on top but I do not believe the park is dog-okay.
Plus, they always have park rangers on hand to answer any questions or shoo dogs away.
BUT IS IT OPENED YET! BOO TO THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE BOOHOOING ABOUT THE CROWD.
The residents around this are pretty childish in how they're acting towards the way visitors come to this amazing place... sadly, this has been closed for some time now and it doesn't look like it'll open any time soon.
I have fond memories of this place, and while it does create more traffic and parking issues for the locals, that shouldn't be a reason for them to close it off to the general public and take away an otherwise amazing experience for child and families alike to see this place
More than a place to get some work out done, this sand dune is the last of its kind in the area. There will be town meetings to potentially open this place back up, if it isn't and you've never been here, you're really missing out on an otherwise really strange and other worldly looking spot to come and enjoy.
If you were a MB resident near the park, you wouldn't want your neighborhood mobbed by outsiders (many scruffy looking unemployed individuals) everyday that detract from your enjoyment of the neighborhood. No only did they come, but also threw trashes around the place, made lots of noises and jams up residential streets. I am sure you would not want people to do that to yourself!! Please people go somewhere else - like the gym!
This is appropriate place for the person who wants a work-out that is practical and not over stressed. Many professional athletes train here. Great way to get in shape. Just a little minutes' stroll from the parking spot, this arch is easy to get to. It's also small enough that visitors can climb on it. Finally, it's reasonably shaded by large surrounding sandstone walls, so on a hot day, it's nice to visit.
Puhreeese reopen, Sand Dune. Can we do a telethon or a guy ringing a bell with a donation can? A big PayPal account to Manhattan Beach's email addy?
This is one of the best things in all of Los Angeles County and having it be closed for those of us who have found it and love it is like having the Hollywood sign be closed for tourists (the LAPD would throw sleeping masks on every tourist who tried to look at it within seconds, ruining pictures).
Neighborhood locals, I feel your pain. It has to be annoying to have people parking all over your lawn, making it impossible for you to have friends over without tandem parking your driveways. I am not trying to be insensitive to your plight. I just miss my sandy workouts.
Here is an update that I found:
http://www.insidesocal...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/6/2008
Free exercise and an ethnically/age diverse, friendly crowd struggling up and down a big hill of… Read more »
http://abclocal.go.com...
They will be closed on Aug. 14, 2009 for at least 2 weeks for maintenance.
It's getting too expensive for the city to maintain because of its growing popularity. Plus, the residents have been complaining about noise, trash, & parking situation.
They'll be implementing some changes that will hopefully correct the problems or else, they'll probably close it down.
So PLEASE help keep this place open by cleaning up after yourself and following the rules.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/19/2009
Great spot if you hate the gym or if you just love to workout outdoors.
It's a steep hill of sand… Read more »
Looks like it was too much of a good thing for everyone. There's sand erosion, so the city closed the park for repairs.
LA Times article: http://www.latimes.com...
Locals want the Sand Dune Park closed permanently. Article didn't say when the park was to reopen.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/29/2009
Holy Smokes! My friend, Teddy, organized a group workout here last Sunday and the Sand Dune didn't… Read more »
I had never heard of this place before yelp, and based on the pictures, I figured it was a big dune near the beach. Wrong! It's a GIANT, HUMONGOUS dune totally independent from the beach. (Once you start climbing up the dune, it seems to get even bigger and more intimidating. )
Sand Dune Park is a great place to workout. If this is your first time, WALK, don't run, up the sand dune, so you can get an idea of what you're getting yourself into. Just a few laps up and down the dune and you'll be done for the day. There's a nice view from the top, as long as you don't look too far to the left where you can see the lovely nearby power plants and National Guard trucks. If you want to run the stairs, it is a nice alternative to the dune, as that area is shaded by trees. There are bathroom facilities available at the base of the dune. Don't go up the dune in shoes. You can do it with barefeet and not have any problems. There are some rocks hidden in the sand, but my feet are hard as stone so they didn't bother me. For more sensitive feet, they might bother you.
I came, I climbed, I vomited (twice). Apologies to the residents of Manhattan Beach and their innocent shrubbery.
If you're down to walk up and down a bunny slope of sand, with calves crying, thighs burning hotter than Hell and not a dollar in your pocket, this free torture park is for you. Complimentary pain and suffering guaranteed.
One star for my physical fitness, five stars for shaping up fellow masochists!
Down 30 lbs. now and I've walked my first 5k for the March of Dimes this past weekend. I'm going today after work by myself, because all of my people have flaked on me....Some are hating on my coninuous success and have been trying to offer candy and all types of stuff......
Thinking about walking the LA Marathon (5k) to stay motivated.....My legs are hurting thinking about 5:00 p.m. today....
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/15/2009
I need to state that I'm hooked on the Dunes and I have a love , hate relationship with this place.… Read more »
Ouch in the best way. Been a long while since I have hit the dunes and it kicked my butt today. Went after a morning yoga and made it up 5 times before folding...
This is one of the hardest core work outs that you're gonna find. There are always people there from all walks of life and all fitness levels. Some bold souls run up backwards. I was not one.
Did run almost all the way up a couple times, but it was damn near a heart attack. (Again in the best way). No reason to rush, the walk is tough enough to get you sweating
It is much easier barefoot, but sometimes the sand can get pretty hot and some type of foot protection makes things less scorching. Can't say how much I love it here...
Try it out and see for yourself. The 100 yard dune and steep incline will test your mind and body. You will be sore, but again, in the best way...
Your body will thank you.
Open...open...open back up soon for me please! I have been doing the stairs here for years, and just wish it had not become so popular.
Me and my big mouth! There is nothing like running up this sand dune or running down for that matter. I will always hold dear that memory of years ago, comming here as a child, and running down that sand dune. Now, when I am there, though for purely work out reasons, I find myself reliving moments from that little girl long ago, who had not idea of the abundant life that was about to unfold. I need to get back here as soon as it reopens, but for the moment, I will have to cut down on the caloric intake. Dang!
It's soooooooo hard. But it's an amazing workout.
Just pace yourself and don't look up.
Don't ever look up.
This is the most intense leg workout you'll find in the South Bay and probably most of the greater LA area.
Two things make this hill such a great workout:
1. The thing is insanely steep, probably greater than 50 degrees at certain points.
2. The sand is deep. Your feet will literally sink ankle deep into it and require you to put a lot of effort into every step up.
Don't come in the middle of the day. The sand gets too hot. If you do, wear shoes (most people go bare foot when it's not hot).
Funny story about the last time I was here, there was this middle-aged, fat woman trying to chug her way up and down the dune.
That would normally be fine, but the whole time she was walking she kept repeating out loud, "Oh help me, Lord Jesus!"
I just can't make this crap up.
I love the place, visited 2-3 times/ week for 7 years as part of my regular running & climbing workouts. Tonight, I'm headed to the parks & recreation committee meeting to brainstorm a solution that will hopefully lead to the dune reopening as soon as possible.
Here are some more of my thoughts on the issue, http://jakesadventures...
Yah, yah, yah....i know, it looks all friendly and sweet, but this mile high pile of sand is the best free workout in town.
I would give this 6 start the times you go and overhear newbies puff out their chests confidently with the infamous last words...."It doesnt look so bad."
I once ran up and down a Manhattan Beach sand dune 3 times in a row without stopping.
I couldn't walk for a month.
Alright, here's a quick backstory: I'm 6'1, 320lbs (right now) and work out usually about 4-5 times a week.
A friend told me about this place, said it was the best workout ever to help build endurance and shed weight, so of course I was sold and looking for something new to check out. Of course, she flakes, but I still went and checked it out. Now, first off this thing looks super intimidating when walking up to it. But I didn't care, I tried it one time, and it took a good 10 minutes to get to the top because I was huffing and puffing, but I didn't quit.
I did it another two times over the span of about 30 minutes and I have to say it was an awesome workout. Because I live in the Pasadena area, the drive will kill me but since I don't work right now, I am going to aim for doing it at least twice to three times a week and I know if I do keep that pace I'll be dropping down to my goal weight in no time.
Also, even though I was at first intimidated, a lot of people that were there were very nice and actually talked to me and kept encouraging me as I was climbing, so I felt really comfortable really fast. I would definitely suggest doing this if you have the time, are not afraid to sweat and most importantly are actually ready to get yourself into shape.
I'm also planning to walk the LA Marathon (maybe jog half of it, not sure yet) and I know if I keep going to this place, the marathon won't be as bad for me as everyone says it will be. Hope this helps :)
I heard of this place last summer but never went. I finally had the chance to go tonight and OMG! What a calf killer! But okay, so I haven't exercised in awhile and my neighbor keeps saying she wants to go for a walk. I mentioned a sand dune and a walk but she had never heard of this place and I didn't want to explain. I just wanted her to see the hill and get scared. And you should have seen her face! LOL. She thought I was joking.
Parking was abit difficult but we managed to park in the neighborhood. I didn't realize you we could have walked from the bottom of the hill up so we went up the stairs and walked down the hill in no time. Easy! But it took us about 20 minutes going up and lots of breaks.
We were amazed at all the little kids running up and down the hill with no problem as with quite a few others. Most people walked up and down the hill several times in the same amount of time for us to go up once.
Once was enough for this trip. My heart hasn't beaten that fast in a long time. And whew, difficult to breathe too. It's more difficult that walking up and down stairs! But a great alternative.
Since I had read reviews on yelp and the park website, we took flip flops and then barefoot on the hill. There were a few big rocks but it wasn't too bad.
"I bet you I could run up and down this thing 7 times!"
"Ok, you're on."
10 minutes later...
*huff* *puff* "How many was that?"
"You've done three. and you WALKED the last two."
Sand Dune, ONE. Alex, big fat ZERO.
For those of you that like some outdoor exercise, check out Sand Dune Park, located off Rosecrans in Manhattan Beach. It's a beach-like workout without the actual beach and is a popular spot for people to do some fun, vertical conditioning. Beware: The hill is steep. Steeper than pictures indicate. I'd describe it as somewhere between a Blue and a Black Diamond slope (maybe 50-60 degrees). So, collect all your facts before you challenge a friend into a run-off where the loser buys beers.
There's two sides of the hill, one for kids and one for adults. I really recommend sticking to their guidelines and running on the appropriate side. If not, don't say I didn't warn you when a 7 year old kid plows into you at full downhill speed screaming at the top of his lungs! The kids' side actually appears to be the steeper (but shorter) of the two, and I usually don't see too many kids here unless it's a weekend afternoon. Parking is available on Bell St., which you can enter from Rosecrans.
Also blogged it here: http://myweekendpasspo...
Oh and don't wear shoes. And please try not to kick sand up as you run into other people's faces!
Walking on sand....IT IS NOT JUST WALKING PEOPLE! Its not solid, its doesn't give you traction, it isn't flat.....its the turf on which you will develop a strength, speed, agility....and a bikini-licious backside.
Sand Dune Park is a great spot to toss on your iPod and get your hike on. Grab a friend, some family members or even go it alone - its always busy and park professionals are consistently on-site. The only thing you won't sweat?! The price - its a city park so F-R-E-E!
Quick recommendation - parking can be a bit hairy right at the park so either leave your wheels on Rosecrans or better yet, ride your bike. Just remember to save yourself enough energy to pedal home post-Dune.
Awesome workout! We would "run" (by run I mean walk as fast as possible which is silly once you see the thing!) this to prepare for our Mt. Whitney hike of 22 miles.
Let's just say we went up/down 7 times and were SPENT. I have special plans to take my future kids there to expel some energy. You're all welcome to steal my idea! :)
A couple warnings: the dune closes at sun-down (I believe), parking is not too fantastic... but if you're a local, run down there..., people often mess up the groove by running up/down on the wrong sides (why can't we follow street traffic rules so we don't have sand in our faces?), and there are occasional pieces of OUCH in the sand.
But... beyond that, it's still worth checking out for a fun and intense workout!
I'm bummed that this place is closed. What a great cardio workout. Can't wait till it opens up again.
If you speak spanish, you'll know what I mean by...
"NO MAMES!"
This place is a great work out place. I've been there twice, but I'm already hooked...too bad my out of shape ass could only do it twice! But I'm gonna keep going. Hopefully I'll get rid of some LBS by doing this and other exercises.
I've been taking friends, and they've all enjoyed it...so it's good.
It's also great when you see people running down...and then they lose their footing and start rolling down. CLASSIC!
Get there.
Sand Dune Park was not created as an exercise facility. It is a nature preserve with a wonderful little walk through a wooded area and an awesome dune. The dune is the last one we have in Manhattan Beach and should be preserved to showcase what our town used to be. People built little beach cottages and created a park.
Please come and appreciate Sand Dune Park. Just don't think of it as a free workout. If you want a good exercise, run on the sand by the ocean. We aren't trying to exclude you, but preserve our dune. The residents have to pay to continually replenish it and it does create noise and litter in our neighborhood. I know YOU have been respectful and quiet but any haven't and that is one of the reasons it has been closed.
Think Green and don't drive to get a workout.
This is the greatest workout ever: it is FREE, it raises your heart-rate, it tones your muscles, and when you are done your legs feel springy and fresh. Screw the gym!
Do not wear shoes or socks. I wore socks the first time and sand got in the socks and made it impossible to climb. The sand is really fine, almost like dirt not like beach sand, so your feet will get a bit dirty.
If you are not in good shape don't set your goals too high for this, work your way up. Say you will do three climbs with a three-five minute rest in between; this will lower your heart-rate, which is a good thing if the workout is super intense. I am in fairly good shape. I climbed the hill five times, running half-way and walking the other half, and then resting for two minutes between climbs.
It is east facing, so I suggest going closer to sunset so that the sun is not as intense. I can imagine intense sun it would add to the stress of the workout.
After battling my cold for a week or two, I figured it was safe to start training for the half marathon. I figured I should start a little easier than running 3 miles because I am rather out of shape, so I figured I would start with the dune, because hey, all you have to do is walk up a hill. I figured WROOOONG!!!
About half way up the dune, my life started to flash before my eyes. How can going so SLOW be so EXHAUSTING?! I tried to put one foot in front of the other. Laboriously. I was so focused on conquering the 2 feet of sand in front of me that I didn't even know I had reached the top until I reached it. Learn from your Auntie Di, children: going up that sand dune is like going through life... it takes blood, sweat, tears, and SEVERAL slip-backs, but every miniscule step forward gets you closer to the top, whether you can see the top or not.
GO AND CONQUER IT!
Sand Dune Park ....I HATE IT, BUT I LOVE IT!
This is a GREAT WORKOUT. My legs were already sore from doing the SM stairs earlier in the week and Critical Mass (Google it) the night before.. but heck, it's only a mountain of sand, right?? I reached Manhattan Beach via the South Bay bike trail so I arrived at the entrance at the top of the sand dune. Looking down... I'm thinking to myself "it's not so bad".. I was right.. going down.. no problem..
Going up is a different story let me tell you!! With each step you take, it feels like you're taking 2 steps backwards cause your legs sink into the sand. To be honest, I had to stop a few times cause it was straight up EXHAUSTING!!
I went on a Saturday and it wasn't very packed at all. Most people take their shoes off and either leave their socks on or go barefooted.
If you want a KICK ASS workout you should definitely check this place out!
So much fun.
This is just a massive hill covered with sand. It's like hiking up a snowy mountain if you want to know how it feels.
Great workout. It really would whip you into shape if you went here everyday. It's also free. and very unique. who would have thought to dump a bunch of sand on a big ass hill?
it was awesome to see so many people go up and down this thing at once. If you build/yelp it, they will come.
I hate this place. How can a pile of sand be SO TIRING? Hahaha.
What's funny is before trekking up the hill, B asked me how many times we were gonna go up the hill. "Oh, how about 10 times?" I suggested. Oh how naive I was. My calves were killing me going up. I was done after 3! Maybe I haven't learnt to climb with my whole body yet, but it felt like all toe and calves. And my poor calves are used to being in stilettos every day. They do not like being flexed/stretched the other way! Does that mean my calves are too short?
Anyways, I did 5 times up and down. Although my calves started to feel better after the initial shock of sand dune climbing. I just made sure that every time I stopped to rest, I would turn around and face downhill.
I hiked barefoot. There are rocks in the sand, and they hurt more going downhill than uphill, but it was bearable. Better than having shoes full of sand. When I went (during the hottest January ever) the sand was a nice temperature but started to heat up as it got towards noon. The stairs are wooden, so you'll need shoes for those.
Note that this place is called sand dune park. Sand dune. Singular. It's one strip of hill covered in sand. Though it's small it's really easy to find. It's on Bell right off Rosecrans, so it's really close to the Manhattan Beach/El Segundo border.
Even though I can only get up this thing 2 to 3 times on a good day, It is one of the best workouts I've ever had. I've driven by here a few times in the past few weeks and its still "closed for maintenance". Note to Manhattan Beach: Clean up the trash, add more sand, and wa la.... Back open for business.
Sand Dune: 1
David: 0
This unholy hill rises steeper than it appears in the photos. During ascent, you're likely to experience a burning sensation in your entire friggin body. Don't be alarmed, that's normal.
I loved this place, and no one's really heard of it, either. It's so random and so fun...running through a steep heap of sand.
This place was packed, with people of all ages. There were a bunch of high schoolers training or what not, they were having fun going up and down the hill and racing each other, doing lunges, etc. I of course wanted to take some touristy pictures and had responses ranging from laughs to a raised eyebrow at the prospect, but I'm proud of it.
I'd definitely go to this several times. I think I just got lucky with parking though (which is free), so just come here at random times, and with a group of friends. You can spend all day and night racing each other and doing random tricks (like we do with ice blocking, since in so cal we can't get any real snow).
*** woo-hoo, it has been a year since my last visit ... ***
but i was still able to squeak out 8x up/down yesterday!
my goal is to do 20 times by end of summer (labor day).
*** these ole feet can still crank 'em out, yeah baby. (lmao) ***
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/13/2008
ok, do think that you are fit? really?!?
well, i gotta test for your fitness level ...
the sand dune… Read more »
Oh man! Really?! Really!!??
It was the most painful climb I have ever experienced. I took one look and wanted to conquer this fear of what this hill of sand may bring. I took up my shoes and climbed. The workout artist in me can't stand the slow, sinking pace so I tried my best to rush up that hill. Walking in sand in general is tough enough for me, so I started off slow and as I reached closer to the top I hustled my way up. The first time I got to the top, my heart was racing, I was ready to vomit, and there is no water fountain at the top.
I felt miserable, I hated my legs; I couldn't feel my legs. Then I was asked to walk back down. So much easier and I was glad. By the time I got to the bottom, I refused to go back up. REFUSED.
Then my heart went back to it's normal beat and I headed up that sand dune...AGAIN. Thus the feeling of exhaustion and defeat continued with me as I headed back up.
I went up that dune TWICE. I was in pain, my legs were tense, and gosh darn-nit I WILL DO IT AGAIN.
It's a great workout and quite inspiring seeing the diversity represented on this dune, regardless of age (young little kids tackle 1/16 of that hill and an elder woman was pushed and assisted on her way up) this is a workout for all.
To the side of the dune is a staircase and ramps, which I tackled after my two ups/downs the hill. Great cardio workout.
A wonderful secret to discover.
This is an amazing Workout. Its a hill with Sand. The part of the dune closest to the stairs is the steepest and will give you the greatest workout. I would suggest you get there early because the sand gets hot. This is important if you are going to do the dunes barefoot. If you wear shoes then no problem, but recall that sand in your shoes feels yucki. Its best to purchase sand socks which really assist. It gets crowded so get there when it opens, parking can be a problem but not too crazy. After you hit the dunes you can drive over to the beach and chill out after your hard workout. I love doing different things like going backwards (hecka hard), side ways great for your inner thighs, and of course forward but can get boring so i encourage you to switch it up.
i live right up the street so i try to go as many days a week as possible. The stair paths are a great cardio workout and you always see the same cool people there everyday. lots of squirrels around and tons of shaded areas and flat spots to walk on if you like to do intervals.
i like to do a set of stairs then alternate doing every stair, and every other ect.. or just keeping your feet together hopping up every stair is fun too.
i used to play here when i was like, 8 years old too, they've always had great people that work at sand dune park!
I can't believe I didn't know about this spot beforehand!
Looking up from the bottom, the hill doesn't look that bad. Well, it is. HAHAHA. It's killer. I came here with people from my gym for some challenge activity, and lemme just say that running up and down this hill from different directions is a major workout! I was completely exhausted afterwards! This is definitely a place to go for some afternoon "fun"!
if you read my reviews it is highly likely that you know me in person. it is also highly likely that i've walked ahead of you in a social situation and that my ass has entered your field of vision and that you've wondered (yeah, right, but bear with me) just how my ass got be so great.
well, i'll tell you. it's because i used to visit this place in my formative years. see, you have to start at a young age. that's the trick. you start later in life and it just doesn't have the same effect. specifically, the effect that it has is self induced heart attack.
seriously however, this is a great work out. summer is here and i plan to re acquaint myself with sand dune park for as you know, a great ass must be kept great (or something wittier than that).
minus one star because parking can bite it. especially in the summer heat. gah!
