Photo - Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area highway sign The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. Welcome to the Imperial Sand Dunes. Note: the Imperial Sand Dunes of California is where portions of the movies Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars was filmed. The Imperial Sand Dunes, sometimes called the Algodones Dunes, are the largest mass of sand dunes in California. This dune system extends for more than 40 miles along the eastern edge of the Imperial Valley agricultural region in a band averaging five miles in width. Rising to heights of over 300 feet above the surrounding desert floor. El Centro to Yuma Arizona