National Parks - Great Sand Dunes

The Park Great Sand Dunes was authorized as a National Park in 2000 to protect the highest sand dunes in North America. It took a few years for the National Park Service to purchase all the additional land covering the areas water sources, but the Dunes finally became a Park on September 13th, 2004.

Park Map

Click on red circles to see photos

greatsanddunesmapphotos.jpg (34526 bytes)

Map for reference only - not intended for navigation

Our Visit I've visited the Great Sand Dunes three times, once with my parents in September 1994, once with my wife in the summer of 2003 and again with my wife and 2-year-old in October 2006. The fall visits were by far the most enjoyable.

Our Weather 1994 was very pleasant but a bit breezy and very overcast. 2003 was windy and rainy the entire time we were there. 2006 was partly cloudy and hazy but otherwise fabulous weather with a temperature in the 70s.

Overall Impression The Great Sand Dunes seem very out-of-place in the mountains of Colorado. To get there, you drive through pine forests, snow-capped mountains and passes to end up in the San Luis Valley guarded by the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains. While the dunes may initially look small compared to their setting, once you're on them, you have no doubt they are enormous and climbing them will take all your strength. To have an immense field of sand here when there is no desert nearby is certainly intriguing, but to climb and play on the dunes is to be a kid again.

Minimum Time Required About 2 hours. In this time, you can drive to the visitor center at Mosca Creek and climb around the dunes for a while. While it may appear simple to climb to the ridge and peer over the other side, this will take more time than you think because the dense sand literally makes it 2 steps forward, one step back. Don't let this deter you, though, because even a little time spent trudging through the sandscape is worthwhile. Early fall adds an extra dimension of color to the dunes with large patches of yellow foliage.

A Longer Visit To really climb the dunes and see the rest this place has to offer, plan on at least 1/2 to a full day. In a 1/2 day, Mosca Creek and the dunes should still be your priority, but now you'll have time to climb to the top. When you finally peer over the rim, you'll see miles and miles of more dunes!

When you're through with the dunes for a while, consider hiking through the low pine forests to the east of the dunes where there's picnic areas and a great chance you'll see wildlife.

Time will tell what more the Great Sand Dunes will offer once the land purchase and integration is complete.

Suggestions Take two pairs of shoes and socks because the sand will get everywhere! Hiking takes longer than you might initially think, so plan on packing some water with you on your dunes trek.

Take your camera to the top of the dunes with you--don't be a dummy like me and leave the only camera with the one who isn't going to make the top.

If you can help it, don't go when it's supposed to rain much of the day. Most Colorado storms will blow over in an hour-or-so, making them easy to work around, but persistent rains and wind equal soaking misery on the unprotected dunes.

2. Fall is an amazing time to visit the dunes. This is shot near the Mosca Creek area looking toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Mt Herard). That's my wife and son in the middle of the picture (Oct 2006)	3. Dunes are fun for all ages! (Oct 2006)
4. These dunes are not set in the desert, rather, they are framed by the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains including the peaks surrounding the 14,000 foot Mt. Blanca (Sep 1994)	5. Hiking the dunes is a real treat but also a real challenge as each step slides back toward the last (Sep 1994)
6. There are few restrictions on the dunes as the persistent winds "heal" them continually. Hiking, playing, rolling and even sledding are encouraged (Sep 1994)	7. Besides the dunes there are forests to explore and wildlife to see like these mule deer bucks (Sep 1994)