It’s funny how you can travel all over the globe and still see so little of your own backyard.  Living in Colorado, there are countless beautiful destinations and natural wonders to see.  And visiting the Great Sand Dunes National Park had long been on my list.

Like… for 24 years (which, if you do the math, makes me about 157).

And when I finally did experience this treasure of my home state, I wasn’t disappointed!  The national park offers breathtaking views, soft sands, and some of the most memorable activities in the world.

A Little Bit About A Lot of Sand

Boasting the tallest sand dunes in North America (the highest reaching 750 feet!), the Great Sand Dunes cover 30 square miles.  Think that’s impressive?  Well, that 30 square miles contains an estimated 5.5 billion cubic yards of sand!  And what does that mean?  Endless amounts of fun!

The park was designated a national monument back in 1932, but people have been drawn to the impressive landscape for over 11,000 years.  It was first inhabited by Ute, Navajo, and Apache people long before it was inhabited by thrill-seeking tourists.

Today, visiting the Great Sand Dunes is a must for anyone traveling to southern Colorado.

The park entrance to the Great Sand Dunes.

Just casually strolling in my dune-inappropriate attire.

Tips for Visiting the Great Sand Dunes

There are a few important things to note prior to visiting the Great Sand Dunes.

Hours and Cost

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is open 24 hours (making it an excellent spot for star gazing and night photography!)  Because it’s a national park, you have to pay an entrance fee at the gate.  The fee for a standard passenger vehicle is $15 (which is then valid for 7 days).

Alternatively, you can purchase an America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass for $80 (with discounted rates for seniors and free passes for U.S. Military).  Because the pass allows you into hundreds of parks, it’s a great option if you plan to see a few parks throughout the year!

America the Beautiful passes can be purchased online here, or at any park entrance gate.

Wear Sunscreen

Follow Baz Luhrmann’s advice and wear sunscreen!  Outside of some trees lining the entrance to the dunes, there is no shade at all!  And with the blinding reflection coming off the sand, that could mean a pretty nasty sunburn if you’re not careful.

Dress for Success

Make sure you wear dune-appropriate attire for the activity you’re partaking in.  With surface temperatures that soar to 150°F (66°C) in the summer, wearing something heavy like jeans could be miserable.  Instead, wear something light and airy paired with sandals to protect your feet from the blistering sand.

Be Prepared To Walk

In order to reach the dunes, you have to cross a wide expanse of sandy terrain.  During late May and early June, the dunes are separated from the entrance by Medano Creek.  The wide riverbed is typically only a few inches deep (and great for cooling off!)  However, when the creek dries up the sand underneath is much coarser than that of the dunes.  Yet another reason to wear sandals!

Sunny With A Chance of Wind

Because the dunes offer no cover, the wind can be a bit intense on breezy days (especially in the spring).  Bright side?  It’s a great way to exfoliate, since the sand-filled gusts seem to scratch off the first few layers of your skin!  I suggest bringing a hair tie to tame your wild locks.  In addition, if you have a camera make sure to use a lens cover or the sand will scratch your glass.

Know When To Go

The best time of year to visit the sand dunes is typically spring/early summer and fall.  At this time of year, the snow has melted and temperatures are warm without becoming unbearable.  However, with great timing comes great crowds (especially in late May/early June when Medano Creek is still flowing!)  To avoid tons of people and overflow parking, try to plan your visit for early in the morning or on a weekday.

Visitors at the dune entrance near the parking lot.

People walking across the dry Medano Creek bottom.

Me leaning into the wind for a sand-blown facial (not recommended).

Awesome Activities

There are all kinds of amazing activities to partake in when visiting the Great Sand Dunes.  From fun to physical to photographic, the dunes offer something for everyone!

Sand Boarding and Sand Sledding

Yup, you read that right.  Sand boarding and sledding is a thing!  Using special equipment designed with an extra-slick base, you can board or sled down any area in the park that isn’t near vegetation (which is just about everywhere).  From the parking lot, it’s a short 0.7 mile hike to the first sand dune slopes, which are perfect for small children.  For those in the mood for a little more speed, you can hike to the top of the taller peaks located about 1.25 miles from the parking lot.

Insider Tip:

Four wheeling allows you to reach some of the highest peaks for boarding or sledding, but it’s not recommended.  Because the peaks are so large, the speeds you reach are unsafe (and the landing is much rougher than that of the softer sand located on the parking lot side).

While the park service does not rent equipment, you can get boards and sleds from three nearby retailers.  Those include:

Kristi Mountain Sports located 40 miles southwest of the park.
Sand Dunes Recreation located 32 miles west of the park.
Great Sand Dunes Oasis located just outside the park entrance (open April through October).

Medano Creek

A fun seasonal feature is Medano Creek, located between the parking lot and the sand dunes near the Castle Creek picnic area.  Reaching peak flow in late May, the wide and shallow creek bed offers a refreshing way to relax.  You can dip your feet, wade, skimboard, float on non-motorized inflatables, or even surf the ‘surge flow’.  This entertaining phenomenon happens about every 20 seconds, as sand ridges created by the creek collapse and send down a wave.

Fascinating Fact:

Medano is Spanish for “sand dune”.

Fun With Photography

Always one of my favorite activities – photography!  Visiting the Great Sand Dunes offers plenty of opportunities for landscapes, portraits, action shots, or just goofing around.  The dunes offer a dramatic backdrop for incredible photo composition, day or night.

Get Your Sand Dunes Photography Guide!

In order to make things easy, the park service offers handy photography tips on when and where to shoot during your visit.  How easy is that!?  You can find all that info along with photography inspiration here.

Other Things To Do

There’s really no shortage of activities to partake in when visiting the Great Sand Dunes.  Other entertaining endeavors include camping, backpacking, fishing, four-wheeling, hunting, horseback riding, and fat biking (just to name a few!)

Families boarding and sledding down a small slope near the edge of the dunes.

Medano Creek.

Me doing my best impression of that flying dog from The Neverending Story.

How to Get There

The Great Sand Dunes are seemingly in the middle of nowhere.  The closest city is Alamosa, which is 30 miles away.  The easiest way to get there is by either taking Highway 150 from the south, or County Road 6 from the west.  Both are paved and have signs directing you toward the sand dunes from miles away.

Insider Tip:

Whatever you do, don’t rely on your car’s GPS to get you there!  Those systems typically utilize dashboard mapping programs that lead to hiking or off-road trails, resulting in many other visitors becoming stuck.  Not exactly the memory you’re hoping to create.

It’s important to note there aren’t a ton of service stations available near the sand dunes either.  In fact, civilization in general is a bit sparse in the area.  The nearest 24-hour gas stations are in Mosca (23 miles west) or Fort Garland (31 miles southeast).  The Oasis Store near the park entrance offers gas, but it’s only open between April and October.  So don’t coast in on fumes!

To get a better feel for the area, you can find the dunes on a map here.

An abandoned little house on County Road 6 (one of the few buildings you’ll encounter for miles!)

Visiting the Great Sand Dunes is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will transport you half a world away.  So if you want to feel the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert from the convenience of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, start planning your own sandy excursion!

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