Photo:
Andrew Russell / CC BY 2.0
Great Sand Dunes protects the tallest dunes in North America, a 30-square-mile sea of sand piled against the base of the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado. The improbable pairing of star dunes rising 750 feet, snow-capped 13,000-foot peaks behind them, and a seasonal creek that ripples across the sand makes this one of the most surreal landscapes in the park system.
The dunes formed as wind funneled sand from the valley floor against the mountains, and they climb in great sculpted ridges below the peaks. At their edge, snowmelt feeds Medano Creek, which flows in a wide, shallow sheet across the sand in spring and early summer. Beyond the dunes, the park rises through grassland and forest into subalpine and alpine terrain, home to elk, pronghorn, black bears and, in the creek, a native tiger beetle found nowhere else.
Late spring and early fall are the sweet spots, comfortable temperatures and, in spring, the peak flow of Medano Creek. Summer afternoons see the sand surface reach 150°F and bring lightning storms, so hike the dunes early or in the evening. Winter is cold and quiet, with snow dusting the dunes against the peaks for a striking scene.
The park is reached via CO-150 off US-160 in the San Luis Valley, with the dune field, visitor center and campground clustered near the entrance. A vehicle gets you there; from the day-use lot you simply walk out onto the sand. The Medano Pass Primitive Road into the backcountry requires 4WD and low tire pressure.
Climbing the dunes, and sandboarding or sand-sledding back down, is the signature experience, with the High Dune a popular objective. In spring, families splash and float in Medano Creek. Beyond the sand, trails climb into the mountains to Mosca Pass and alpine lakes, and after dark the park’s dark skies make for exceptional stargazing.
The sand can become dangerously hot underfoot in summer, so wear shoes and avoid midday; get off the exposed dunes when storms threaten lightning. Nights and the high country are cold even in summer, so carry layers, and mind the altitude, which starts above 8,000 feet. Medano Creek can surge with snowmelt, and there is no water or shade on the dunes. Carry plenty.
A park pass is required, and camping on the dunes or in the backcountry needs a permit. Check Medano Creek flow forecasts if that is your goal, since it varies year to year. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current conditions and permits with the National Park Service before your trip.
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
