Great Sand Dunes National Park is certainly unique. There are different activities that cannot be done in any other park. Sledding the dunes is just one activity that you cannot do anywhere else. This park is unique compared to Arches National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Allow at least one day in Great Sand Dunes National Park.
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We left Riverside Meadows in South Fork, reluctantly heading out on Hwy. 160 for the Great Sand Dunes National park. The drive to the park is mostly meadows and vast expanses of farmland (mostly potatoes) in the Alamosa Valley. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are beautiful. As you get closer to the park, you can see the Great Sand Dunes rising out of the valley floor against the mountain backdrop. Established in 1976, the Great Sand Dunes Wilderness Area is an amazing feat of nature.
Seeing the great desert dunes for the first time is an exciting experience, although it can also be a bit perplexing against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The grouping doesn’t seem to make sense. Yet it is that very combination of high mountains, desert, and water that makes creating the tallest dunes in North America possible.
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Great Sand Dunes National Park Visitor’s Center
Stop at the visitors’ center just as you enter the park. It has a nice gift shop with nature items. There are clean restrooms and a fill-up station for a refillable water bottle. There is a small theater that plays a 20-minute video on the park and a few interactive displays with fascinating information on the geology and natural history of the formation. For the kids, there is the junior ranger program. Kids get a workbook and badges for completing the book. The building has amazing “green architecture”, from passive solar heating to water-friendly xeriscaping on the outside. From the visitor center, you only need to drive about 1/2 mile beyond the center and park in the parking lot at the base of the dune to get started on your climb or you walk the short trail that passes through the grasslands.
In case you have little time, or if you just want a full view of the entire dune field, this is a worthwhile stop. The Sand Sheet Loop trail is a 0.4-mile loop through a few juniper trees and abundant wildflowers can be found in the open, grassy area. Stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains and dune fields. The area has many signs explaining the geology and natural history.
Safety Tips for the Dunes
BE PREPARED before embarking on a trip out to the dunes. Sunscreen and sun protection (hats, long sleeves, etc..) are a must. I cannot imagine what it would be like in the summer, but recommend a wide-brimmed hat, polarized sunglasses, well-fitting hiking shoes, plenty of water, healthy snacks, and a camera. Get them early since it can get very crowded in the afternoon on the dunes.
The sand can reach temperatures of 150 degrees on a hot summer’s day, and lightning can be an issue as well. Be prepared before you go hiking, as heat exhaustion and dehydration can happen quickly in the sun. Wearing open-toed shoes is a no-no since the hot sand will scorch your feet. They allow leashed pets in day-use areas of this national park only. The best time to photograph the Great Sand Dunes is early morning, or 30-minutes after sunrise or approximately 90 minutes before the sunset.
WARNING: if you come from a low elevation or not used to high elevations, be careful, this park is over 8 thousand feet in elevation and you could experience some altitude sickness after climbing around on the dunes!
Hiking onto the Sand Dune Field
We begin our walk from the Dunes Parking Area. Today the sand is pristine, aside from a few footprints and animal tracks. The terrain is quite unlike anything else we have seen in Colorado, or anywhere else in the United States. I have to admit that ascending the dunes is difficult. The weather today is hot, and windy. Obviously it’s all uphill. However, when walking on soft sand, we sense resistance with each stride. It feels like for every step forward, we take two steps back. Not to mention how sand got inside our shoes.
Distances here can be misleading; while it does not appear to be far, it actually is. It is extremely crucial to bring a lot of water.
Star Dune is North America’s tallest dune at 755 feet, with a dune area stretching 30 square miles. The ascent to the top of the High Dune involves a 699-foot elevation gain and a round-trip distance of 2.5 miles. If you wish to hike to the peak and back down, allow at least two hours. If you want to trek to the peak during the summer, you must get an early start. However, the walk up to the high dune was one of the most uncomfortable I’ve ever experienced. My calves hurt excruciatingly. I was astonished by how soft the sand was. Again I felt as if we took two steps back for every one forward. The vistas from the top make the walk worthwhile. Coming back down was considerably easier. Make sure to bring water, sunscreen, and goggles or other eye protection (particularly if the wind blows).
Looking for More Fun in the Sun: Sand boarding-Sledding
We sat in the sand and watched sand boarders slide down the dunes for a while. They use special wooden sand sleds and boards. These you can be rented from companies in Mosca or Alamosa or vendors just outside the park gate. Be sure to pick up a sled before you hit the dunes. Using sand-sleds or sand boards to slide down the dunes is incredibly fun for everyone. There are some outdoor showers by the parking lot you can use to hose yourself off afterward.
We slowly trekked back to the parking lot. Once back at the car we found a table enjoying a picnic lunch. Before leaving our rental in South Fork we packed our lunch in our collapsible cooler
Note: There is no food available in the park and very little outside. The park is located in an isolated area.
If Water Flowing is Running: Wade Medano Creek
Medano Creek flows along the base of the dunefield. This year, the creek has absolutely no flow. There has been a terrible drought and very little snowmelt. We were so disappointed it was not flowing. The creek depends on snowmelt and rainfall from the mountains.
In 2019, an incredible amount of snow led to an above-average flow referred to as “surge flow”. The larger flow allows for an unusual occurrence where the water flows in waves, a fun for skim boarders and youngsters in inflatables. To reach the dune field, you must traverse the creek, so waterproof shoes or boots are best. You can always just wade through the water-removing your shoes first. The creek is a great place wad. After a long hike soaking your feet down in the cool water is quite refreshing.
Medano Creek Primitive Road
In the wilderness, Medano Pass Primitive Road leads across a canyon to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Trails connect forests, wetlands, and alpine lakes, such as Medano Lake, which is home to trout and tundra wildlife. From the Point of No Return, you’ll require a four-wheel drive vehicle. If you have time in your itinerary, drive this route. If you don’t have a 4 x 4 vehicle you can hike the short distance to either Sand Pit (1/4 mile) or Castle Creek (1.5 miles). This was what we did enjoying a snack while looking at stunning views of the dunes. There are also rudimentary campsites along the route, which are quite popular fill up quickly in the summer.
Hike Mosca Pass trail
in the northeastern section of Great Sand Dunes National Park, near the town of Mosca. is another trail you may want to check out. The Mosca Pass trail rises to the summit of Mosca Pass at an elevation of 9,200 feet. It is a seven-mile round trip with 1400 ft. of elevation gain, so it is not for the faint of heart. The Alpine tundra trail passes through the flower-filled meadows, and high elevation groves of aspen and pine. Climbing through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains we saw a few different rock formation. There are also panoramic views of the San Luis Valley below. This can be a great alternative to the dunes if you wish to escape the heat of the day.
Walk to Zapata Falls
Zapata Falls is located a 1/2 mile outside of Great Sand Dunes National Park. The three-mile dirt road up to the parking lot was a deep washboard, but we persevered. The falls are worth the trip. The primitive trail 0.9-mile trail is moderately steep and there are benches along the way to stop and catch your breath. Part of the trail requires walking the creek. The rocks in the creek are very slippery. Be sure to have a good pair of wading socks and waterproof hiking boots to keep your feet comfortable. A quality trekking stick would be helpful navigating the creek. You climb through a cave-like tunnel just before you come to the 40-foot waterfalls. The water in the creek is snowmelt so freezing. Hiking the falls after the great sand dunes is a great way to cool off.
This national park is in the middle of nowhere and small but worth the visit. Very glad we made the time to visit. We head you back on the interstate towards Denver. Be sure to stop in Manitou Springs to see Pike’s Peak.
Final Thoughts on a Day in Great Sand Dunes National Park
As the day came to a close, we took a minute to reflect on the incredible experiences we’d had at the park. As we watch the sunset paint the dunes in orange and pink, we admire the beauty of this unique location.
What did you like best about Great Sand Dunes? Did you learn something new? Let us know in the comments below.
