Photo by Colin LloydGreat Sand Dunes NP
2-4h
MUST-DOMUST-DO
Iconic
3 expert tips“Dune sand can reach 150°F on summer afternoons — go early morning or late afternoon and wear sandals or socks to protect your feet.”
Roman, Fyno expert“Medano Creek typically flows May through mid-July; check the park website for flow predictions before visiting.”
Roman, Fyno expert“Sand sleds and boards can be rented just outside the park entrance at Kristi Mountain Sports.”
Roman, Fyno expertCompare prices:
Sand dunesSandboardingScenic drivesEpic views
Curated byRomanUpdated I’d include Great Sand Dunes NP for a scenic drive.
More about this place
Great Sand Dunes National Park protects the tallest sand dunes in North America — rising up to 750 feet — set against the dramatic backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado. The landscape is surreal: a massive sea of sand that seems to belong on a different planet, framed by snowcapped 13,000-foot peaks and surrounded by the flat expanse of the San Luis Valley.
The dunes were formed over hundreds of thousands of years as winds deposited sand carried from ancient lakes and streams. Medano Creek flows along the dune base in spring and early summer, creating a natural wave action on a shallow sandy beach — one of the strangest and most delightful phenomena in the park.
Beyond the dunes, the park includes alpine lakes, old-growth forests, and tundra at higher elevations in the adjacent Sangre de Cristo Wilderness.
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