Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado is one of my favorite national parks I’ve ever been to. The camping facilities are the nicest I’ve ever seen run by the US National Park Service. The dunes, which are the tallest of their kind in North America, are truly a unique sight to behold. The park feels quite small so you feel like you can take advantage of all it has to offer.
You’ll know when you’ve arrived at southern Colorado when your surroundings turn into flat bush plains as far as the eye can see. The contrast of the dry but bright green land and the pretty blue sky with the snow-capped mountains in the backdrop make for a really beautiful drive. A straight road for about 30 miles in the middle of nowhere leads you to the national park (I drove from the town of Blanca). Suddenly a giant pile of sand appears out of no where. This giant sand dune feels so out of place.
It was a bit hard for me to imagine how that random pile of sand got there but a few informational plaques told me their story. Sediment from mountain rivers and creeks were deposited into the valley while opposing winds in front of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains created the sandpile that is now the Great Sand Dune.
Camping at Great Sand Dunes National Park
The Piñon Flats Campground is open 24/7 all year round and you do not have to reserve a visit. However, if you want to stay overnight (which I highly recommend) you should reserve a campsite online. There are 88 sites in total. Half are reserved online and the other half are first come first serve.
The campgrounds here are the nicest I’ve ever experienced! For $20 a night you have a spacious campsite with a fire pit and grill, a bear-safe storage locker, a picnic table, flushable and heated indoor bathrooms, access to potable water and best of all your own view of the sand dunes.
The park operates on the honor system. Since I arrived after hours, I simply drove past the entrance gate and drove up to my campsite which I had booked online. Campsites that are reserved will indicate so. Check in is after 2pm and check out is before 1pm.
If you’re missing any food or supplies there are are a few options nearby. At the campsite there is a tiny camp store selling snacks, beverages and firewood (it was temporarily closed when I was there). 10 minutes before the campsite is the Great Sand Dunes Lodge which has a store. The nearest towns (and gas stations) of Mosca and Blanca are 30 minutes away.
Weather Conditions at Great Sand Dunes National Park
⚠️ Be diligent about sun protection because there is absolutely no shade or water on the dune ⚠️. The sun can heat up the sand to extremely high and potentially dangerous temperatures. For these reasons it’s best to go in cooler months of the year and/or in the morning. I visited in late May and departed for the dune around 8:30AM. I was lucky because it was a cloudy/sunny day and it was actually chilly enough to have to wear a hoodie.
Because of the nature of how the sand dunes came to be (opposing winds blowing sediment into a sand pile), the higher you go up on the sand dune the winder it gets. The wind can definitely whip up a storm with the sand and do some damage to your face. Be sure to bring a bandana or a neck gaiter to protect yourself from the wind, sand and sun!
The dunes are located in a high desert which is a desert at high elevation. The elevation of the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center is 8170ft above sea level! This means a few things in terms of weather. It is extremely dry so prepare accordingly with moisturizer if your skin is sensitive like mine. At nighttime the temperatures will drop dramatically from the day so bring a hoodie even in the summer.
Hiking at Great Sand Dunes National Park
The sand dune is dog friendly! They have to be leashed but the area was so expansive and sparely populated that we let our dog run free (please don’t tell NPS)!
The journey commences! The Dune Trail begins at the campgrounds or the visitor center. After walking a few minutes through some brush I encountered Medano Creek. This is a seasonal creek that is the result of snowmelt from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. For that reason the water was freezing and numbed my feet almost immediately as I stepped in! Aside from the freezing waters, swimming in the creek in May wasn’t really an option because the water level barely reached above my ankles.
After crossing the creek I arrived at the dune. It was hard to determine where I should walk because there’s no trails and all sand. You have to carve out your own path. Only a bit later did I realize that there was a single popular path on the dune that a steady stream of people was following. I figured it was because it was the most straightforward path along a ridge with minimal ups and downs towards the High Dune on First Ridge. It’s not the tallest dune in the park but it appears so from the parking lot. It’s popular because it provides excellent views from the top.
At the point where I approached the dune, I was closer to Hidden Dune and made it my destination. I didn’t know it at the time but it is one of the two tallest dunes in North America at 741 feet (The other being Star Dune also in this park). It was a strenuous hike because of the steep inclines and the sinking nature of the sand. There were some inclines that were so steep that I had to get on all fours. Everyday is leg day!
Summiting Hidden Dune was an incredible experience. For starters I was the only person on this dune. The view revealed to me a greater expanse of more dune on the other side. From the top there is a 360 view of the valley and the surrounding mountains.
⚠️ Don’t miss the opportunity to go on a night hike ⚠️. Nighttime is an excellent time to go because there is no threat of the sun’s destructive power and it’s a wonderful opportunity to look at an unobstructed and unpolluted view of the night sky. The park is certified as an International Dark Sky Park which means it meets very strict sky darkness standards due to its elevation, dry air and minimal light pollution.
Side Quest: Zapata Falls
On your way out of the park you have the opportunity to check out Zapata Falls, a waterfall that originates from a glacier. It’s a quick 15 minute drive up into the mountains. The hike is a short 1 mile uphill climb to a flowing river coming from a glacier waterfall. Since this hike is quite easy, it’s very family friendly and popular. It was pretty packed when I went midday but there was still space to sit down and have a picnic.
If you want to see the glacier inside the waterfall you have to traverse the thundering rushing water. Be prepared with waterproof shoes or be willing to get your shoes wet. The water is literally freezing because it’s coming straight from the source – a glacier.
Related Reading and Watching
👀 Check out my Great Sand Dunes reel! 👀
I was thoroughly satisfied with my experience at Great Sand Dunes National Park. It was my first time in a high desert and it was a totally unique experience. Visually I was stunned by the massive sand dune and its contrast with the snow-capped mountains right behind it as well as the flat green bush plains surrounding the whole area. Definitely recommend!
❤️ Valerie 🏜🥾