Great Sand Dunes National Park
Colorado Est. 2004

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Desert Mountains
Plan a visit Check conditions
Established
2004
Size
107,342 acres
Visitors / yr
438K
Entrance
$25
Best season
Late April through June, September through October
Nearest airport
ALS San Luis Valley Regional
Danger: Great Sand Dunes At Stage 2 Fire Restrictions - No Open Fires. +4 more Wildfire Tracker
01

Why Great Sand Dunes is worth the trip

Colorado · Established 2004

The tallest dunes in North America rise 750 feet off a Colorado valley floor with the 13,000-foot Sangre de Cristo peaks standing directly behind them, and the visual contradiction never resolves no matter how long you stare. Sahara up front, Rockies behind, wetlands and elk meadows in between.

It is also a standing invitation to act like a kid. Rent a sandboard or sled in town and ride the faces. In late spring, snowmelt sends Medano Creek sheeting across the base of the dunefield, complete with tide-like pulses of waves, and landlocked Colorado briefly gets a beach. Hike the dunes at dawn or after dinner, when the sand cools and the light rakes sideways, then stay for a certified dark sky that turns the whole valley into an observatory.

Start with our full Great Sand Dunes guide, then use the planning below.

02

Top things to do in Great Sand Dunes

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

Great Sand Dunes National Park
Start here

20 Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park

Read the guide
01 Splash in Medano Creek Freshwater Swimming · nps.gov Splash in Medano Creek Medano Creek is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages. 02 Explore the Dunes Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov Explore the Dunes Explore the tallest dunes in North America! The centerpiece of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is the 30-square-mile (78-square-km) dunefield, featuring the... 03 Sandboarding and Sand Sledding Surfing · nps.gov Sandboarding and Sand Sledding Sandboarding and sand sledding are the most popular activities on the dunes. Read the information on this page to have a positive, fun, and... 04 Hike Montville Nature Trail or Mosca Pass Trail Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov Hike Montville Nature Trail or Mosca Pass Trail Just above the dunefield are montane woodlands of pinon and ponderosa pine, subalpine aspen and conifer forests, alpine lakes and rugged mountains over 13,000...
Before you go

Get the Great Sand Dunes heads-up

Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Great Sand Dunes guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.

03

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Great Sand Dunes.

Things to Do Fun Facts

Where to stay

Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.

  • Mosca, COGateway town
  • Alamosa, COGateway town
  • Backpacking Campsites in the Dunes or Forest 27 sites · Reserve
  • Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites 21 sites
Compare stays near Great Sand Dunes

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

Great Sand Dunes Trails Illustrated map
Waterproof National Geographic topo of the park.
View on Amazon
Great Sand Dunes field guide
Trail-by-trail detail and planning help in print.
View on Amazon
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

  • Day Hiking Pack
    A 22-30L pack fits water, layers, snacks, and a first aid kit. View on REI
  • Trail Shoes
    Lightweight with good traction for maintained trails. View on REI
  • Water Bottles
    Carry at least 2 liters. More in desert heat. View on REI
  • Merino Hiking Socks
    Prevent blisters and keep your feet comfortable for miles. View on REI

Getting there

  • ALS San Luis Valley Regional 35 mi
  • COS Colorado Springs 170 mi
  • DEN Denver International 240 mi
NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

Great Sand Dunes map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park
04

When to go

Loading weather...

Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
33°
11°
Low
Open
Feb
39°
16°
Low
Open
Mar
48°
24°
Light
Open
Apr Best
56°
29°
Light
Open
May Best
66°
38°
Peak
Open
Jun Best
77°
48°
Peak
Open
Jul
81°
52°
Peak
Open
Aug
78°
50°
Peak
Open
Sep
72°
44°
Heavy
Open
Oct
60°
33°
Moderate
Open
Nov
46°
22°
Low
Open
Dec
34°
12°
Low
Open
Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)
05

More Great Sand Dunes guides

06

Parks near Great Sand Dunes

Within reach if you are building a longer trip.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Colorado

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

128 miles away
Mesa Verde National Park
Colorado

Mesa Verde

164 miles away
Rocky Mountain National Park
Colorado

Rocky Mountain

176 miles away
Arches National Park
Utah

Arches

226 miles away

Worth protecting

Great Sand Dunes belongs to all of us

Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.

See what's at stake Join the fight for Colorado

Threatened Lands Map

Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.

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