Great Sand Dunes
North America's tallest sand dunes, piled against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- $25 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- About 149,000 acres (park and preserve)
Great Sand Dunes Weather Now
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Great Sand Dunes holds the tallest dunes in North America, rising out of the flat San Luis Valley against the steep Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Winds blowing across the valley carry sand toward the mountains, where opposing storm winds pile it up into a dunefield of about 30 square miles. The park and preserve also protect alpine lakes, tundra, forests, wetlands and grasslands, ranging from about 7,500 to more than 13,600 feet in elevation. It became a national park and preserve in 2004 after decades as a national monument.
There are no trails on the dunes, so you can wander wherever you like, sledding, sandboarding or just climbing for the view. In a normal spring, Medano Creek spreads into a shallow stream with surge waves, turning the base of the dunes into a beach in the mountains. The surface sand can be scorching in summer and well below freezing on winter nights. The park is a certified International Dark Sky Park, and the dunes are a popular spot for stargazing and full-moon hikes.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- Late May and early June bring Medano Creek at its peak (in wetter years), while September and October offer mild sand temperatures, golden aspens and fewer crowds.
- How long to stay
- One full day covers the dunes and creek; two days lets you add a preserve hike or the Medano Pass road.
- Getting there
- San Luis Valley Regional Airport in Alamosa (ALS) is about 45 minutes away; Colorado Springs (COS) is about 3 hours and Denver (DEN) and Albuquerque (ABQ) are each about 4 hours by car.
- Wildlife
- Look for mule deer, elk, pronghorn, black bears in the preserve, kangaroo rats, great horned owls and the Great Sand Dunes tiger beetle, found nowhere else.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Alamosa (opens in a new tab)Colorado
- Hotels in Mosca (opens in a new tab)Colorado
- Hotels in Fort Garland (opens in a new tab)Colorado
- No lodging inside the park. The towns above are the closest bases.
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Great Sand Dunes
- Gaiters or closed shoesKeep hot, coarse sand out of your shoes and protect your feet from scorching summer sand.
- Sun hat and sunscreenThere is no shade on the dunes and the sun is intense at 8,000 feet.
- Hydration packClimbing sand is slow and tiring, and there is no water on the dunes.
- Sunglasses or gogglesSpring winds can blast sand hard enough to sting eyes and skin.
- HeadlampUseful for sunrise climbs, moonlit dune hikes and stargazing.
A first day, start to finish
- Stop at the visitor center and grab rentals at the Oasis
- Morning climb to High Dune
- Lunch and creek play at the Dunes Parking Area
- Short hike on the Montville or Mosca Pass Trail
- Sunset and stargazing from the dunes
Don't miss
- Main dunefield and High DuneFrom the Dunes Parking Area, cross the wide Medano Creek bed and climb about 2.5 miles round trip to High Dune on the first ridge, with no marked trail.
- Star DuneThe tallest dune in North America at roughly 750 feet, reached by a long, tough all-day trek across the sand.
- Medano CreekA seasonal creek that flows along the base of the dunes, usually peaking in late May or early June; in dry 2026 it never reached the main parking area.
- Sandboarding and sand sleddingSlide down the dune faces on specially made boards or sleds, which you rent outside the park since the NPS does not rent them.
- Medano Pass Primitive RoadA 22-mile, 4WD-only road with deep sand and creek crossings that climbs to 10,040-foot Medano Pass, with free primitive campsites along the way.
Know before you go
Do
- Go early in the morning or in the evening in summer, when the sand is cooler and winds are lighter.
- Rent sandboards or sleds before you arrive, at the Great Dunes Oasis just outside the park or in Mosca, Alamosa, Blanca or Hooper.
- Bring a credit or debit card, since vehicle passes at the entrance station are card-only.
Don't
- Walk barefoot on summer afternoons, when the sand surface can reach 150 degrees F.
- Try the Medano Pass road in an AWD crossover or 2WD vehicle; it requires true 4WD with low range and high clearance.
- Stay on the dunes during a thunderstorm, because you are the tallest thing around and lightning is a real risk.
The park and preserve are open 24 hours a day, year-round, and the visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Piñon Flats Campground is open April through October, so there is no car camping in the park from November through March. The 4WD Medano Pass Primitive Road usually opens mid to late May and closes around the end of November, depending on snow.
Use sandboards or sleds made for sand (not snow sleds), and pick a steep dune face of dry, soft sand for the fastest and safest ride.Trekker's tip