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Great Sand Dunes National Park

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Overview

Great Sand Dunes National Park boasts a unique and breathtaking landscape. The park is home to the tallest dunes in North America which are contained by the towering peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the expansive emptiness of the San Luis Valley. The park has a diverse landscape of wetlands, grasslands, aspen and coniferous forests, tundra, and alpine lakes. Visitors can explore this amazing place by climbing the dunes, exploring the variety of beautiful trails, or hanging out and swimming in Medano Creek at the base of the dunes on a warm summer day.

To learn more about Great Sand Dunes National Park, visit www.nps.gov.

Local Info

Visitor Center:
The visitor center is open daily, year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
  • Open 8:30 am to 6 pm in the summer
  • Open 9 am to 4:30 pm fall through spring

Visiting Tips

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Weather at the dunes can be varied and unpredictable so come prepared and check the park's website for more information regarding specific seasonal information and current weather conditions.

Fees & Passes:
To learn more about park fees, click here.

Camping & Lodging

Camping:
Piñon Flats Campground is the only campground at Great Sand Dunes National Park and is open April through October. Click here to reserve a campsite.
  • 44 reseravable sites, 44 first come, first served sites, 3 reservable group sites
  • Restrooms with flush toilets and sinks
  • Fire grates and picnic tables

Primitive Camping (4WD Access):
There are 21 primitive campsites along the Medano Pass Primitive Road. All sites are numbered and signed and camping at non-designated spots is prohibited. All sites are first come, first served. For more information regarding camping or driving on Medano Pass Primitive Road visit the park's website.

Backcountry Camping:
Backpacking and backcountry camping are allowed with a free permit which can be obtained at the visitor center. The park's dunes, foothills, and high-alpine terrain offer a wide variety of camping experiences. For information regarding backcountry travel and camping, click here.

Lodging:
There are numerous lodging options within 45 miles of the park. Check out the list of nearby accomodations on the park's website.

Food & Drink

The Oasis Restaurant and Store, located at the main park entrance, is the only restaurant within 25 miles of the park. The Oasis is open April through October. A variety of dining options can be found in the nearby towns of Alamosa, Hooper, Ft. Garland, or Blanca.

Other Activities

Great Sand Dunes National Park offers a variety of activities and ways to explore the park. Whether climbing the dunes, sandboarding or sand sledding down them, splashing in Medano Creek, taking a backcountry camping trip, or simply photographing the dunes, the park offers a great variety of activities. Additionally, the park is surrounded by many open space preserves, wetlands, national wildlife refuges, state parks, and other recreation areas, giving you an opportunity to explore beyond the dunes into the Sangre de Cristo mountains and San Luis Valley. Visit Great Sand Dune's website for more information on the park's other activities.

Maps & Guidebooks

To download the visitor guide to help plan your visit, click here.

Gems in Great Sand Dunes National Park - 2

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gem Favorite On the top of High Dune looking east toward the San De Cristo Mountain to the east of Sand Dunes National Park.

High Dune

(46) Crestone, CO
gem Favorite Group of hikers heading to Star Dune

Star Dune

(12) Crestone, CO

Recommended Routes in Great Sand Dunes National Park - 2

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

Favorite Great Sand Dunes National Park
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

Sand Dunes Loop

3.6 mi 5.8 km 301' Up 91.6 m Up 309' Down 94.12 m Down

Crestone, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite Great Sand Dunes National Park
Difficult Difficult

Tallest Dunes Out-and-Back

15.3 mi 24.6 km 1,810' Up 551.69 m Up 1,810' Down 551.59 m Down

Crestone, CO
Explore in 3D

Great Sand Dunes National Park Running

  • 25 Miles 40 Kilometers of Trail
  • 2 Recommended Routes
  • 2 Gems Gems
  • 7 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 7 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 2 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Share what you know about this area!

Weather Averages


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J F M A M J J A S O N D

Trails in Great Sand Dunes National Park - 14

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3.6 mi 5.8 km #1Mosca Pass Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Crestone, CO
Intermediate Intermediate
Crestone, CO 15 
0.5 mi 0.8 km #2Dunes Overlook Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Crestone, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Crestone, CO
0.3 mi 0.4 km #3Montville Nature Trail
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Crestone, CO
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Crestone, CO
0.6 mi 0.9 km #4Sand Pit Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Crestone, CO
Intermediate Intermediate
Crestone, CO
3.5 mi 5.6 km #5Sand Creek Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Crestone, CO
Intermediate Intermediate
Crestone, CO
11.9 mi 19.1 km #6Sand Ramp Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Crestone, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Crestone, CO
0.9 mi 1.5 km #7Wellington Ditch Trail
Easy Easy
Crestone, CO
Easy Easy
Crestone, CO
0.4 mi 0.6 km #8Sand Sheet Loop Trail
Easy Easy
Crestone, CO
Easy Easy
Crestone, CO
0.6 mi 0.9 km #9Dunes Parking Lot to Campground Connector Trail
Easy Easy
Crestone, CO
Easy Easy
Crestone, CO
0.4 mi 0.7 km #10Indian Grove Backcountry Campsite Access
Easy Easy
Crestone, CO
Easy Easy
Crestone, CO
1.4 mi 2.3 km #11Cold Creek Unimproved Trail
Easy Easy
Crestone, CO
Easy Easy
Crestone, CO

Photos of Great Sand Dunes National Park - 89

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Photos

Elk herd, dunes, and Crestone Peaks
Mar 4, 2015 near Crestone, CO
Beautiful flowers in the dunes.
Jan 9, 2016 near Crestone, CO
Can't keep up with her.
Oct 3, 2016 near Crestone, CO
Great Sand Dunes National Park will transform the way you think about a landscape.
Mar 14, 2017 near Crestone, CO
The juxtaposition of the dunes and the mountain is transfixing
Mar 22, 2018 near Crestone, CO
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Apr 1, 2020 near Crestone, CO
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Apr 1, 2020 near Crestone, CO
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Apr 1, 2020 near Crestone, CO

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