How to Spend One Day at Great Sand Dunes National Park
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Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of four Colorado National Parks and is located in southern Colorado. It proves to be a mesmerizing natural wonder that offers visitors a unique and unforgettable experience with towering sand dunes (the tallest in North America!), lush alpine forests, and stunning vistas, the park is a treasure trove for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. In this guide, we’ll take you through how to make the most of your one-day adventure in Great Sand Dunes National Park from sunrise to sunset. And the best part is: this is a dog-friendly national park!
When to Visit
May-October are the best months to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park, in our opinion! However it should be noted the park is open year round, 24/7, meaning you’re welcome to enjoy the park at any time but beware that November-April you can expect to experience snow, strong winds, and/or blustery conditions depending on the month.
Here is a link to Great Sand Dunes National Parks “Conditions to Expect Each Month”
We visited the park in August and found it to be VERY pleasant! Overnight was quite cool, but during the day it reached up into the 70s. We highly recommend listening to the NPS advice for getting out onto the dunes early. It didn’t storm while we were there, but thunderstorms here can be very dangerous.
To reiterate the National Parks Service, when you are visiting in the warmer months please beware of the sand temperatures in the afternoon as they can reach up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit – get out on the dunes early in the morning to avoid burning your feet, heat exhaustion, or lighting strikes!
Things to Consider
Consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass for $80, this pass grants you access to all U.S. National Parks for a year. Since most National Parks charge a $30-40 entrance fee, purchase the America the Beautiful Pass could pay for itself when you visit just two to three parks!
You can purchase the America the Beautiful pass below from REI!
And if you’re going to be bringing your pup with you – here is a link to the pet policies at Great Sand Dunes National Park!
What to Pack
Keith’s Recommendations:
Hannah’s Recommendations
(in addition to what Keith has)
How to get here
The closest airports to Great Sand Dunes are San Luis Valley Regional airport (35 minutes), Colorado Springs Airport (2 hours 35 minutes), or Denver International Airport (3 hours 45 minutes) making this national park a great addition to a Colorado roadtrip!
The best way to get to Great Sand Dunes National Park is by renting a car (or 4×4 vehicle if you want to drive the Primitive Road). Or if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you could rent a van or rv for your roadtrip!
Going on a Colorado Roadtrip? Check out our post on Rocky Mountain National park!
How to Spend One Day in Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park, with its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife, is a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts. With over 4.5 million visitors to the park each year, making it one of the most visited National Parks in the entire National Parks Service, it’s safe to say that it is worth the visit. Despite its…
Where to Stay
The closest town to Great Sand Dunes with major hotel chains, restaurants, grocery stores, and activities is Alamosa.
Here you’ll find major hotel chains like Holiday Inn and Best Western. Find your hotel here.
Alternatively, you can camp within or near the park!
Camping Options:
- Pinon Flats Campground in the park
- Area Campgrounds outside of the park
- Backpacking within the park
- High Clearance 4WD Camping along Medano Pass Primitive Road within the park
- BLM land outside of the park
The Ultimate One Day Itinerary for Great Sand Dunes National Park
Start the Day with a Sunrise Hike
About 2 hours before sunrise, head out on this 2.5 mile roundtrip hike to High Dune for a perfect spot to watch the sun rise over the mountains. This is the perfect time for photography! While High Dune is not the tallest sand dune in the park, it does look like it’s the tallest sand dune in the park and gives you a GREAT view of the entire dune field. It is the most common hike to do at Great Sand Dunes but in August there weren’t many people hiking up there that early so we got to enjoy the sunrise just the three of us! Before heading out, start the hike on your AllTrails app so you can stay on track as there are no trails in the dune fields.
Note: The NPS recommends allowing yourself 4 hours for this hike if you’re not acclimated to this altitude yet.
If you have a desire to continue hiking through the dune fields, you can continue on the Hidden Dune (7 miles roundtrip over 6 hours starting from the parking lot) or Star Dune which can be hiked from the summit of High Dune but is more direct via it’s base along Medano Creek bed (hike 2 miles south from the dunes parking lot and follow a ridge to the summit – 6 miles over 6 hours roundtrip)
A fun activity to do when you’ve hiked up the Dunes:
While you’re up on the Dunes, if you don’t want to do the hike twice, you can hike up with a sandboard which can be rented at the Oasis Store (4 miles outside of the park), Spin Drift Sand Board Rentals (26 miles outside of the park), Sand Dunes Swimming Pool and Recreation (32 miles outside of the park), and a couple others farther away! Sandboards are made with an extra slick base material and special wax that makes them slide on the sand, other materials like cardboard, saucers, or soft plastic will not slide. Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to rent sandboards but it is at the top of our list for our next visit!
Afternoon Picnic & Your Choice of Activity
By midday, you’ll likely have worked up an appetite. Head back to the Visitor Center and enjoy a picnic lunch in the shaded areas nearby. It’s a great way to refuel and relax before your next adventure.
There are many other areas you can explore in the park like Medano Creek, the Montville Nature Trail (great for bird watching), the Sand Ramp Trail, or the Medano Pass 4×4 Only Road, BUT there was an adventure outside of the park that we feel should be included in this itinerary:
Zapata Falls is a 30 foot waterfall tucked away inside of a cave! It is just 3 miles south of the National Park and is perfect for an afternoon adventure! The hike is a moderate 0.8 miles round trip and takes 30-45 minutes to complete. We thought this was a really fun hike and it’s definitely a hidden gem in the area!
A Magical, Starry Evening
Before sunset, make your way back to the dunes! You’re welcome to hike back up if you’d like but we found the base of the dunes to be just as good of a stargazing spot as being higher up on the dunes. But first, the sunset! This is a great time for photography and simply soaking in the tranquility of the dunes as the sun dips below the horizon.
While the nights are cool, with some layers you can spot the Milky Way about an hour and a half after the sun sets. Great Sand Dunes National Park is designated as a Dark Sky Park, making it an ideal spot for viewing the night sky. On clear August nights, you can marvel at the Milky Way and countless stars. This was one of our absolute favorite parts of visiting the park!
If you’re feeling even more adventurous…
You can actually spend the night IN the Dunes Backcountry! You can purchase a backpacking permit on recreation.gov for $6 and you will have to hike at least 1.5 miles from the Dunes Parking Lot to get past the first high ridgeline before setting up camp. You can view other backpacking options in Great Sand Dunes National Park here.
A day in Great Sand Dunes National Park is a whirlwind of adventure and natural beauty. From witnessing the sunrise over the dunes to exploring the park’s ecosystems and enjoying the stargazing magic at this park there’s no shortage of experiences to treasure. Remember to stay hydrated, protect yourself from the sun, and take nothing but memories and photos as you immerse yourself in the wonders of this unique national park. Whether you’re a solo traveler, a family, or a group of friends, Great Sand Dunes National Park offers a day of exploration and fun that you’ll cherish forever.
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