Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Open 24/7 year round! There are no limitations or reservations to visit, but there is currently limited capacity in the visitor center. The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience this International Dark Sky Park's starry skies!
To access the main park area, including the Dunes Parking Lot, Visitor Center, and Pinon Flats Campground, take US 160 to CO 150 from the south, or CO 17 to Lane 6 to CO 150 from the west. The national park is at the north end of CO 150.
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Live Music
- Auto and ATV
- Auto Off-Roading
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Mountain Climbing
- Compass and GPS
- Orienteering
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Hands-On
- Arts and Crafts
- Volunteer Vacation
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horse Camping (see also camping)
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Junior Ranger Program
- Tubing
- River Tubing
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Downhill Skiing
- Snow Play
- Snowshoeing
- Swimming
- Freshwater Swimming
- Water Skiing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
- African American Heritage
- Archeology
- Arts
- Painting
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Asian American Heritage
- Colonization and Settlement
- Explorers and Expeditions
- Farming and Agriculture
- Ranches
- Hispanic American Heritage
- Latino American Heritage
- Military
- Infantry and Militia
- Native American Heritage
- Science, Technology and Innovation
- Westward Expansion
- Homesteading
- The Gold Rush
- Ancient Seas
- Animals
- Birds
- Bison
- Cats (wild)
- Elk
- Fish
- Arctic
- Tundra
- Climate Change
- Dunes
- Fire
- Foothills, Plains and Valleys
- Forests and Woodlands
- Coniferous Forests
- Deciduous Forests
- Geology
- Mineral Deposits
- Groundwater
- Aquifers
- Freshwater Springs
- Grasslands
- Prairies
- Meadows
- Impact Craters
- Lakes
- Mountains
- Natural Sounds
- Night Sky
- Astronomy
- Aurora Borealis
- River and Riparian
- Rock Landscapes and Features
- Scenic Views
- Trails
- Unique Species
- Volcanoes
- Wetlands
- Wilderness
Dunes and Crestone Peaks at Sunset
The view at the park entrance contrasts giant dunes and snow-capped mountains.
Girls Sand Sledding
Rent specially designed sand sleds to slide on the dry sand. Note: cardboard, snow sleds, saucers, and other items don't slide on dry sand.
Elk, Grasslands, Dunes, and Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Elk are sometimes seen by visitors along the park entrance road or County Lane 6, primarily fall through spring.
Lower Sand Creek Lake, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Spectacular alpine lakes are part of the backcountry of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Upper Sand Creek Basin, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Sand Creek Basin, part of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, contains lush forests and alpine lakes.
Fall Colors Along Mosca Creek, Great Sand Dunes National Park
Fall is a pretty time to visit the park, with great colors and generally nice weather.
Gold Cottonwoods, Dunes, and Cleveland Peak
Experiencing Great Sand Dunes in the quieter seasons of fall and winter can be a rewarding experience.
Girl Floating Medano Creek
Visitors can float Medano Creek's waves during late spring peak flow, in years of good snowpack