Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Park

Address: Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, (near) 11999 CO‑150, Mosca, CO 81146, USA

Website: https://www.nps.gov/grsa

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve contains a vast dunefield at the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado and includes the tallest sand dunes in North America. The highest dunes rise roughly 750 feet from the valley surface and sit below the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

The site features a broad dunefield of windblown sand, active dune migration, and seasonal water on the dune front known as Medano Creek. Visitors hike, sandboard and scramble on the dunes, and many choose to wade along the creek when it is running.

The dunes formed as sand transported from river and mountain sources accumulated where prevailing winds drop load against the mountain front, and the landscape remains active with shifting sand and migrating ridges. The park includes both dune and backcountry preserve units to protect dune ecosystems and adjacent mountain habitats.

The park sits in the San Luis Valley at the eastern base of the Sangre de Cristo Range, near the small towns of the valley in south-central Colorado. The open valley and mountain backdrop create a dramatic context for the dunefield.

• Tallest dunes in North America: Home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, with the largest dunes rising to about 750 feet above the valley floor.
• Medano Creek seasonality: Medano Creek flows at the dunes’ edge in spring and early summer, producing a shallow surf-like flow that is popular for wading and makes sand transport visible.

What to See#

• Dunefield: The principal dunefield, a broad expanse of windblown sand that includes the park’s tallest dunes and the prominent “Star Dune” rising above the surrounding plain.
• Medano Creek: Medano Creek, a seasonal sand-flowing stream at the base of the dunes that runs in spring and early summer and creates a shallow wet beach used for play and sandboarding.
• Visitor center and trailheads: A visitor center with exhibits about dune formation, natural history and safe access to the dunes, plus trailheads for nearby mountain and prairie walks.

• Plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon (sunset is especially dramatic) - the light makes the dunes' ripples photogenic and temperatures are far more comfortable.
• Enter through the park's main gate off Highway 150 and stop at the visitor center to check current Medano Creek conditions; the seasonal creek is a major attraction and its flow changes rapidly with spring runoff.
• Many visitors only climb the High Dune; if you want quieter sand, hike farther along the dune field or take the Mosca Pass trail to escape the busiest ridge near the main parking area.