Great Sand Dunes National Park & Alamosa

North America's tallest dunes rise at the foot of snowy peaks — sandboarding, creek splashing and dark night skies make this the southern overnight stop on a Colorado national parks loop.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve sits on the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. North America's tallest dunes (Star Dune is about 230 m / 750 ft) lie at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, whose peaks reach around 4,000 m (13,000+ ft), so dunes, snowy summits, mountain streams and wetlands all share one remarkably unusual landscape. The gateway town of Alamosa, about 55 km (35 mi) southwest of the park, is the main base for lodging, dining and sandboard rentals; the Oasis store just outside the park also offers camping and rentals. The best season is May–October: from late May to mid-June, snowmelt fills Medano Creek, and you can splash around at the foot of the dunes; in July and August the sand gets extremely hot in the afternoon and thunderstorms are frequent, so climb the dunes in the early morning or evening; from late September to early October the aspens in the foothills turn gold; in March and in the fall you can watch sandhill cranes migrate at Monte Vista. The park is an International Dark Sky Park, with the Milky Way clearly visible on moonless nights. Winters are cold but uncrowded, and the dunes have a special charm after snowfall. Areas to explore: (1) the dunefield and Medano Creek (climbing the high dunes, sandboarding, splashing), allow at least half a day; (2) the foothills and preserve (Mosca Pass Trail, Zapata Falls, 4WD roads); (3) roadside attractions around the San Luis Valley (the Colorado Gators Reptile Park, the UFO Watchtower, Sand Dunes Pool hot springs, Fort Garland, the town of San Luis); and (4) a day trip from Antonito on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, a narrow-gauge steam line. Getting there: the nearest commercial airport is San Luis Valley Regional Airport in Alamosa (connecting via Denver), but most visitors drive from Denver (about 4 hours) or Colorado Springs (about 3 hours), often as part of a national parks loop with Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and others. Plan on 2 days. At high altitude (over 2,500 m / 8,200 ft), wear sunscreen and stay hydrated; there's no shade in the dunefield, and you should leave immediately if a thunderstorm approaches.

Top sights

• Great Sand Dunes – High Dune & Star Dune – North America's tallest dune field stretches at the foot of snow-capped mountains. Climb to High Dune for views over the sand sea and the r…
• Medano Creek – A seasonal shallow stream that flows past the foot of the dunes. In late spring it produces a rare 'surge flow', and wading barefoot and pl…
• Zapata Falls – A waterfall hidden in a rock-walled canyon. You must wade into a narrow crevice to see it, and the parking lot offers views across the dune…
• Mosca Pass Trail – A mountain trail leaving from near the visitor centre, passing through aspen groves and creek valleys. Cool in summer and golden in autumn…
• Medano Pass Primitive Road – A rugged road open only to high-clearance 4WD vehicles, crossing deep sand and creeks on the way over the pass, with campsites and aspen gr…
• Colorado Gators Reptile Park – An alligator farm on the high desert plateau, where geothermal spring water supports hundreds of alligators and rescued reptiles. For a fee…
• UFO Watchtower – A quirky stop on Highway 17, built by a farmer as a UFO observation post and 'energy garden', where visitors have left keys, toys and notes…
• Sand Dunes Recreation (Hot Springs Pool) – A geothermal hot spring pool on the outskirts of Hooper, where the big outdoor pool looks out over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Climbing…
• Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center – An adobe fort built by the U.S. Army in 1858, once commanded by frontiersman Kit Carson. Restored barracks tell the story of westward expan…
• Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad – America's longest and highest steam narrow-gauge scenic railway. It climbs out of Antonito over Cumbres Pass, passing spectacular canyons a…
• Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge – Each spring and autumn about 20,000 sandhill cranes rest here. At dawn and dusk, tens of thousands take to the sky together, a seasonal spe…
• Shrine of the Stations of the Cross, San Luis – A pilgrimage hill above San Luis, Colorado's oldest town. Fifteen life-sized bronze statues line the path to the summit, where you can look…

Where to eat

• Calvillo's Mexican Restaurant – Highest-rated Mexican restaurant in Alamosa, offering both à la carte and all-day buffet options; the stuffed chiles ar…
• The Ruby Slipper – Dinner spot with more than thirty burgers, repeatedly voted the best local burger; the green chile burger is the most a…
• San Luis Valley Brewing – Craft brewpub housed in an 1897 former bank building, known for its Hatch green chile beer and green chile burger.

Itineraries

• Colorado's Four National Parks: 13-Day Grand Loop – A clockwise grand loop from Denver, linking Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Rocky Mount…