Going to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve: Vacations, Tourism, Hotels, Things to Do, and Airports

Footprints in the sand through Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado

Golden Cottonwoods and sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. (NPS Photo)

What to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

The enormous sandbox at the Great Sand Dunes National Preserve makes you feel, very simply, like a kid again. People of all ages run up these 700-foot-high dunes just to roll down, laughing while their shorts fill up with sand.

The dunes make for a dramatic setting on the plains of south-central Colorado, right at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo range. From the top you can see mountains on one side, while on the other, the dunes seem to stretch forever. Continue into the dunes and it's easy to convince yourself that you're in the Sahara.

It is unclear when the dunes started to form, as there is currently no accurate process to date sand. Geologists speculate that dunes probably started to form when the swollen Rio Grande spread sand across the San Luis Valley. Heavy winds carried—and still carry—the sand...

Read more on Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Travel

Be the first to Review

Your rating for Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Top Hotels
Top Attractions
Nearby Destinations

Compare Rates

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Q&A

Answer this

any nearby horse/trailer camping?

We would like to enjoy great sands but dont camp in a tent. and like to camp near horses
Asked on February 25, 2012 by mary ellen

Answer this

What are the summer hours for the Great Sand Dunes National Park?

What are the summer hours for the Great Sand Dunes National Park?
Asked on March 01, 2011 by an anonymous user

Answer this

why is the great sand dunes national park a national park?

why is the great sand dunes national park a national park?
Asked on October 05, 2009 by an anonymous user

Answer this

We are coming from Canon City to the Great Sand Dunes for 1 night and then heading to the...

We are coming from Canon City to the Great Sand Dunes for 1 night and then heading to the Denver airport - where is the best place to stay for that night? (Is Alamosa too far out of the way?)We would like to be able to be at the Dunes Mon late afternoon and Tue morning. How long is the drive (time) to Denver and is there anything along the way that we should see. Thank you
Asked on June 27, 2009 by an anonymous user

See all the questions »