Sand Dunes National Park - photo by Reb Babcock
The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is 150,000 acres of grasslands, wetlands, dunes, forests, alpine lakes, and rugged 13,000’ peaks. Come hike, camp in the park, or try skiing, sledding, or sandboarding down the dunes! Whatever you decide, your Dunes experience will be unforgettable!
How the Dunes were formed–
Found between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and San Juan Mountains is the vast San Luis Valley. It is thought a prehistoric lake named “Lake Alamosa” once covered most of the valley floor. Through climate change, Lake Alamosa receded, leaving behind layers of sand that predominant southwest winds blew toward a low curve in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The wind funnels toward three mountain passes, Mosca, Medano, and Music Passes, and the sand accumulates in this natural pocket. The winds blow from the valley floor toward the mountains, but during storms the winds blow back toward the valley. These opposing wind directions cause the dunes to grow vertically. Two mountain streams, Medano and Sand Creeks, also capture sand from the mountain-side of the dunefield and carry it around the dunes and back to the valley floor. The creeks then disappear into the sand sheet, and the sand blows back into the dunefield. Barchan and transverse dunes form near these creeks. The combination of opposing winds, a huge supply of sand from the valley floor, and the sand-recycling action of the creeks, contributes to forming the tallest dunes in North America.
The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year! Visitor Center hours are from 9am-6pm from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend; hours may vary through the rest of the year, so please visit their website for the most up to date information!
Per person 16 and older: $3 for one week Child under 16: FREE
Great Sand Dunes Annual Pass: $15 per family for 1 year
All Information provided by the National Park Service.
For more and up to date information, please visit their website: http://www.nps.gov/grsa/
Main
719-378-6300 - Visitor Center
719-378-6399
