Park of China
Overview
| Designation | US National Park |
| Location | Colorado, USA |
| Latitude, longitude | 37.8, -105.6 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Desert, sand dunes |
| Top sights | The great dunes |
| Wildlife | Mule deer |
| Area | 107,000 acres |
| Highest point | 8,691 ft |
| Nearby cities | Colorado Springs |
| Nearby sites | Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Taos Pueblo, Mesa Verde National Park, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Rocky Mountain National Park |
| Themes | Desert, Sand Dune, Mountain, Stream, Grassland, Hiking & climbing, Night sky & aurora |
About
Great Sand Dunes National Park is in Colorado. It was established as a US national park in 2004.
Visitor map
Travel tips
Getting there: the park sits in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. The nearest city is Alamosa, about 55 km to the south-west. Denver is about 4 hours by car and Colorado Springs about 3.5 hours; the nearest major airport is Denver International.
The dunes: the dunes rise about 230 m, the tallest in North America. Visitors walk freely on the sand; there are no marked trails. Star Dune, the highest, takes most of a day to climb and return.
Medano Creek: from late spring to early summer the creek in front of the dunes runs strongly and people wade in it; it often dries up around July.
Sand sliding: you can bring a sandboard or sled; rentals are available outside the park.
Season: on summer afternoons the sand can be too hot for bare feet, so go early or late, wear shoes and carry plenty of water. Winter is cold, with occasional snow on the sand, and spring is windy.
Night sky: the park is an International Dark Sky Park, with good stargazing on clear nights.
Other routes: the park also has high mountain lake trails and a four-wheel-drive track, Medano Pass Primitive Road.
Where to stay: Pinon Flats Campground needs booking in summer. Motels are in Alamosa and south of the park. There is no food or lodging in the park, so bring water and food.
Map
