Kiki
Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
The Sand Dunes are a fun place for all ages with incredible views and opportunities to surf the sand! I highly recommend checking it out if you’re ever in Southern Colorado in the summertime. They rent out sleds and sand-boards, or you can just play in the sand like a kid in a gigantic sandbox! Surfing or hiking through the sand makes for a great workout with beautiful views all around. Be sure to check the weather before you go, you definitely don’t want to be caught out there in a storm!
Highest Sand Dunes in North America!
Alamosa is known as the “Gateway to the Great Sand Dunes.” Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Alamosa.
These are the tallest sand dunes in North America and are truly a remarkable sight to see. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is open all day and night, every day of the year. The park is filled with sand dunes, forests, wetlands and alpine lakes and a rich history to explore.
Thrill-Seekers
As you approach the area, the colossal sand formations reveal themselves as giant staggering mountains of sand. The great sand dunes is a great place for families and thrill seekers alike! Enjoy plenty of exciting activities for everyone like hiking, backpacking, sand-boarding, sand-sledding, swimming in the creek, horseback riding, fat biking, fishing, hunting and even ADA accessible activities like sand wheel-chairing! You can rent a sandboard or sand sled in Alamosa or at the Oasis Store near the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center.
Off-Roading & Camping
If you’re looking for some off-road adventuring, the Medano Pass Primitive Road is a backcountry road that winds through a canyon toward the Sangre de Cristo mountains. This road requires a 4WD vehicle, mostly for clearance needed to get through the thick sand and multiple river crossings. ATV’s are not permitted anywhere in the national park. Drive out to one of the many scenic points and set up camp! There are plenty of amazing places to camp out among the twinkling stars. Be sure to check out the latest alerts before you plan your next adventure!
Zapata Falls
If you visit here, be sure and check out Zapata Falls nearby! Zapata Falls is truly a hidden gem. This gorgeous 25-foot waterfall is located within the San Luis Valley near the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It’s surrounded by beautiful rock crevasses, carved out by the water that started its journey as Snowmelt from the San Juan Mountains. The falls are also very stunning in the winter when it freezes into a sculpture of ice. When you arrive to this destination, you’ll find that the parking lot and trailhead tower over incredibly stunning views of the Great Sand Dunes. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. There are plenty of hiking trails and things to do in the area such as camping, bird watching and mountain biking. Take a pleasant hike through high desert and experience something truly magical hidden in the San Juan mountains.
