Hidden Gem
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Trip length
- 2–3 days
- Budget
- $200–$700
- per person · excl. airfare
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
Hiking
Park entrance: $25 (Entrance - Private Vehicle) · source: NPS
The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience countless stars in this International Dark Sky Park! Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week year-round. There are no timed entries or reservations to visit.
Highlights
- Tallest dunes in North America
- Sandboarding & Medano Creek
- Sangre de Cristo backdrop
Photos
Photos via Wikimedia Commons under their respective licences.
Map
Trails (6)· Moderate
- View →Liberty RoadRepresentative11.9 mi0 ft gainModerate~4 h
- View →Sand Ramp TrailRepresentative9.2 mi0 ft gainModerate~3.1 h
- View →Deadman Creek TrailRepresentative4.2 mi0 ft gainModerate~1.4 h
- View →Pole Creek RoadRepresentative4 mi0 ft gainModerate~1.3 h
- View →Medano Lake TrailRepresentative3.4 mi0 ft gainModerate~1.1 h
- View →Mosca Pass TrailRepresentative2.9 mi0 ft gainModerate~1 h
Getting there
- ALS San Luis Valley (Alamosa) · 29 mi
- COS Colorado Springs · 85 mi
- MTJ Montrose Regional · 135 mi
Straight-line distances to nearby airports. Airfare and drive times are not included.
Permits & access
No permit required
No permit for day use / dune hiking; backcountry permit for overnight — sand surface gets extremely hot midday — check the official site.
Official permit & conditions ↗Last verified 7/24/2026