Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

The Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is located in the vast San Luis Valley next to the eastern front range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. When traveling on U.S. Highway 160 in southern Colorado, the road to look for is State Road 150, which heads 20 miles due north to the national park. There are several small towns nearby that are good basecamp choices and some have historic points of interest. The best accommodation plan is making a reservation for a campsite inside the park, simply because the views are spectacular. 

Great Sand Dunes National Park has two different outdoor entertainment venue themes. The Great Sand Dunes are managed like a big recreation area where visitors can have fun in the sun. The other section of this park is a wilderness preserve that goes deep into the mountains, which offers a good nature viewing experience. One part of this park is like going to the beach and the other is like a rugged outback excursion. As can be imagined, this is quite an odd combination of venues to be found in one location.

Medano Creek flows through the edge of the Great Sand Dunes and this creek looks more like a wide shallow river when the mountain snow melt season is going on. As rushes of melting snow flow into the tributaries upstream in the mountains, it causes water volume to vary, which creates gentle waves that flow over the sand, just like on a placid beach in the Gulf Of Mexico. The sight of the ripples and shallow waves spreading over the flat sandy creek bed truly are mesmerizing to see. Hours alone can be spent just watching the gentle water flow. 

The Great Sand Dunes is peaceful place, but it is also a fun recreation area. Sand-boarding is the sport of choice on these towering 700 foot tall dunes. Hiking the dunes will enable spectacular views, while splashing in the shallow water is a great way to cool off on a hot day. No matter whether you visit for some fun in the sun or you intend to explore the mountain wilderness, the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is a great choice for a summer destination!