A Weekend Getaway to Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park is a must add to your places to visit, especially if you live in Colorado! It’s open year round but is definitely best to visit during the warmer months. It’s the tallest dunes in North America and are surrounded by grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. I wish I could explain just how gorgeous this experience was but it's something you really have to see for yourself! I'll include lots of beautiful photos but imagine smelling, feeling the wind, and seeing it with your own eyes! I would 100% recommend taking this trip if you have the opportunity!
Below I share a lot of tips and tricks for visiting. As you read through you may feel like it’s a lot to think about with the weather and clothing. As most places in Colorado, our weather changes quickly. If you’re looking for the optimal time to visit with the least risk of high winds, lightning, and hot sand, I suggest visiting from Mid-May through June.
The drive from Denver to Crestone, CO
The drive was approximately 3.5 hours. We took Highway 285 S most of the way which was 10x better than taking Interstate 25 because it was full of scenic views. We drove through several National Parks and went up and down mountains and drove straight in the valleys. Here are a few photos to show you how great the drive alone is.
On the way back we stopped and did a little hiking at Mushroom Gulch. It's hard to drive past all these beautiful places and not stop so I'd suggest planning a hike/pull over to take it all in at some point on your drive.
Where To Stay When Visiting Great Sand DUnes:
Alamosa, CO is the closest and “largest” town to the park. It is a 30-minute drive southwest of the park and offers a small town feel with restaurants and all the must-have amenities. Crestone, CO is a small, unique town located 55-minutes north of the park. It is a community of spirituals and features artsy, unique dome-style homes.
Note: If you’re interested in aliens and UFOs, there is a UFO Watchtower located along Highway 17, not far from the dunes. They also allow camping.
Camping:
There is a lot of surrounding BLM land and campgrounds outside the park. You can view all the options here.
The Pinon Flats campground is open April 1st through October 31st with reservation only. Be sure to book your site early as they’ll fill up quickly. You can book your site up to 6 months in advance or 1 year in advance for group sites. We drove through these sites and some offer incredible views.
They also offer backpacking permits that are also by reservation only.
Hotels: There are several hotels and motels in Alamosa.
AirBnb: We stayed at a really cute and affordable AirBnB in Crestone. It’s a great place that can host up to 6 guests and offers ultimate relaxation. The master suite was so cozy with it’s own fireplace. Below are photos from our stay at the house.
Our Stay in Crestone, CO
If you look on the map it's much closer to the Sand Dunes (you can see them out your backdoor) but the way the roads work you have to drive a round about way. You have to drive on some dirt roads to get to the house but 2-wheel drive should be just fine! Yes, it's out there.
Our AirBnB was full of character! To see a little tour, go to my instgram stories under "Sand Dunes." You couldn't ask for better views! The kitchen was equipped with everything to cook, beds were covered in organic linens, and the house was clean except....Our first night I saw a mouse run across the kitchen floor under the refrigerator! As gross as it is, I'm sure field mice are quite common in this area. We made sure all of our food was locked in the refrigerator and our RTIC cooler. But back to the good things about the house...there were THREE wood-burning fireplaces (score!), views from every room, and natural plants throughout the house.
Here are a few photos of the place:
Crestone, Colorado is what feels like the middle of nowhere. But really. I constantly asked myself and Andrew, "What do these people do out here?" Being the real estate nerd that I am, I used STDB to look up their stats because I was extremely curious. Here are a few fun facts about Crestone, Colorado if you're as curious as I am (5 mile radius from town center according to 2018 reports):
Population: 1,118 people
47.8% of the population is ages 55-74
There is a small grocery that carried lots of great organic products. I'd suggest planning and packing all of your food. That's what we did and it made everything really easy. I think there was a brewery, cafe, and maybe one restaurant so don't rely on going out to eat this trip.
Remember, this is in the San Luis Valley. There are sand storms and high winds with constantly changing weather so pack accordingly!
Great Sand Dunes National Park
I have long anticipated what it was going to feel like standing on the Sand Dunes. As you drive up, it's cool and beautiful but it's so hard to understand how large they are until you are standing on them. In the Spring, the snow melts which forms a small river that you have to pass to walk on the Sand Dunes. It's best to wear chacos or sandals that you can easily throw in your backpack. You cross (a freezing cold) river to the warm sand welcoming you! From there it's endless views! It's interesting how far up the ledges are where you could actually fall off. We had our dog off leash for part of the time but they didn't grasp the concept of falling off so we kept them close by.
Things to know before planning your trip to Great Sand Dunes
Rent sandboards and sand sleds for around $20 per day. They are on first come, first serve so be sure to get there early during busy season. There are several rental options from location businesses before you get to the dunes including Oasis Store, Spin Drift Sandboard Rentals, and Kristi Mountain Sports. The Oasis Store is the closest (only 4 miles away).
Be prepared for a climb! It doesn’t look like much from photos, but it’s harder than it looks to climb with the sand and altitude. The elevations range from 8,000 feet to 13,604 feet. If you’re visiting from out of state, be sure to know your limits with altitude and acclimate accordingly.
What to Wear: You’ve probably seen people with beautiful dresses on for photos. If you’re looking to take those photos, I suggest wearing workout clothes to hike up and then putting those on once you reach the top. During the May-June the snow will probably be melting. You may have to walk through freezing cold water to access the dunes. Be sure to have pants on that can be rolled up and out of the way so you stay dry. If the wind picks up, you’ll want long pants to cover your legs so you don’t get sandblasted. If you’re not fully covered and the winds are high, the sand will sting against your skin. As far as shoes, I went barefoot and highly recommend if the temperatures allow. It’s best to bring a bandana if the wind picks up, sunglasses for eye protection, and a hat to hide from our hot Colorado sun.
Food & Drinks: I wish we had thought about this ahead of time so we could’ve enjoyed a picnic and hang out on the dunes for lunch. Be sure to bring water! But a picnic would be ideal.
Weather: Like any Colorado weather, it can change quickly. The summer season ranges from 45 degrees at night to 80 degrees during the day. Be prepared for all types of weather. When we were hiking it was sunny but snowing. As a rule of thumb, I always layer and have a waterproof windbreaker with me on every adventure in Colorado. Depending on the time of year you go, you’ll need to plan your hike and time on the dunes accordingly. The sand can reach up to 150 degree temperatures! Storms can roll in quickly with lightning and high winds. This weather typically occurs during warmer months (July-August).
Medano Creek: The creek typically flows at the Dunes Parking Area April through June with peak flow around late May. When we went in Mid-May the depth and width of the river changed throughout the day as the snow melts. We watched a Surge Flow which was super cool! It’s a globally rare phenomenon, occurring during high flow. When sufficient water flows across sand, antidunes or sand dams form on the creek bed, gathering water. When the water pressure is too great, the dams break, sending down a wave about every 20 seconds. The water is cold but a great place for kids to entertain themselves after sledding down the dunes.
Pets: Most National Parks do not allow pets on hiking trails. However, leashed pets are allowed in a lot of the park including the dunes. Be sure to note that their paws can get burned by the hot sand as well as hold sand in their paw fur. When we visited, our mutt (Ziggy) got so irritated from the sand that we had to carry him on the way back. He has a lot of hair between his toes and the sand stuck and irritated his paws to the point that he couldn’t walk. I would suggest leaving your pups behind if they have a lot of hair in their paws or during the hot months. Our Rhodesian Ridgeback didn’t have any issues so I know some dogs would be fine! Also, don’t forget water for your animals!
Night Views: If you catch it on a moonless night, you can see some insane skies! Great Sand Dunes is a certified International Dark Sky Park. This is an excellent place to be if you’re looking to see some amazing constellations.
Other Things to Pack: Bring your camera! You’ll want to take a lot of photos. It’s dry with the heat and wind so bring SPF, chapstick and extra facial moisturizer.
The Best Time to Visit Great Sand Dunes National Park
As mentioned above, it’s important to be prepared for the weather as it changes a lot throughout the year. The park is open year round but the optimal time to visit is Mid-May through June to avoid hot sands and afternoon storms. We visited during mid-May and it was great! Here is a chart of the weather you can expect throughout the year.
To visit the official Great Sand Dunes website, click here.