Just a few hours south of Denver lie North America’s tallest sand dunes, backdropped by towering jagged mountains. I’m talking about Great Sand Dunes National Park, AKA the country’s largest sandbox!
If sandboarding down steep dunes, off-roading through sketchy terrain, and trudging up hot sand are your jam, it’s time to add Great Sand Dunes to your Colorado bucket list!
As someone who has explored this beautiful National Park, I am going to share everything you need to know to visit!
In this guide, I will share how to get to the park, when to go, where to stay, what to pack, the best things to do, and valuable know-before-you-go tips!
Complete Guide to Exploring Great Sand Dunes National Park
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Quick Facts About Great Sand Dunes
- Location: Colorado, USA
- Established: 1932 (National Monument), 2004 (National Park)
- Size: 149,056 acres
- Annual Visitors: 432,498 (2025)
- Fee: $25/vehicle for 7 days or FREE with an annual pass
- Visitor Center: Great Sand Dunes
Getting to (and Around) Great Sand Dunes
Great Sand Dunes is located in southern Colorado, just a few hours south of Denver.
Most of the main areas of the park can be accessed with 2WD, such as the main park entrance road, the dunes parking lot, the visitor center, and Pinon Flats Campground.
If you want to explore the backcountry and get out on some rough roads, you’ll need 4WD.
Medano Pass Primitive Road is the most popular unpaved pass in the park, and it is only accessible by 4WD, high-clearance vehicles. Do not attempt this road with an AWD or 2WD; you will get stuck in the deep sand and creek crossings.
Know Before You Go
Medano Creek only flows in late spring usually. Some people come in summer or fall, hoping to wade in the creek, only to be disappointed. Didn’t want that to happen to you!
Sand sleds and boards are rented outside of the park. Great Sand Dunes Oasis rents boards on a first-come, first-served basis for $20/day.
Sand temperatures can reach 150 degrees F in the summer. Don’t go barefoot, and don’t bring your dogs, in the summer.
This is a fairly pet-friendly park. Pets are permitted in most main areas of the park, but are not allowed in the backcountry. Read more about pets in the park on the official NPS website.
When to Visit Great Sand Dunes
The best time to visit Great Sand Dunes is May through November.
Late spring brings rising temperatures, and mountain trails start to clear. Plus, Medano Creek flows this time of year!
Summer brings wildflowers and thunderstorms, but beware of dangerously hot sand temperatures.
Fall brings chillier (but sometimes more comfortable) temperatures, changing leaves, and low crowds.
We visited in October, and it was the perfect balance of good hiking weather and low crowds!
Where to Stay in Great Sand Dunes
The only place to stay inside Great Sand Dunes National Park is Pinon Flats Campground.
Located one mile north of the Visitor Center, this campground is open from April through October. Amenities include food storage lockers, a camp store, ice, firewood, an amphitheater, a dump station, potable water, and flush toilets.
All 91 sites can be reserved on recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance for individual sites and 1 year in advance for group sites.
If you’re not a camper, there are some nearby lodging options just outside of the park:
- Great Sand Dunes Lodge – 4 miles from Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center
- Oasis Camping Cabins – 7 miles from Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center
- Rustic Rook Resort – 19 miles from Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center
- Holiday Inn & Suites Express Alamosa – 37 miles from Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center
Those who are into backpacking can enjoy one of two backcountry experiences in the park: designated sites along the Sand Ramp Trail or 20 non-designated sites in the Dunes Backcountry.
Backpacking permits are available on recreation.gov for $6.
What to Pack
Below are some of the things you’ll need for your adventures in Great Sand Dunes:
- 10 essentials – don’t hike without packing these items
- Day pack – to store all your hiking essentials
- Sandals with socks – the sand is HOT
- Sunglasses – to protect your eyes, of course
- Sun hat – the sun is also very hot
- Sunscreen – apply it often
Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes
From sandboarding and hiking to swimming and off-roading, here are the best things to do in Great Sand Dunes!
Wade in Medano Creek
Great Sand Dunes is famous for its sand and striking backdrop of mountain peaks, but did you know a creek flows directly in front of the dunefield?
Medano Creek flows seasonally; the snowmelt rushes off the mountains, melts into the lakes, and cascades through meadows and forests before dumping at the base of the dunes. Surge flow, caused by the build-up and breakdown of underwater sand ridges, sends out waves through the creek that add an extra thrill to the experience.
With the sand and the wave-smattered water, you’ll feel like you’ve escaped to a mountainous beach tucked into the alpine wilderness. So after a hot day of climbing the sand dunes or off-roading through the sunny backcountry, cool off in the wide, shallow creek by wading, floating, rafting, or skimboarding!
Check the park’s website for updated info on current conditions and water flow, but the creek typically flows from April through June.
Stargaze at the International Dark Sky Park
In 2019, Great Sand Dunes became recognized as the newest International Dark Sky Park. The high elevation and lack of light pollution in the park create the ideal location to stargaze.
Experience the stars at their finest on a moonless evening. See what it feels like to be guided by a velvet blanket of shimmery diamonds as you shuffle through the cool sand, accented by stark mountain ranges lit up by the star shower.
PRO TIP: The Milky Way is most visible from August through early October on a moonless night.
Go Off-Roading on Medano Pass Primitive Road
Medano Pass Primitive Road is a rough, 22-mile road connecting Great Sand Dunes with the Wet Mountain Valley and Colorado State Highway 69. Only 4WD vehicles are permitted on this road; AWD, 2WD, and all other vehicles with low clearance will get stuck in the deep sand and creek crossings.
Enjoy a thrill ride through nine water crossings, many areas of deep, shifting sand, and bighorn sheep habitats.
Though Medano Pass only takes about 2.5-3 hours to drive, many choose to camp overnight along the road. Roadside camping is permitted in 21 numbered sites in the park; they are first-come, first-served, so plan on arriving early to secure a spot.
For more information regarding the current road conditions, creek level, and mileage chart, click here.
Go Sandboarding or Sledding Down the Dunes
Most people are familiar with snowboarding, but did you know you can perform that same sport on sand instead of snow? It’s called sandboarding!
Sandboards and sand sleds are perfect for the whole family. Unlike snowboarding, you don’t need cold weather and snow slopes; you just need a steep, tall dune, a board, and a little wax!
Great Sand Dunes Oasis, which is located right before the entrance to the National Park, rents these boards on a first-come, first-served basis for just $20/day.
Arrive early to snag one of the exclusive boards or sleds, or consider bringing your own. We arrived right when the Oasis opened at 9:00 am, and a line was wrapped around the building already.
The Oasis also has gas pumps and convenience services so you can load up on all of your fuel for a day (or week) in the park!
Once you’ve secured your board or sled, head through the entrance station and park at the main Dunes parking area. It is a large parking lot, but it fills up quickly during summer days and weekends. Once you’ve parked and have your board or sled tucked under your arm, it’s time to find that perfect spot!
The beauty of this sport/activity is that you can find a dune that meets your thrill needs and skill level. There are dunes of all shapes and sizes that are constantly reforming with the wind, so snag that mini hill or claim the tallest dune.
The taller and steeper the dune, the larger the thrill. But no matter what size sand dune you choose to slide down, you’re sure to have a blast!
And don’t worry about crowds; there is a slice of sand for everyone, and you’ll feel deep solitude in this quiet National Park!
Hike the High and Star Dune Loop
Since there are no designated trails in the dunefield, visitors can find their own path up, around, and across the sand.
You will traverse down bowls and up ridges, following the ever-changing sandy dips and rises. It’s definitely less strenuous to zigzag than shoot straight up the dune, but it’s been done both ways! Acknowledge the limits of your personal physical ability, and always bring plenty of water; the sand is scorching hot in the summer months!
AllTrails marks this looped path to the two highest dunes as 8 miles in length, but exact mileage will vary as you navigate your own path.
Hike the Upper Sand Creek Lake Trail
This 7.4-mile trail takes you deep into the alpine backcountry. Since the dunes are the highlight of the park, many don’t venture back into the mountains. You will rise above the dunefield as you ascend the tree line to reach the lake.
Please note that reaching this trailhead requires a 4WD, high-clearance vehicle, and you must have some navigational and hiking skills to venture into the backcountry.
Hike the Mosca Pass Trail
This 6.2-mile out & back trail meanders along a creek to the summit of Mosca Pass. You will be treated to aspen and evergreen forest, mountain, and dune views.
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- North Cascades National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Olympic National Park
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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