Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
National park · Saguache County
Colorado
Highlights
North America's tallest dunes, hiking, camping, sledding & stargazing
North America's tallest dunes, hiking, camping, sledding & stargazing
"This park contains North America's tallest sand dunes rising abruptly from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, formed by winds funneling through mountain passes and ongoing sand recycling. Star attractions include two towering dunes that reach roughly 750 feet above the valley floor. The best time to visit is spring and early summer for mild daytime temperatures and the seasonal creek, and visitors come for sandboarding, sledding, dune hiking and creek play; sand surface temperatures on warm days can top about 150°F, so hiking shoes or socks are recommended. Designated an International Dark Sky Park, it also offers excellent stargazing, plus visitor amenities such as dune‑rover wheelchairs, dune showers, a campground, and family programs like Junior Ranger and archaeology days." - Taryn White Taryn White Taryn White is a D.C.-based travel writer who covers a wide range of topics, including family travel, hotels, food, aviation, beaches, historical and cultural topics, and wellness travel. She can often be spotted around the world with her husband and two travel-loving kids. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A striking landscape of towering sand dunes juxtaposed with mountain backdrops, notable for its unusual scale and recreational opportunities like sand sledding and hiking." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Recommended as an intriguing natural stop in southern Colorado where families can explore vast dunes and enjoy outdoor play in a dramatic landscape." - Jill Krasny Jill Krasny Jill Krasny is a journalist based in New York. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, The Financial Times, and Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Spend your days exploring North America's tallest sand dunes at this popular Colorado national park, officially deemed an International Dark Sky Park in 2019, before turning your eyes to the sky after sunset for an exceptional nighttime scene." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"This surreal landscape features towering ivory-colored dunes—some reaching roughly 750 feet—that feel otherworldly against the surrounding mountains; camping on the dunes is strongly recommended for stellar night-sky viewing and immersive stargazing, and entry to this unit does not require an additional admission fee mentioned elsewhere on the route." - Adam Lapetina Adam Lapetina Adam Lapetina is a Chicago-based writer, editor, and content strategist who works in the travel, food and drink, and lifestyle spaces. His work has appeared in HuffPost, MSN, Yahoo, Travel + Leisure, and Thrillist. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
