Piñon Flats Campground

Clean, comfortable, good views. The bear lockers worked great. You will definitely want to check individual site pictures before booking a pad as some pads could barely hold an 8x8 tent and others could hold two easily. They also say two car limit but the parking spaces by pads varied just as much for if they could comfortably hold 1-2 cars. The campground store was open but hours were a little weird with the shutdown affecting them. There was still a site host/ranger who checked in to make sure the people at sites had the correct reservations and a ranger who did rounds for trash daily.

We loved the Pinon Flats Campground. We stayed for two nights at Site 21, which was easily the best tent site in the campground. Sites 20 and 22 looked very nice also. Our site had amazing views of the dunes and felt very private, but was still a convenient walk to the bathroom and trails. The site is a little walk down some uneven steps from the parking area, so I wouldn't recommend it for anyone with accessibility concerns. The restrooms were clean and had potable water pumps and dish washing sinks outside. We had deer walk right up to our site while we were eating and saw them all around the campgrounds each day, as well as turkey. There is a trail from the campground that takes you to the dunes that is much quieter / less crowded than the main parking lot entrance. The only negative was that the wind was really intense each night and it felt like our tent might blow away. Other sites may have better wind protection, but it was worth it for the amazing views and privacy. There is a small camp store at the campground with inconsistent hours of operation and it felt very pricey, but it was a nice convenience for small things like drinks or frozen treats. We loved our time at this park and campground and were sad to leave, but felt that 2 nights and 2.5 days was the perfect amount of time to spend there.

This is a very nice campground with clean restrooms and you can walk right out to the dunes. The only reason I docked it a star is because the sites are fairly close together and sadly there were a lot of people playing loud music on Bluetooth speakers late into the night and fairly early in the morning. I was impressed though that the second night park rangers actually drove through the campground multiple times enforcing rules related to trash and dogs being off leash.

One of the best campgrounds I've been to in a national park. The restroom facilities were very nice and clean (not always the case) and the views from our campsite (site 22) of the dunes were amazing. The only thing I wish is that we were there more nights.

Not a lot of space between sites but it was pretty quiet. Great views and some of the cleanest NP bathrooms I've ever experienced. Great campground store.

We made reservations months before our trip and were lucky to get a spot with a view of the dunes. The campground is so well layer out and so peaceful. Love the easy access (.5 mile dune trail) to the dunes from the campground. The restrooms are clean, the trash receptacles conveniently located and the bear boxes always welcome when camping where bears are known to visit. Definitely would recommend the campground to others for the experience and the views,

This is a nice, quiet campground. We appreciated the bathrooms, especially the family one that made it easier to be with my children and handle medical situations. The dishwashing sink was also nice to have. The trail to the bathroom did have cacti along it, so at night we stuck to the road, which worked well. The site was a little small to fit both our regular tent and screen tent, but we made it work. Definitely bring bug spray!

Great campground! Super easy access to the Sand Dunes. Peaceful and relatively quiet. Well-maintained camp sites and bathroom facilities. There was a trash bin specifically for kids' diapers in the women's room. There were lots of families and kids at the time we went, as well as several dogs! It is dog-friendly, too, and there are poop bags available. The camp sites are relatively close together, so you won't be isolated, but you will likely have neighbors close by. A few people arrived late at night, so probably expect some headlights and setup noise until later. There is a small campground store with essentials and you can also have firewood delivered to your campsite for an extra 5 bucks (or carry it out yourself). Note: There is a fee to enter the National Park, and this campground is inside the park, so you will need to pay the $25 (?) Or have a National Park Annual Pass ($80). If you enter the park after hours, you won't be charged the fee unless you leave and come back the next day.

Beautiful / magical / entertaining / amazing This is such a great vacation location for any family and friends. Bring plenty of food and water you can eat in your car before adventures in the sand. You will definitely need the energy. My Tips are being either sun glasses or goggles cause the sand will indeed hit your face or eyes and will hurt depending on the wind/weather. Some areas are hot if the sand has been sitting in the sun, please be aware. Bring water cause the walk in the sand is unimaginable exhausting. There is an area you can rent a board to sand board. Bring the right shoes, wear sunscreen and protective your face and ears too you will leave here with sand pretty much everywhere on anything.

Gorgeous! I came here on Christmas Day with my partner and two huskies. No park fee, which was great. Parking was easy. It was still quite busy for a holiday - not sure how it is normally. Bundle up and bring eye protection. I wish I had goggles for my dogs because it was windy. We chose not to rent or bring sleds. Honestly that activity looks sketchy and unsafe, but people love doing that here. We stayed at an Airbnb in Crestone, so it was a bit of a drive. Maybe we'll camp out next time. I heard the night skies make it special. Beautiful national park worth visiting!

Yeah it is worth your time to drive down here and visit. I even more highly recommend backpacking into the back country to get a real feel for how majestic this place is. Better to go when it is less crowded as it can be insane. Plenty of ways to visit: Hiking, 4 wheeling, Horseback, biking, etc. The campsites were empty at this time of year. check it out

We camped one night en route to Mesa Verde from Denver. The campground was really nice and the bathrooms were extremely clean. The night sky was plain incredible. We didn't make it very far to the dunes because our son ended up deciding there was plenty of sand to play in just by sitting down. We'd absolutely visit again!

Welcome to the tallest sand dunes in North America! The tallest dune supposedly reaches almost 750 feet. For a 7-day pass at Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa, CO, it costs $25 per vehicle. The sand arrived & still arrives here in a fascinating way -- blowing as tiny grains from a mountain range over 60 miles away with smaller pebbles from yet another nearby mountain range. There were tons of people from all over the world on 10/8/2023. I played photographer for a couple different groups. I guess I look approachable. Lol. My significant other came with us, but it was an old hat for him almost immediately. Alas, he grew up around here. My kids did not nor did they grow up in the desert. It was an amazing sight to see how high the dunes were. The runoff from the springs and surrounding mountains was long gone in the fall. At least I never saw any water whatsoever to wade around in... my family has been there in the spring when it was above their knees! I'll rent some sand boards next time for my girls. We kind of ran out of time for that. Or maybe I'll just bring large cooking pans like they did in the 1940s. Lol. A nice ranger gave my girls some Junior Ranger booklets per my request. Because he knew I was leaving the state soon, he asked if I'd like to be deputized to give them not just a badge but a patch too. Nice visitor's center with ample parking. Clean women's restroom with a baby changing station. Clean park over all too. Park rangers were pulling folks over - for what I have no idea. Pack it in, pack it out - leave no trace so future generations can enjoy this place - and especially all of the beautiful wildlife!

Love this park! Dogs are allowed on trails which is unique for a national park. Sledding is super fun. The hikes are short but lore strenuous than you'd think because of the stinky sand, but that is also the fun part! Camped here- amazing experience!

Trying to get to all the National parks and monuments in Colorado and the Great Sand Dunes National park exceeded expectations. 30 square miles of sand, some of the dunes are over 750 feet tall. Its a quirk of nature that all this sand is trapped in a triangle by the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The water flowing in the rivers/creeks is essential for the sand and sand dunes. It was winter, and so picturesque with the snow capped mountain peaks and all that sand. If you visit here, you had to want to be here, as this park is not near much else. Go up on the dunes-- must experience first hand. Consider a night visit -- dark skies mean magnificent views of our Milky Way.

What is all that sand doing there? Very suspicious ... But actually though, the Great Sand Dunes were incredible. Another total knockout on our self-led National Parks tour. - BRING WATER - Sand wheelchairs available for those who need them - Prepare for sand in your shoes ... & everywhere else, also - Even in January, we broke a major sweat on our hike - dress in layers - Each peak is deceiving - you may think you're about to finally reach the top, until you're faced with yet another sandy peak Good luck (:

This place is a little out of the way, but totally worth a trip. The dunes look like a painting. We had some storms rolling in while we were there, so we couldn't stay too long, but what we did see was breathtaking.

Definitely not your "typical" national park, but a beautiful and unique one nonetheless. We had no issues getting in and finding the trails. If we had more time, I would have loved to be at the park for sunrise and sunset. It is breathtaking and there's truly nothing like it. Also-there's a temporary visitors center currently in the parking lot of the permanent visitor's center while it is being remodeled. By the dune parking lot, there are restrooms as well as showers for getting the sand off. Unfortunately, the showers were off for the season, but I assume they will be up in running soon with the warm weather near.

It was a long drive, but we did this as a day trip. It had been on my list for a long time and I wanted to compare it to the sand dunes along the West coast of Michigan. The visitor center here was really informative and had great souvenirs. Once we got to the parking lot closer to the dunes, their full scale started to sink in. I ran around for like 2.5 hours and made sure to ascend the tallest dune I could (I forget the name off-hand). Climbing the dunes can get challenging with some of the grades. This was not a windy day and it wasn't scorching hot, so those elements didn't impact this hike. People wore all sorts of footwear ranging from Tevas with or without socks to barefoot, hiking boots, sneakers...I think I even saw a pair of Crocs. The sand is inconsistent also: I ran across well-traveled areas and the sand was soft, but on unmolested areas at the top of the dunes it would sometimes be packed hard (maybe I'd leave a half-inch depression walking) and then loose (maybe 5 inches of compression for a step). We did miss out on renting the sand boards and sleds. Poor research on our end showed the closest places to rent were 30 min away in Alamosa, but it turned out that you could rent them on the road that takes you into the park at what looked like a store/camping grounds on the right. I recommend renting the sleds and also hitting up Zapata Falls on this trip (do the falls after so you can earn that refreshing feeling there).

Very cool. Great views. Fun times. We will for sure be returning when our 1 year old twins will be able to enjoy it more.

We traveled here in September on our quest to visit all the National Parks. It is a smaller park. Very interesting that the sand is in the huge sand dunes brought in by wind and water and settle at the bottom of the mountains. The visitor center is very nice. They have lots of things to look at and also a very interesting movie to watch and learn about the dunes.

Not your typical national park experience. The scenery is awesome with mountains of sand and regular mountains in the distance. Beautiful. Given it had rained the day before the ranger said the hiking was easier. Also it was cloudy and in the upper 60s compared to the recent temps near 100 degrees! We appreciated the cooler weather but it was still brutal trying to hike up the mountains of sand even if somewhat damp! I only made it to the halfway point to the highest peak. I was exhausted. We had heard about the sand sledding/boarding so we stopped at the Oasis shop four miles south of the entrance to rent a sled (they do not rent them in the park). It is $21 for a sled for the day. With the damp conditions the sledding was not great but we did get in a couple of good runs. This was the first time going to a national park where the main activity wasn't just hiking or sight seeing. There are some hikes into the mountains and if you have a good 4x4 you can explore the wilderness. Other than that not a ton to do here. Don't get me wrong the dunes are stunning but a few hours is all you need.

Took my beau here to see the sand dunes. Weather was beautiful! We rented sand sleds each and hiked up the dunes and sledded down the dunes. It was so much fun! We were there for 2 hours. Hiking in the sand is no joke! Be prepared and have lots of fun. Definitely worth to see it once, going sledding, and lots of exercise.

REVIEW IS FOR THE TARGETING PARK RANGER WHO HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO NAMED N. WINELAND. We were entering the area where you are supposed to pay, we slowed down and read the sign that said no fee is necessary right now. We started driving again and the park ranger who was parked on the OPPOSITE side drove AROUND and started following us and THEN turned his lights on signaling that he was pulling us over. We pulled over and he said that we were going 40 in a 10 before the area we were supposed to pay. He gave me a ticket for $210 speeding. If we were speeding before that area then why didn't you pull us over prior? Why purposely follow us for a few minutes before turning on your lights?? Raises suspicion for unfair targeting. If you have nothing better to do get a different job instead of chilling in an empty national park. My friends and I confirmed that on your way toward the area you pay it goes from 30mph and after 15 feet changes to 10mph and 10 feet later you hit the pay area. Nice to know N. WINELAND is only looking at people "speeding" going INTO the park because a ton of people were speeding on their way out while he was pulling me over. I even asked him if he pulls people over who are leaving the park to which he had no answer to. Watch out for this targeting "police officer."

Amazing and great experience to play in the sand at Great Sand Dunes National Park. You can do various activities in the sand here like sledging and can spend the entire day here. Definitely wear a goggles and mask if you don't like the sand to go in your mouth or eyes. And one more suggestion take a drink with you as you might get exhausted while walking in the sand. Wear the colorful clothes if you want to get your picture clicked. And if u are going in the evening don't miss an opportunity to see the beautiful sunset from the parking. Our experience was 10/10.

First review of 2023! My boyfriend and I spent New Year's Day here! What a great way to start the new year by visiting our first National Park of the Year! In addition to New Year's Day, it was also free to visit! Downside...no one at the visitor center for me to buy my Great Sand Dunes magnet. :( Our week visiting Colorado was GO GO GO, so our last stop was Great Sand Dunes National Park. And let me tell you, my legs said "no ma'am, we ain't walkin no more". Imagine being Aladdin and making that trek in the desert getting that damn Genie lamp. You're literally sinking and dragging your feet to get it up. It's no joke. Getting to the hills is a journey in itself. But hey, the great views kept me going. You'll even bring a piece of Great Sands home. You'll never get the sand out of your car once you empty out your shoes. It's forever embedded. The weather was great, the views were immaculate. Check.

What a great national park!!! Definitely must see. We stopped here today and had a wonderful time viewing the dunes with our babies and played in the sand a while. We did not go and wander up the dunes as the stroller would not have made it. Yet all the other visitors that did seemed to have loved the excursion and hiking up the dunes very much. We toured the campground inside the state park as well, and it looked like a wonderful place to spend a few days.

We ended up going on a Tuesday around 1 pm and there was zero line and plenty of parking. The visitors center is quite small but has lots of hands on stuff for kids. The gift shop is small too but I still managed to spend over $100 with the military discount. Unlike White Sands National Park, you can't drive around or through the dunes. It is possible to park and access them for fun. It didn't take a lot of time to view this park but we were happy for the experience.

Great Sand Dunes National Park is a captivating destination that offers a unique blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventures, and cultural significance. Whether you seek adrenaline-pumping activities, serene hikes, or a deeper connection with nature, this national park has it all. The majestic sand dunes, diverse wildlife, and rich history make Great Sand Dunes National Park a true gem worth exploring.

The sand dunes are amazing! I can't believe I've lived in CO for almost 30 years and never seen them before. It is a long drive down there if you're in the Denver area, but it is well worth it. The sight is just staggering, looks like nothing I've ever seen before. And if you can camp there, it is even more gorgeous at sunrise and sunset. The campsite is so great too, it has bathrooms and even a little shop for the things you might have forgotten to bring. Oh! And if you can go while the river is flowing, do it! My kids played in the water all day long. It's warm, not freezing, and not super deep. It's as close to an actual beach as you can get in CO. We hiked up into the lowest dune as well so the kids could roll down the hill (we should have grabbed one of the rental sleds that people had from the private campsite just outside the park, but didn't think of it). Be forewarned though, that sand gets super hot. I grew up going to beach, but without the ocean there to cool it off, the sand on the dunes will definitely burn your feet. There's also a visitor's center where you can shop, learn, and get that little National Park Passport stamp in your book at (or in my case buy the sticker to put the stamp on because I ALWAYS forget the passport book). Definitely plan on making another trip to the Sand Dunes.

The Great Sand Dunes are well, GREAT! You'll find the highest sand dunes in the United States here! Don't let the looks of them fool you from afar. With the backdrop of the mountains, they don't look like much. Once you get up close and personal, you're in for quite an uphill, sandy workout. We were able to get an early start because we stayed right outside the park in Mosca at the Great Sand Dunes Lodge. Convenience and beating the rush is the name of the game for National Parks these days. We were in (almost) first thing in the morning after renting our board (10am), and by the time we left at 1pm, there was a huge line to get in at the gate and parking was a challenge at the trailhead. It's also best to get in early to beat the heat and potential afternoon thunderstorms!

6/11/21 This place left us absolutely breathless, we stayed over in Alamosa for the night, and drove over to The Great Sand Dunes around 6:00 pm. We wanted to catch sundown over the dunes, and then stayed until midnight looking up at the most wondrous sky filled with stars that you could ever imagine. We came back at 9:00am and were lucky enough to get a parking space. We walked through the little streams coming from the melted snow off the mountains, and walked to the dunes. What an awesome experience... The sand was really hot, we found out that temperatures at the dunes can get up 140 degrees... Walking back through the cool water it was so refreshing on my old hot dogs lol. The place with really crowded, we saw families sitting near the water and little children having fun playing in the water, I found out that sometimes in the summer the water drys up. We drove through the park to check out the camping sites and they were all filled. If you are going to visit T G D M P make sure you get there by 8-9 in the morning, by the time we were leaving, cars were parked a mile down the road from the parking lot, and there were 100 plus cars at the entrance where you pay to get in, once in there there was no parking available, I don't know where they could go, so do yourself a favor, either stay in Alamosa, or a town in that vicinity for the night, or leave real early in the morning, depending on traffic, coming from Denver it's at least a 4 hour ride.

Our 11 year old niece had the best time here, and would have loved to have stayed longer. We will be back when we can stay more than 4 hours. This is a magnificent National Park. Two of our four hours were spent trekking through the creek to the sand dunes, and hiking up 2 of them. Shoes and socks came off, and pant legs got hiked up to cross the creek to the dunes. Everyone we encountered on the dunes was in a state of bliss, enjoying the dunes and water. Some children made mud angels, covering themselves in the wet sand. After getting sandy & muddy, a couple of tall showers were available to wash off the sand and mud. We walked the half mile to our truck, parked on the side of the road going into the dune area, and enjoyed our picnic lunch on the tailgate. We saw mule deer across the road, munching on greenery. We could find no parking spots in the parking area, but we did find a spot on the side of the road. You have to get to the park early or get lucky to park in the parking lot for the dunes. After lunch we went back to the visitor center to buy souvenirs in the gift shop. Rangers limited the number of patrons inside. While we waited, a Ranger spoke to our niece and other young people about earning the Ranger badge and patch by hiking in the area. Getting into the store was orderly and manageable. We spent a little bit of money on stickers, magnets, and clothes! We also used the clean, well stocked bathrooms before leaving the park.

Easily worth the trek from Denver (or wherever else you're coming from!) to see Great Sand Dunes NP! I came with a group of friends for just one night in the early fall, and we were so glad we did. Admission is $25 and Annual National Park (America the Beautiful) passes are accepted here. It was pretty hot and sunny when we arrived, so we opted to do the nearby Zapata Falls hike while giving the sand some time to cool down. Once we got back, we had so much fun hiking the dunes. And it's a workout too! Be prepared for sand to get absolutely everywhere. I was here nearly a year ago and still have not managed to get all of the sand out of my shoes, hat, and backpack! We got a camping space at Piñon Flats ($25/night) located within Sand Dunes NP. Our camp site was perfect -- equipped with a bear box, fire pit, picnic table, and enough room for our two tents. I haven't really camped before, but the bathrooms, potable (and cold!) drinking water, and ranger station made this first experience a breeze. There is even a small (and yes, overpriced) store equipped with anything you could have possibly forgotten, ranging from toiletries to first aid items to snacks... not quite "essentials", but we opted for marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, and firewood for our fire. One of my favorite parts was being able to see every star in the sky as the sun went down....I have never had such a clear view of the sky. Definitely recommend snagging a reservation here if you're considering it!

So we're driving a few hours in the middle of literally no where, what feels like endless flatland and hay, to arrive at The Great Sand Dunes. Truly, it was a long drive lol prepare yourself. Admission is $25. That's good for 7 days after you purchase your ticket. Obviously we weren't coming back since we're on a road trip but this is a good deal if you're staying in the area. I mean you can easily spend a whole day here just walking around and people watching. You can also rent boards to do some dune sledding! I'm a scaredy cat so I didn't do it but if you're adventurous it looks fun. It's also very tiring, I mean you're literally in the desert. Bring a ton of water, some snacks and SUNSCREEN! I put some on and I'm still burnt on my nose. You don't realize how close to the sun you are on top of these mountains. Overall, it's a sight to be seen. I felt like a tiny ant up on those huge dunes. Especially with the beautiful snowy mountains in the back. Pictures really don't do it justice but I tried. It's breathtaking, after we hiked up we just sat and watched everything for a while. It does get incredibly windy also. Layer up because it's colder out there too!

You would have no idea something like this exists in Colorado. Even more so when you see it for yourself, in person. The look and thought of that amount of sand at the foothills of mountains is still mind boggling. And beautiful to say the least. With them being a national park, prepare to pay an entrance fee. And if you're looking to rent some knee or stand up boards you can do so at the little shack they have on the grounds.. along with some breakfast and lunch options. Take my advice and come prepared; water (lots), umbrella to help provide shade as there are no trees or any sort of shade, snacks, and socks. Especially if you're renting boards, socks only. My husband and I rented our boards right outside of town and took advantage of the trail 'off beaten path'. 4wd only but if you keep following the driving path passed the camping grounds you'll follow a rocky driving path that takes you away from the crowds into a more Secluded area. Happy to check this national monument off my 'to do' list. Worth the visit if you've never been.

This park is unreal! So beautiful and different. We got to the park in the afternoon. Good facilities to change and use the restroom. We got a backcountry permit so we could camp. Hiking is hard and slow, but so worth it. We wore hiking shoes- but your shoes will fill with sand. Maybe a good hiking sandal would be ok? Since there is no path- we followed people or tracks along the top of dunes. Once you get more than 2 miles out- you can pick your spot. We chose in a valley to keep out of the wind. But ran up to the nearest fine top for sunset. The stars are AMAZING. Might be our best night at an international dark sky park. It is so beautiful and peaceful. Packing out and going (mostly) downhill is SO much easier. You'll forget all the pain of the previous day. Your bags and body will be full of sand, but heart full! This is a must see national park!

AWESOME place to check out some sand dunes. I made it right before the thunderstorms broke out around noon. I didn't get to go sand sledding, but next time. The visitor center is great to get some information if you're short on time. Plenty of bathroom in the parking lot before the sand dune trailhead.

Another tourist stop on our weekend out roadtrip. The welcome center was unfortunately not set up for much exploring. Still interesting to see some of the display available. The modern facilities are always welcome. We drove over to walk the dunes. Lots of people because it was a beautiful day. Kids sledding in the sand, elders with beach chairs enjoying the warmth and scenery. People dotted the dunes at the way up to the top. Was a bit to get used to walking in sand again. It's been way too long since I've walked in that much with no sign of water. We spent about 2 hours walking and ppl watching. Definitely something to see if you get the opportunity.

Awesome park and fun to walk on the sand and see the river raging. It gets really windy though! I had sand in my nose and ears for days afterwards. Also wear chacos or something! My hiking boots were filled with sand and the river made my feet soaking wet. Overall a fun day and it's a workout climbing up the sandy hills. It was really crowded though and had to park far away so get there early.

Surreal means like nothing real you have experienced: massive piles of sand, the highest is StarDune at 756 ft above its base at 8000 ft. I settled for climbing HighDune at 700 ft. Why not climb another 56 ft up and then reach the top? You go see!

I was blown away by this national park. Unfortunately, our time here got cut short because of RV troubles, but I'm so glad we still made it. We were supposed to spend two nights at Piñon Flats Campground, but we ended up not making it there until 11pm the second night. I was hopeful that we could do some star gazing here, but we were there at the wrong time. There was a full moon and it rose at 8pm and didn't set until 8am. The campground was amazing and I'm sad we didn't get to spend more time there. We were at site 36 on loop one and woke up to gorgeous views of the sand dunes right out of our back window of the RV. It would be a great place to hang out and relax. There's no wifi or hookups. There is water and a dump site. We were going to rent some boards and go sand boarding on the dunes, but when we got to Great Sand Dunes Oasis, we found out they didn't open until 9. We decided to go hike the dunes and come back later. We hiked to the top of High Dune and it was incredible. The views were breath taking and unlike anything I've ever seen. It's a very difficult hike up the sand though. There are no trails so you can walk wherever you want (it's easier to walk in someone's footsteps though). It took us a little over an hour to get up and we were exhausted by the time we got there. We were too tired to go get boards and go sand boarding. We watched some people doing it and it didn't look that exciting. I definitely recommended hiking up the taller dunes and getting away from most of the people because that's where the best views are.

This place is completely magical! ***All the heart eyes*** At first you will feel like you are walking into a sand desert, but when the wind blows and you are standing on the edge, you could get blown away and get your skin exfoliated at the same time! This national park is a gem, it feels like you landed in another world....

This place is so different. You have the beautiful mountains in the back and these 700ft sand dunes in front! To get to them you have to cross a really wet and sandy area to get to the dunes. Be prepared for feet to get wet! We had a blast watching people sand board down the dunes and seeing dogs splashing around in the water. We went in the morning when it was cooler but by the time we were done the sand was already getting very hot. We also attended the astronomy event they had which was excellent. The night sky is so dark and beautiful I've never seen that many stars before! I also loved that we were able to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way! If you're going to check this place out then definitely also check it out at night! I can't wait to come back here in the future!

The park cost $25 to get in. We when end of September and there was no water but still the view and experience was amazing. You felt like you were in another part of the world. Depending where the SUN was you could see the sand change color to black. I'm not going lie I'm out shape and I was struggling climb those sand mountains lol but it was all worth it!

After experiencing the other area parks, this one is kind of unassuming. I think I was anticipating more to do than just play in the sand or hike. The dunes are beautiful and should not be missed, but there is little else to do. We tried sand boarding, but it was not that much fun & the falling is quite painful. I would recommend that you stop here if you are traveling through the area, the park is only about a 20 minute ride from the highway.

This was probably the least favorite of my National Parks so far. Really nothing wrong with the park, just a personal preference. It was really hot so bring a ton of water, sunscreen and clothes to be in the heat. We hiked up the sand dunes but that experience is difficult in the heat. We hike a lot and hiking in sand is not a great experience. Climbing the dunes is difficult and that makes sledding a difficult experience as well. Parking is difficult to find and the trail system on the mountain side of things are not marked that well. Once again, the park was fine but I am a forest hiker when I am most comfortable and not my kind of thing. Still would suggest to check it out and see just how big they are and how they line up with the mountains.

Amazing to see such an interesting phenomenon right in our backyard in Colorado. Mountains towering above sand dunes in the distance is such an interesting thing to see! This is a really cool national park because you have alpine mountains meeting the desert! Highly recommend renting sand boards just outside of the park and trying to slide down the mountain. Also there is no light pollution here at night so if you come out at night or to camp make sure to star gaze!

Such an awesome place. It is truly surreal. Definitely off the beaten path, but that also means less crowds. Be prepared, it gets very hot in the open country here, and hiking on sand is very taxing. Be sure to wear sunscreen and bring lots of water. I'd recommend a swimsuit if you want to spend some time playing the in the cold water of the creek. Views from the visitor center are stunning, but wander into the dunes for an even more other-worldly experience. They have wheelchair accessible campsites, which is wonderful to see. Note- my cell service was practically non-existent in here, so don't rely solely on your GPS. Download the map to your phone beforehand, and also refer to the visitors guide you can pick up inside the visitor center, or in a little metal box outside of it, if they are closed. One more note: you can hike the dunes under the moonlight, or stargaze up there at night. You can also sled or board down the dunes (any of them! although some of them eat pretty sketchy, so be sure to stay away from the ones that end in stark drops!!) There are several spots to rent those near the park (not in the park), so figure out ahead of time which one is on your way in). Have fun! And please don't litter in the park!!!

Coming here is like being in a giant sandbox! I'Ve been to Death Valley National Park and this reminded me of my visit there. Highly recommend going here and Death Valley if you love sand. We didn't bring boards to slide down but if we ever come back, we will. The visitor center was closed when we came on 7/26/20.

The Great Sand Dunes is one of the absolute coolest places to visit in Colorado. I have been here twice now and I would still go over and over again. Depending on the time of year, the dunes can get pretty busy with tourists and natives. However, there is so much sand and dunes to walk that it's not a big deal. My first trip here was incredibly hot and the second was pretty chilly and windy. Therefore, pack accordingly and look up the weather before you go. Water is a definite must bring and just remember to pace yourself as the sand can be taxing. Climbing up to the highest dune is not an easy task. You might want to quit along the way, but I promise the view is worth it. Once you reach the top, the view is incredible. You realize that there are miles of sand dunes and that you're just a small part of this bigger maze. I still have yet to rent or bring a sled for sledding down the dunes, but a lot of people do and look like they're having a blast. You can easily spend a couple hours here hiking, sledding, picnicking and more. This is a must see destination in Colorado for adventurers and those who love the outdoors!

I don't say this often, but I really enjoyed myself. I'm not lying when I said that the Great Sand Dunes National Park is my happy place. I visited the Great Sand Dunes in the Spring, and I absolutely enjoyed myself. I believe the weather played a major role in that because it was windy and cloudy yet there was no rain. It was the perfect weather to be out on the sand dunes. This place is pet-friendly. I had a Standard Poodle (Robin) with me, and Robin absolutely loved it. He was clawing and biting at the dirt. As for our Chihuahua (Snowflake), she didn't like it at first because of the Medano Creek, but she grew to love it. The Great Sand Dunes was worth every penny. It was $25/vehicle, but it's a 7-day pass, so if you have the time and means, you can visit more than one day. It's not free, but if you're with others, it doesn't break the bank. I can't say much for the customer service because I don't think it's applicable, but I can say that the visitors I've interacted with were all kind. Numerous people interacted with us because of Robin and how he was a goofball. Pets really do bring people together. We didn't get to reach the peak, but I'm still content with the journey. I think the Great Sand Dunes is an awesome place for couples, families, friends, and pets. I can vouch for this because we all had fun, including my large and extra small pups. Overall, would I return to this place? HECK YES! I've been nagging my significant other to visit this place again, but he wants to visit new places so ultimately, I'm outvoted. I do intend on returning to the Great Sand Dunes, my happy place.

I literally felt like I was on another planet. It truly is otherworldly. Definitely worth a visit. We will return for camping in the near future. It started raining when we were there and you could see the weather rolling in. Magical.

This is a fantastic, underrated, less-talked-about National Park. Things I like about it: DUNE CAMPING: you can get a back-country permit and setup your private camp anywhere on the vast dunescape. VISITOR CENTER: very informative with lots of neat demos. It's more like a small museum than a typical visitor's center. I was also really impressed by the gift shop. It's not tourist junk, it's all useful and/or hand-made stuff. REMOTENESS: this is close to nothing. There's a diner/motel close to the park entrance (PROTIP: you can rent equipment to slide down the dunes there!), that's about it. It's not close to any of Coloardo's major population centers. UNIQUE: where else in North America can you see 600+ ft dunes rising out of the ground, surrounded by 13,000+ foot tall peaks? That's right, NO WHERE.

I'll start with the visitor's center. It is new, informative, and helpful. The park ranger we worked with inside had the heart of a teacher, and advised us extremely well for our day's visit. The view outside the back of the visitor's center is absolutely spectacular. We spent most of our day on the dunes. We rented a sled from the store just outside the park entrance. We rented one and shared. That worked well for us. And, since I'm a budget hawk, it worked well for me. As the day maybe bed to early afternoon, it got hotter and hotter on the dunes. I'd recommend an early visit if you go in the summer as we did. When you finish, they have outside showers near the restrooms to get the sand off of your legs and feet. When it got hot, we moved to the trails across the street. It was a much cooler area and was a quite beautiful hike. I highly recommend this for when the dunes get toasty. The National Park Service does an excellent job and this park is no exception. The topography here is so unique and different. If you're reading this review you're at least considering a visit, and I would tell you to go ahead and plan to go. My family had a great time sand sledding and hiking.

Here is a video of our experience https://youtu.be/POpvTM7UbLk My family and I went to Colorado mid-July. We found Great Sand Dunes after doing a Google search of things to do in Colorado. We arrived around 9/10ish in the AM, and the weather was pleasant. We were NOT prepared at all!! If you want to sled/ski, make sure you rent a board before you get into the park. There is a store called Oasis a few minutes down the road from the Sand Dunes. Make sure you bring plenty of water!! It's very tiring trying to walk in the sand and uphill!! If you're visiting during the summer go early or later in the day to avoid excessive heat! The sand gets really hot!! Pack some food/snacks! If you're really going to explore the dunes, you'll need several hours!! There is a bathroom right before you enter the dunes and also showers! We didn't realize there was a parking lot right before you enter the dunes and we ended up having to hike for about 10 minutes to get there from the Visitor's Center!!‍ It took 20 minutes on the way back!!

The wife and I planned on this trip for a while. It was fun to go during the winter, it was not crowded and very quiet and peaceful.