Weekend in Great Sand Dunes National Park (CO)
- The Wandering Warmacks
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
Rising dramatically from the San Luis Valley, Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America. It's a place where grasslands, dunes, and forest meet rugged peaks all in this unexpected, but otherwordly Colorado landscape. Since we lived only 2 hours from this park during the travel P.T. contract in Pueblo, this was our first weekend trip. We visited in late August 2024; while the Colorado sun can sometimes be intense, temperatures were mild enough for hiking and camping.
CAMPING
Just minutes from the park's entrance, lies BLM land with wide-open skies and solitude. We love the freedom and flexibility that comes with free camping, and the views or immersive experience are almost always worthy. This dispersed area was probably one of the more crowded ones we've been to, so it's best to get there early.
There was a "main" road (some of it unmaintained, which we didn't feel comfortable driving in a minivan) and a "side" road. The main road was pretty crowded, so we went down the side road and were able to find a little pull off spot in the middle of the grasslands. We stayed here 2 nights on this trip, and one night on the way to another Colorado destination.
SURROUNDING TOWNS / FOOD & DRINKS
One perk of this park's location is that it feels remote, but is actually pretty close to amenities. Within 30-45 minutes, you can be in Alamosa, and will find plenty of places to eat, drink, and grab last minute essentials. There's also several AirBnBs or hotels to choose from if camping isn't your vibe.
We chose The Colorado Farm Brewery for a beer stop, and San Luis Valley Brewing Company for dinner. With classics like wings, burgers, and pizza, you can't go wrong with SLV Brewing Co. for a reasonably pried meal in a cool former bank. The Colorado Farm Brewery had an amazing property. We loved the outdoor ambience and gorgeous sunset views.
HIKES
Dunes Overlook Trail - a 2.7-mile out-and-back hike starting near the Piñon Flats campground. Ending with a view of an expansive dune field and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, it's an excellent choice for those seeking a quieter alternative to the more trafficked dune trails
Sand Pit Trail- a 1.5 mile out and back trail through the grasslands leading to Medano Creek, with panoramic views of the dunes and mountains. The elevation gain is low, making it a doable hike for all. Since we don't have a 4WD vehicle (which is required for Medano Pass Primitive Road), we parked in the Point of No Return parking lot and walked the rest of the way to the trailhead
DUNES EXPLORATION
One of the most unique aspects of Great Sand Dunes National Park is that there are no designated trails on the dunes; you're free to blaze your own path across the ever-shifting landscape. While AllTrails technically lists a "Dunes Loop," we didn't use it. Climbing up the dunes was low-key a leg burner, but it was fun exploring nature's playground.
For an even more thrilling experience, you can sand board on the tallest dunes in North America. Regular snow sleds won't work on the landscape, and will need to be rented (or purchased prior to visiting). The Oasis Store offers rentals seasonally only 4 miles from the park entrance. We attempted to sand board on two separate occasions (once on the Sunday of this weekend trip, and another free weekend), but we were not able to due to weather. If it had rained recently and the ground was deemed too wet, the store may not rent.
See here for NPS information regarding sand boarding
THOUGHTS
Great Sand Dunes National Park is undeniably one-of-a-kind — there’s nothing quite like standing at the base of those towering dunes. While we had a lot of fun doing something different, it didn’t quite steal our hearts the way other parks have. We liked the quiet open spaces, but we also found ourselves missing what we usually love most in a park: a solid trail system.
We're big fans of winding forest paths, lakes, summits, and long loop trails that take you deep into nature. At Great Sand Dunes, the “choose your own adventure” vibe on the dunes was fun for a bit, but without a variety of marked trails, we felt a little limited in how we like to experience a landscape. It’s a cool place no doubt, but we felt the short weekend was long enough for us to explore.
TRIP BREAKDOWN
LENGTH OF STAY: 2 DAYS
📍 Alamosa, CO
⛺ $0
⛽ 🍽️ : variable per person
Activities: $0
Comments