Great Sand Dunes – Colorado

 

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Medano Creek | Sandboarding on High Dune | View from Great Sand Dunes Lodge

 

Date of Visit: June 28-30, 2015

How we got there: Part of our Colorado Plateau national parks trip. Drove from Colby Kansas, just under 6 hours.

Lodging: Great Sand Dunes Lodge – Full-services available on-site.

Favorites:

  • Hike to High Dune – Choose whatever path you’d like to reach the 700 ft summit of sand.
  • Sand Boarding – Rent sand boards or sleds from Great Sand Dunes Oasis and find a smooth, steep slope of sand to careen down.
  • Wading in Medano Creek – Splash around in the wide, braided, seasonal stream at the base of the dunes.
  • Dunes Overlook hike – Hike from Pinyon Flats Campground up Sand Ramp Trail and Dunes Overlook Trail to viewpoint overlooking the sand formations.

Tips: Summer afternoon thunderstorms can pop up at any time in Colorado, pay attention to the weather forecast.

Next time: Try sand sledding instead of sand boarding to avoid butt injuries. Hike to Star Dune, further into the dune field. Visit the high-elevation Alpine sections of the park at Mosca Pass or Medano Pass.