The 8 Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park: The Ultimate Itinerary

Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of the most beautiful and unique areas in Colorado because its landscape is not found anywhere else in the state. And it has the tallest sand dunes in North America!

Great Sand Dunes recently became a national park in 2004 and has since drawn over half a million visitors each year. People from all over the world travel to Colorado to climb and experience the beautiful sand dunes.

The best part about Great Sand Dunes National Park is it has something for everyone! You can view the sand dunes from easy-to-get-to overlooks, hike to the top of the tallest dunes, and sand sled on the dunes. This guide has everything you need to know to visit, including the best things to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park!

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Tips for Visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park

One of the best things about Great Sand Dunes National Park is it has fun activities for everyone to enjoy! You can enjoy the beautiful views from overlooks, hike to the top of the dunes, sand sled down them, or stargaze. It truly has something for everyone!

We only visited for one day, but I felt it was plenty of time to do everything on our itinerary. It was the perfect amount of time to hike the dunes and enjoy the breathtaking views!

IMportant Things to Know

Get acclimated to the elevation. If you are not used to high elevation, you may get altitude sickness in Colorado. If you want to hike, I recommend taking it slow to ensure you get used to the altitude. Make sure to hike slowly and pack plenty of water and snacks.
Medano Creek is at the base of the sand dunes, and you have to walk through it to get to the dunes. Most of the year, the creek is easy to pass, and you can take off your hiking boots to cross it. When the creek has low water, the mosquitos are a nuisance, but once you walk away from the water, they tend to disperse.
The sand dunes are not easy to climb, and the trails are not marked. I was surprised to find how strenuous it was to hike up the sand dunes! It looked easy, but trust me, it is not. You will also see people hiking along different paths on the sand dunes because the trails are not marked. We tried to follow the trail map to get to High Dune and could not find it, so we followed the trail with the most people.
Start your days early. In the summer, Colorado has thunderstorms in the afternoon. During our week in Colorado, we saw a storm each day! I recommend starting your day early to avoid hiking during the afternoon and, potentially, getting caught in a thunderstorm. Starting your day earlier will allow you to enjoy the trip with fewer crowds!
Pack layers and sunscreen.You should have supportive shoes with good traction, like hiking boots, layers for the time of year you are hiking, and a backpack with water, snacks, and layers. And last but not least, make sure to pack the Ten Essentials. Most of Great Sand Dunes National Park has little to no shade, making it crucial to wear sunscreen, too.
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they do not have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.

Best Time to Visit

Spring is a beautiful time to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park because there are fewer crowds and the weather is cooler. May and June are some of the best months to plan a trip because it is right before peak season. Many people will still be in the park, but it is not as crowded as summer. Medano Creek is usually higher during spring, allowing you to enjoy a quick dip to cool off after exploring the dunes. The only downside to spring is it can be very rainy.
Summer is a great time to visit because the weather is beautiful and hot, making it the most popular season. Most of the facilities and roads are open in the summer, too. Medano Creek usually is not as high as the spring, but you might be able to still cool off in it. Because summer is the most popular time to visit, the park experiences the most crowds. The entrance stations will have long wait times, so I recommend arriving early in the morning to get in before most people. Starting your day early also allows you to enjoy the dunes with cooler weather.
Fall is another great time to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park if you want cooler weather and fewer crowds. Crowds tend to thin out in September and October, allowing you to explore the dunes with fewer people. The weather is also cooler in the fall, which is nice since the park has little shade. The campgrounds and visitor center are only open until October, though.
Winter is the least popular time to visit because the weather likely includes snow and freezing temperatures. And yes, the sand dunes are covered with snow, which is a beautiful thing to see! You can enjoy cross-country skiing and sledding on the dunes after it snows. If you do not mind the cold, winter is a great time to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park with fewer people! The afternoons are the best times to visit the park in the winter because they have the highest temperatures.

Closest Airport

The biggest and most convenient airport to fly into is Denver International Airport. It has the most direct flights and is about a four-hour drive. The Denver International Airport will also have the most car rental options. You could also rent a campervan for the trip.

You can also fly into Colorado Springs Airport, a three-hour drive, or San Luis Valley Regional Airport, 45 minutes from the park entrance. Both airports are much smaller and will likely require a layover in Denver.

Where to Stay

If you are lucky, you may be able to find accommodations right outside the park entrance. A few resorts are near the park entrance and offer fun accommodations. If those are not available or you are looking for something else, you can stay in Alamosa.

Alamosa is the closest town with accommodations and one of the best places to stay because of its proximity to the park. It does not have many accommodations, but there are a few hotels you can stay in for the night.

Best Places to Stay Near Great Sand Dunes National Park:

The Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park

High Dune

High Dune is one of the most hiked sand dunes in the park, and you will quickly fall in love with the views from the top! Although you can enjoy beautiful views of the dunes from the parking lot, I think the best are at the top of the sand dunes, and High Dune has some of the best views.

The 3-mile trail travels up the sand dunes to the top of High Dune, and although the hike is not overly long, it is strenuous! Walking on sand dunes is not easy, and it took us longer than we anticipated, but it was worth the effort for the stunning views of the surrounding sand dunes and mountains.

Once you are at the top of High Dune, you can explore other nearby dunes or sand sled down if you rent one. Sand sledding is a much more fun way to get down the dunes than hiking! Also, expect your shoes to be filled with sand once you are down your hike. My hiking boots were very full of sand which was interesting to hike with, to say the least!

hiking guide to high dune

Star Dune

Star Dune is the tallest sand dune in North America, standing at over 740 feet, and offers beautiful views of the park and mountains. You can either hike only to Star Dune for an 8-mile trail or loop it with High Dune for an 8-mile trail.

The loop with High Dune has a lot of elevation loss and gain in between the dunes, so if you would rather avoid that, you can hike directly to Star Dune. But the hike with Star Dune and High Dune is more scenic if you are up for the strenuous trail. Either way, you will love the views from the top and quickly see why it is one of the best things to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park!

Montville Nature Trail

Not all hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park are to the top of the dunes! If you want to avoid hiking on the dunes, you can enjoy views overlooking them from the Montville Nature Trail.

This 0.5-mile trail is easy to follow and offers breathtaking views overlooking Great Sand Dunes National Park. It is a great trail to see the vastness of the park without the strenuous hike on the dunes. Because it is a quick and easy hike, it is a great addition to any Great Sand Dunes National Park itinerary!

Dune Sandboarding and Sand Sledding

Instead of hiking back from the sand dunes, why not enjoy a fun way to get down?! Or if you do not want to walk to the top of the tallest sand dunes, you can hike to smaller ones and sandboard or sand sled down!

Sandboarding and sand sledding are some of the most popular activities in Great Sand Dunes National Park because what is better than sliding down beautiful dunes?! Although you cannot rent them in the park, plenty of places nearby have rentals. If you want to sandboard or sand sled, I recommend grabbing your rentals before you head into Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Once you are in the park, you will see a handful of areas people typically go to sandboard or sand sled, although you can pretty much go anywhere. We saw people fly down some long and steep dunes while others enjoyed a more gradual dune. You will love adding sandboarding or sand sledding to your Great Sand Dunes National Park itinerary!

Medano Creek

After a hot hike or sand sledding adventure, soaking in Medano Creek is a great way to cool down. Although the creek does not get high enough to swim, you can enjoy sitting in the shallow water to cool down.

If you are traveling with kids, they will love playing in Medano Creek! You could even set up some chairs near Medano Creek and enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the water. Many families enjoy spending time in Medano Creek while visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park, especially on hot summer days.

Stargaze

Because the closest city to Great Sand Dunes National Park is over a half-hour away, the park has barely any light population, making it one of the best places to stargaze. If you are lucky to have a clear night when you visit, I highly recommend going into the park at night to enjoy the stars.

And the best part? You do not have to hike to see them. One of the best places to stargaze is near Medano Creek by the parking lot. If you want to photograph the stars, this spot is amazing to capture the dunes, mountains, and stars. Stargazing will quickly become one of your favorite things to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park!

Zapata Falls

Although, technically, Zapata Falls is not in Great Sand Dunes National Park, it is one of the best nearby things to do! This beautiful 30-foot waterfall is hidden in a crevasse on a 1-mile trail.

Although the hike is short, it makes you work to see Zapata Falls because it requires you to wade through the ice-cold river and hop over slippery rocks. I promise the waterfall is worth the effort! Once you reach the end of the trail, you can see the entire falls between the carved rock.

And the best part? It is not too far from the park entrance, so you can easily add it to your Great Sand Dunes National Park itinerary!

Medano Pass Primitive Road

If you are up for a fun adventure and have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, a drive on the scenic 11-mile Medano Pass Primitive Road may be the perfect thing to do! But let me tell you, it is not for the faint of heart. This road is incredibly challenging with mud, river crossings, and soft sand, and is only open from late May to November. If you want to drive it, it requires a lot of planning.

The national park service does a great job at updating the road conditions and gives recommendations if there is a spot you should not drive past during certain months. If you want to enjoy the drive, I recommend contacting the visitor center for up-to-date information on road conditions. And they can help make sure you are prepared for the journey!

If you are visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park, this guide is the perfect place to start planning. It has everything you need to know about the best things to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park!