|
|
Great Sand Dunes
National Park and Preserve |
The park is located in southern Colorado, 35 miles northeast of Alamosa, Colorado |
|
|
|
| Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a unique mixture of terrain making for plenty to do on your next family outdoor adventure vacation. Not only will you find some of the highest sand dunes in North America, but you will also experience some of the most spectacular wilderness scenery with an unusual ecosystem. There’s camping, backpacking, hiking, boating, fishing, snowshoeing and much more. Check below for lots of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve information.
|
| Park Navigator Preview |
Uniqueness - Great Sand Dunes is a treasure of visual, geological, and biological surprises—a high mountain valley holding one of the most fragile and complex dune systems in the world and flanked by some of the h... (click here for more)
Park and Visitor Center Hours - The Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The main visitor center is open all year. Memorial Day to Labor Day 9 am to 7 pm; fall and spring variable; generally 9am to 5pm. November through Feb... (click here for more)
History & Statistics - Human beings have known about, visited, or lived near the Great Sand Dunes for a long, long time. The oldest evidence of humans in the area dates back about 11,000 years. Some of the first people to e... (click here for more)
Natural Features - Thirty-four miles away by car in Alamosa, prevailing winds are from the southwest throughout the year. This wind pattern continues to the southwest corner of the dune field.
Over the years, sand a... (click here for more)
Flora - Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve encompasses a stunning diversity of life zones—journey from sand to alpine areas, all within a day’s hike! Climb from the arid sabkha and sand sheet of the ... (click here for more)
Activities in the Park - This is truly a four season park with plenty of outdoor vacation adventure! Winter offers solitude, natural quiet, and incredibly clear day and night skies. Days are generally sunny and chilly, and th... (click here for more)
Environmental Impact - The purpose of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is to: preserve spectacular and unique sand dunes and their high elevation watersheds and to perpetuate the entire system for the benefit and... (click here for more)
Weather - Winter days are generally sunny and chilly, and the sand may even feel warm in the intense alpine sun. But be prepared for any winter conditions at this 8200' elevation, including blizzards and subzer... (click here for more)
Rules, Regulations and Safety - The Visitor Center and Campground areas are about 8200 feet above sea level. Altitude sickness is common. Many people experience headaches, dehydration, fatigue, sleeplessness, rapid heartbeat, and sh... (click here for more)
Wildlife - Wildlife sightings are common. Recent observations include mule deer, elk, coyotes, golden and bald eagles, ravens, magpies, and, just outside park boundaries, bison. The Alpine tundra areas contain B... (click here for more)
Wildlife Warnings - Deer and elk are commonly seen in the park and on park roads, and bison are often seen on roads near the park. Drive slowly and be prepared to stop, especially at night, to avoid hitting one of these ... (click here for more)
Fees - The entrance fees are for persons 17 and older and per person-$3 - 7 Days;
$15 – Annual. Great Sand Dunes Annual Pass is good for the holder and everyone in the same car for entry to Great Sand Dune... (click here for more)
Camping - Pinyon Flats campground is open year-round, and has 88 campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Fire grates, picnic tables, flush toilets and drinking water are available. It has acces... (click here for more)
Nearby Attractions - San Luis Lakes State Park, Rio Grande National Forest, Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Area, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Canyon ... (click here for more)
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
