Caution:Speed Limits are Much Lower Inside Park than Surrounding Highways
Information:Sand Board and Sand Sled Rentals Not Available In Park.
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Information:Medano Pass Winter Season Closures in Effect
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Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes

Moderate Colorado

Great Sand Dunes Seeks Proposals for a Vendor to Operate the Pinion Flat Campground Store in the Park

The National Park Service is seeking a vendor to provide sales of vended beverages, firewood and ice...

Jan 30, 2026
Tents are situated among pinon trees in Pinon Flats Campground

Great Sand Dunes Offering Summer Paid Internship Opportunities

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve will be hosting a Scientists in Parks paid summer intern...

Jan 26, 2026
An intern in uniform talks with visitors in front of the dunes.

Overview

Great Sand Dunes National Park is located in Colorado and welcomes millions of visitors each year.

Backpackers walking on eastern side of dunefield

Backpacking Campsites in the Dunes or Forest

Sites available

Water
$6 Reserve
Jeep driving through a creek crossing and aspen trees

Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites

Sites available

Water
FreeWalk-in only
Pinon Flats Campground

Piñon Flats Campground

Sites available

RestroomsWater
$20 Reserve
Girl with backpack standing on dunes at sunset
Front-Country Hiking

Explore the Dunes

Explore the tallest dunes in North America! The centerpiece of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Pr...

Winter, Spring
Two girls speed down a dune on a specially designed sand sled.
Surfing

Sandboarding and Sand Sledding

Sandboarding and sand sledding are the most popular activities on the dunes. Read the information on...

2-8 HoursWinter, Spring
Visitors splashing, floating, and walking in a stream, with dunes and snow-capped mountain.
Freshwater Swimming

Splash in Medano Creek

Medano Creek is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages.

1-8 HoursSpring
Two girls hiking on a forested trail
Front-Country Hiking

Hike Montville Nature Trail or Mosca Pass Trail

Just above the dunefield are montane woodlands of pinon and ponderosa pine, subalpine aspen and coni...

30-240 MinutesWinter, Spring
The Milky Way over a shallow stream flowing across sand at night
Stargazing

Experience the Night

Half the park is after dark! Night at Great Sand Dunes can include dunes exploration under a bright ...

30-300 MinutesWinter, Spring
Alpine tundra in foreground, part of the dunefield at right, and snow-capped Blanca Peak
Backcountry Hiking

Hike Medano Lake and Mount Herard

Take your 4WD vehicle around the dunes and up to Medano Pass, hike to a small alpine lake, then cont...

8-12 HoursSummer, Fall
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A panoramic view of dunes, with mountains in the distance and blue sky above.

Hidden Dune

Dune

Hidden Dune is one of the two tallest dunes in North America, located in a remote part of the dunefield of Great Sand Du...

The top of a tall dune is illuminated by the rising sun, as clouds swirl in blue sky

High Dune on First Ridge

Dune field

The most popular to climb of the tall dunes at Great Sand Dunes

Children playing in a wave surging down a wide creek at the base of the dunes and mountains

Medano Creek

Beach

Medano Creek is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages.

A white Jeep crosses a creek with yellow aspen trees above

Medano Pass

Forest

Medano Pass was likely the historic route used by Zebulon Pike in January 1807 as he led an expedition to explore this r...

Looking down a forested canyon with gold aspen trees and conifers to dunes

Mosca Pass

Forest

Just above the dunefield are woodlands of pinon and ponderosa pine, and subalpine aspen and conifer forests. The easiest...

View All 8 Places