Photo by: Jacob Lips
Home of the tallest sand dunes in North America, the Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of the major attractions in Colorado. It has sand dunes which are 750 feet tall. The area is close to 150,000 acres and welcomed some 442,000 visitors in 2018. There are about five billion cubic meters of sand at this park.
History
The sand dunes were formed from the sediments of neighboring mountains, which filled the valley due to geological activities spread across millions of years.
Studies point to the Southern Ute tribe as the first settlers of the area some 11,000 years ago. Over the years, Apaches and Navajo also settled in the area. By the 17th century, Europeans started settling in America and some of them entered the Sand Dunes area.
It wasn’t until 1875 where the first European settlers established a homestead along the park’s Medano Creek. The Herald family, from whom Mount Herald was named after, also made a ranch in the area, soon followed by other families.
In 1853, the craze for gold and silver brought miners to Colorado. Some of them took a chance at the Sand Dunes. However, the mining along Medano Creek did not take off because gold was rarely found in the region, through a very labor-intensive process.
The residents of Alamosa and Monte Vista, close to the dunes, worried that mining will eventually destroy this national treasure. The counties supported the women’s organization Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood, which led the campaign to make the area a protected one. President Herbert Hoover listened and signed the law, creating the Great Sand Dunes National Monument on March 17, 1932.
On Sept. 24, 2004, the area was redesigned and became the Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Photo by: Jacob Lips
Things to do
Sandboarding, sand sledding & skiing
Obviously! These are fun activities but one needs to use the right gear to truly enjoy the experience. Snow sleds, snow skis, and snowboards are not considered the right equipment, but there is equipment available for rent near the area. Summer is the perfect time to enjoy any of these activities.
Swimming at Medano Creek
One thing is for certain, splashing around the Medano Creek is quite fun. The creek is mostly enjoyable from late April to June. April, though, is one of the snowiest months of the year at the Great Sand Dunes. By July, the creek slowly dries up and vanishes from the visitor area by August.
Hiking & backpacking
There are several hiking and backpacking trails available in the entire park with different backdrops, except for the Dunes Exploration. Visitors can explore over 30 square miles of the Great Sand Dunes. Five dunes are over 700 feet tall. The tallest one is called the Star Dune, which is a five-hour trip from the visitor center.
For greener hikes, there are trails that go through the forests. The Great Sand Dunes has been designated as wilderness, so there are a lot of greenery, even though the park’s highlights are the sand dunes. Some trails lead to Mount Herald.
Wildlife watching
The Great Sand Dunes also has expansive grasslands and shrublands that visitors don’t always explore. But this area is a perfect place to see wildlife. There is also a beautiful panoramic view of the park. Among the grasses, visitors might catch a glimpse of the miniature short-horned lizards. Other animals in the area are bullsnakes, burrowing owls, kangaroo rats, pronghorns, spadefoots and vesper sparrows. Prairie sunflowers bloom during mid-August, and there are millions of them to witness at the grasslands and shrublands by then.
Driving & picnicking
With a 4WD vehicle with high clearance, visitors can drive to Sand Pit or Castle Creek Picnic Areas. Driving through sand is such a great experience.
Stargazing
Through the huge blanket of sand dunes, there are no lamps or any other artificial lights available. That makes nighttime in the area perfect for stargazing. The Great Sand Dunes has been certified as an International Dark Sky Park, by the International Dark-Sky Association. The nighttime experience also extends to listening to the owls' hoot.
Art/photography work
There are so many wonderful vistas in the park. The great thing about it is that some different textures and colors are inspiring to creative people. Visitors may print or draw or take photos of the sand dunes, forests, wildlife or the stars at night—there are so many great opportunities for creative souls.
Photo by: Jacob Lips