About this city
Also known as: The High-Mountain Desert Wonders
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve protects the tallest sand dunes in North America, spectacularly nestled against the rugged, snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the San Luis Valley. This geological anomaly contains over 5 billion cubic meters of sand, continuously deposited by mountain winds into a massive, shifting field of ridges that rise up to 750 feet from the high-altitude valley floor.
Location & Administrative
County
Saguache
Time Zone
MST
State Code
CO
Transportation & Accessibility
Nearest Airports
ALS
Getting Around
Car Required
Weather & Timing
Best Months
MayJunJulAugSep
Average Temperature
Peak Season
Hiking Season
Off Season
Deep Freeze Season
Economics & Local Vibe
Sales Tax
3.9%
Key Industries
National Park Administration & Ecotourism
Practical Tourism Metadata
Rent a specialized sandboard to sled down the massive Star Dune, splash and cool off in the seasonal Medano Creek, hike to the alpine Medano Lake via a 4x4 vehicle trail, and stargaze under certified international dark skies.
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