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National Park and Preserve

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

  • Southwest
  • 9 hikes
  • 9 places to see
  • 5 current alerts

Plan a Great Sand Dunes trip Where to stay

Current alerts

  • Caution

    Creek Crossings on Medano Pass Primitive Road Have Deep and Swift Water

    The park weather station measured 1.5 inches of rain overnight on 10/23/2026. Medano Creek is currently flowing at 28 cubic feet per second. These conditions have resulted in many of the 9 creek crossings on this 4WD only road to have swift moving water that is 3 or more feet deep on some of these c…

  • Caution

    Speed Limits are Much Lower Inside Park than Surrounding Highways

    Speed limits for the park include 30 MPH near the park boundary and Great Sand Dunes Sign, and as low as 10 MPH near the Headquarters and Entrance Station. Speed limits are in place to protect park visitors, pedestrians, and wildlife in the park. Please drive carefully and responsibly.

  • Notice

    Great Sand Dunes Currently at Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

    As of August 18th, Great Sand Dunes is under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. All wood and charcoal fires must be in established fire rings in designated campsites or picnic sites. No other open fires are allowed. Fires MUST BE put out COLD before leaving your site and must not be left unattended. camp st…

  • Notice

    Sand Board and Sand Sled Rentals Not Available In Park.

    Sand boarding and sand sled rentals are located in local communities surrounding the park. Visitors are encouraged to arrange rentals BEFORE coming to the park.

  • Notice

    Piñon Flats Campground, sites can be reserved 3 months in advance for 2026

    Due to the need for improvements in Piñon Flats Campground, sites can be reserved 3 months in advance beginning in 2026.

From the National Park Service, as of October 31, 2026, 5:14 am. Check nps.gov before you go.

Latest news

About Great Sand Dunes

The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience countless stars in this International Dark Sky Park! Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week year-round. There are no timed entries or reservations to visit.

From the National Park Service.

Region
Southwest
State
Colorado
Designation
National Park and Preserve
Entrance fee
$25, private vehicle
Hikes on this page
9
Places to see
9
Articles
2

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Great Sand Dunes.

Entrance fees

  • $25 Private Vehicle Fees are charged only when the entrance station is open in the spring, summer, and fall seasons or when the visitor center is open in the winter season. Fees can be paid by cash, check, or credit card. Passes may also be purchased in advance online through re…
  • $20 Motorcycle
  • $15 Per Person
  • $15 Non-commercial Groups

Passes

  • $45 Annual Entrance - Park

Hours

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Open 24 hours a day, every day.

The park and preserve are open 24/7 all year

Weather and when to go

Temperatures are relatively cool all year at the park elevation 8000 ft. Conditions are most often calm, but winds can arise, especially in spring and during storm fronts. Daytime temperatures feel warmer here year round due to intense high-altitude sunlight, and mid-day summer sand surface temps can be 160 degrees F! Plan to explore the dunes morning or evening during summer. Nights are cool in summer, and frigid in winter. Visit https://nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/weather.htm for details

Getting there

To access the main park area, including the Dunes Parking Lot, Visitor Center, and Pinon Flats Campground, take US 160 to CO 150 from the south, or CO 17 to Lane 6 to CO 150 from the west. The national park is at the north end of CO 150.

Gateway towns
Alamosa, CO · Mosca, CO
Nearest airports
Alamosa Municipal Airport (ALS) · Colorado Springs Airport (COS) · Denver International Airport (DEN)

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address
Visitor Center, 11999 State Highway 150, Mosca, CO 81146
Official site
nps.gov/grsa

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Great Sand Dunes

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Where to stay for Great Sand Dunes

The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.

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Things to do in Great Sand Dunes

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

  • Splash in Medano Creek

    Freshwater Swimming · about 3.3 hours

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

  • Explore the Dunes

    Front-Country Hiking · about 45 min

    Explore the tallest dunes in North America! The centerpiece of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is the 30-square-mile (78-square-km) dunefield, featuring the tallest du…

  • Sandboarding and Sand Sledding

    Surfing · about 4 hours

    Sandboarding and sand sledding are the most popular activities on the dunes. Read the information on this page to have a positive, fun, and safe experience.

  • Experience the Night

    Stargazing · about 2 hours

    Half the park is after dark! Night at Great Sand Dunes can include dunes exploration under a bright full moon, viewing thousands of stars on a clear moonless night, listening for…

  • Hike Montville Nature Trail or Mosca Pass Trail

    Front-Country Hiking · about 1.7 hours

    Just above the dunefield are montane woodlands of pinon and ponderosa pine, subalpine aspen and conifer forests, alpine lakes and rugged mountains over 13,000 feet (4,000 m) in el…

  • Hike Medano Lake and Mount Herard

    Backcountry Hiking · about 7 hours

    Take your 4WD vehicle around the dunes and up to Medano Pass, hike to a small alpine lake, then continue to the summit of 13,297 ft (4,053 m) Mount Herard for an aerial perspectiv…

  • Hike Sand Creek Lakes

    Backcountry Hiking · about 7 hours

    Sand Creek Lakes are part of the alpine watershed of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. A longer drive and hike is required to reach these lakes, but the mountain scenery is wort…

  • 4WD Medano Pass Primitive Road

    Auto Off-Roading · about 1.7 hours

    Drive a a 4WD around the eastern edge of the dunes then over a forested mountain pass. Be prepared for soft sand, creek crossings, and rocky terrain.

Trails

Places to see

Viewpoints

Visitor centers & lodging

Campgrounds in Great Sand Dunes

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

Reading about Great Sand Dunes

All 2 articles

What to pack for Great Sand Dunes

Gear & Essentials

Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:

The basics

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For this trip

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