Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Great Sand Dunes National Park is a great way to experience the unique geography of the western United States. Here, the huge dunes of San Luis Valley slowly shift and change before the eyes of visitors, outdoor adventurers, and curious conservationists.

The imposing Great Sand Dunes are the tallest in North America, and pondering the formation of such huge mounds can be sort of confusing. The piles are a result of the erosion of Sangre de Cristo, the mountain range that surrounds the current site. Sand and silt blows off of the rocks from every direction as a result of strange circulating wind currents. Water then rolls down the same mountains and acts as the glue, holding Great Sand Dunes together. This process will now continue indefinitely, the dunes continuing to shift and change drastically with every passing day.

If you want a more thorough explanation, check out the evening programs and interpretive events that take place in and around Great Sand Dunes Visitors Center. Onsite rangers will gladly field any questions you may have. If you want to strike out on your own, there are local paths with beautiful views of the Marble Mountain and the transitional dunes. Pinyon Flats is a well established campground, a simple hike away.