These are the tallest sand dunes in North America and make it a centerpiece of a vast landscape of wetlands, grasslands, forests, lakes, and tundra. During a new moon here you can experience the night sky in all its glory and when a full moon makes an appearance, you can take a stroll in the light on the great dunes. Enjoy!
Current Park Alerts
Live from the National Park Service · Official park site →
Plan Your Visit
Hours & Season
The park and preserve are open 24/7 all year
Entrance Fees
- $25 – Entrance - Private Vehicle
- $20 – Entrance - Motorcycle
- $15 – Entrance - Per Person
Weather
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
Things to Do
Explore the Dunes
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 dunes in North America. Because there are no trails, you can venture out anywhere you'd like to discover unusual insects, plants, wildlife tracks, ripples, and sand grains of every color.
Sandboarding and Sand Sledding
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.
Hike Montville Nature Trail or Mosca Pass Trail
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 elevation. The easiest access to forest in the national park is on the Montville Nature Trail and Mosca Pass Trail.
Experience the Night
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 owls along the foothills, or observing migrating amphibians on a wet night.
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 continue to the summit of 13,297 ft (4,053 m) Mount Herard for an aerial perspective on the entire dunefield! This is a physically demanding but incredibly rewarding way to experience many of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve's ecoystems, from desert dunes to alpine tundra. Watch the high-energy 40-second video to get a glimpse of this unique experience!
Getting There
Address: Visitor Center Mosca CO 81146
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.
Get driving directions → Official NPS directions →Where to Stay – Campgrounds
Backpacking Campsites in the Dunes or Forest
27 sites · $6/night
The most popular and unique backpacking option is camping in the 30-square-mile dunefield, beyond the major dune ridgeline (about 1.5 mile hike minimum over du…
Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites
21 sites · Free
Roadside camping is permitted at 21 campsites in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve beginning 5.2 miles from where the road begins near Piñon Flats Campground.…
Piñon Flats Campground
91 sites · $20/night
Piñon Flats is a National Park Service campground located one mile north of the Visitor Center, open April through October. All sites are by reservation on rec…
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to enter Great Sand Dunes National Park?
The entrance fee for Great Sand Dunes National Park is $25. See Plan Your Visit above for vehicle, per-person, and annual-pass rates.
When is Great Sand Dunes National Park open?
The park and preserve are open 24/7 all year
What are the best things to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park?
Popular things to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park include Splash in Medano Creek, Explore the Dunes, Sandboarding and Sand Sledding, Hike Montville Nature Trail or Mosca Pass Trail. See Things to Do above for photos and details.
Are there campgrounds in Great Sand Dunes National Park?
Yes — Great Sand Dunes National Park has 3 campgrounds, including Backpacking Campsites in the Dunes or Forest, Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites, Piñon Flats Campground. See Campgrounds above for site counts, fees, and booking links.