Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

desert · Colorado · sand dunes · nature preserve

Giant Sand Mountains. Great Sand Dunes has some of the tallest sand dunes in North America, creating a landscape that looks like the Sahara Desert right in Colorado. These massive hills of sand were formed over thousands of years by wind blowing sand into the San Luis Valley.

Two Landscapes in One. The park protects both enormous sand dunes on the valley floor and the tall Sangre de Cristo Mountains right behind them. It is like having a beach desert and snow-capped mountains as neighbors.

Protected Since 1932. President Herbert Hoover designated the area as a national monument in 1932 to preserve it, and it became a full national park in 2004. The protected area grew from 35,000 acres to almost 150,000 acres to protect even more of this unique landscape.

Winter Sled Paradise. When snow falls on the dunes, visitors bring special saucers and sleds to zoom down the sandy slopes. It is one of the few places where you can experience the thrill of sledding on sand instead of snow.

Popular Destination. Over 500,000 people visit Great Sand Dunes every year to hike the dunes, camp, and explore. The park welcomes visitors from all over the world who want to experience this one-of-a-kind desert landscape.