Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve — Attraction in Alamosa

We have been among the fortunate to live in close proximity to White Sands National Park in NM so when we "stumbled" into an unplanned day at The Great Dunes that's where my mind went.. I'm here to tell ya..if you have seen a dune..you've seen a dune is bologna!

The Great Dunes were like stepping into a desert scene in a favorite Indiana Jones movie- surreal.

Our first encounter was a scenic drive, a couple of jaw-dropping pics, and a fun jaunt across trickles of medano creek at the foot of the dunes and a promise to return the following day with sand boards and sleds on FULL SEND.

Next day, a short line & few minutes later we were having a great conversation and renting boards/ sleds at Oasis..$20 a board/ sled rental, nothing to purchase or store..say no more.

As in any desert climate the weather is subject to change quickly. The wind would've been a welcomed partner on our earlier hikes but on the dunes it sent that sand swirling.

Not to be dramatic, but I think the wind was "Toto, we're not in Kansas" anymore strength and we are just rebellious, I mean determined enough to give it a go anyway.

After we trekked for what seemed hours in the tumultuous winds we could take no more and settled for 3/4 up the dunes and set ourselves to play. At one point after what I now know was too many passes with the wax and a slope that was much more advanced than my novice self I had flashes of auditioning for the next Christmas Vacation, move over Clark!

Despite the wind, the sand in spaces it should never enter, and a few tumbles we would GO again and again.

Here's my weathered advice:

Ladies, this is the time to break out the leggings..no matter the weather, this is not your friendly beach sand.

Gentlemen, long pants will be your friend unless chaffing is your jam then by all means, proceed.

All, GOGGLES..not glasses on the slopes, wind or no wind, your eyes will thank you.

A balakava or some cutesy scarf to keep you in a breathable position without inhaling sand makes an excellent companion.

Think long and hard about your footwear.

Assess your hydration honestly before heading up and take water.

Be kind. Have fun. Go potty before you hit the dunes and the walk to the peaks is a LOT longer...

Great Sand Dunes National Park is a stunning and unique destination. I couldn’t believe I was still in Colorado as I looked at the landscape of towering sand dunes, and then I was snapped back to reality when I saw the Colorado mountains on the right side.

One of the features that really persuaded us to take the detour was how dog-friendly it is—leashed pets are welcome in many areas, including the main dune field and along Medano Creek. My puppies LOVED galloping in the sand. Mind you, we went at a time of year where the sand was not hot. For those traveling with their fuzzy buddies, this park is a rare and wonderful find.

There are also several accessible viewpoints for visitors who may not want to or be able to hike the dunes. The Dunes Overlook Trail and parking areas along the main road offer breathtaking panoramic views without the climb.

The visitor center also has a floor to ceiling window where you can view the entire dune range without even really driving much into the park if that’s what you’re looking for.

Some cons include the shifting sand being exhausting to hike through, especially on hot days when temperatures rise quickly. Sand in your shoes is practically guaranteed—bring gaiters or be prepared to empty your shoes often. I swear I was pouring small molehills out of my converse after we walked to the base of the dune- though I can imagine it would be comfortable wearing something open toed and to have blazing hot sand on your feet in the summer. So, pick your poison I suppose

Despite these challenges, the natural beauty and welcoming atmosphere make this park well worth the effort. If you’re looking for a peaceful, pet-friendly adventure with views that wow at every turn, Great Sand Dunes should be high...

I was blown away by this national park. Unfortunately, our time here got cut short because of RV troubles, but I'm so glad we still made it.

We were supposed to spend two nights at Piñon Flats Campground, but we ended up not making it there until 11pm the second night.

I was hopeful that we could do some star gazing here, but we were there at the wrong time. There was a full moon and it rose at 8pm and didn't set until 8am.

The campground was amazing and I'm sad we didn't get to spend more time there. We were at site 36 on loop one and woke up to gorgeous views of the sand dunes right out of our back window of the RV. It would be a great place to hang out and relax. There's no wifi or hookups. There is water and a dump site.

We were going to rent some boards and go sand boarding on the dunes, but when we got to Great Sand Dunes Oasis, we found out they didn't open until 9. We decided to go hike the dunes and come back later.

We hiked to the top of High Dune and it was incredible. The views were breath taking and unlike anything I've ever seen. It's a very difficult hike up the sand though. There are no trails so you can walk wherever you want (it's easier to walk in someone's footsteps though). It took us a little over an hour to get up and we were exhausted by the time we got there.

We were too tired to go get boards and go sand boarding. We watched some people doing it and it didn't look that exciting.

I definitely recommended hiking up the taller dunes and getting away from most of the people because that's where the...