Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, National park and preserve in Alamosa County, Colorado, US.
The park contains North America's tallest sand dunes, reaching heights of 750 feet and covering an area of 30 square miles.
The sand dunes formed over 440,000 years through wind erosion and sediment deposition from the Rio Grande and its tributaries.
The park received International Dark Sky designation, offering visitors exceptional opportunities for stargazing and astronomical observations throughout the year.
Medano Creek flows along the eastern edge of the dune field during spring and early summer, making it an optimal time for water activities.
The sand surface temperature can reach 150°F in summer, while winter brings snow to the dunes, creating a rare combination of seasons.
Location: Alamosa County
Location: Saguache County
Inception: 2004
Website: https://nps.gov/grsa
Operator: National Park Service
Website: https://nps.gov/grsa
GPS coordinates: 37.73278,-105.51222
Latest update: August 1, 2025 08:13
Western United States contains natural territories from canyons to North America's highest sand dunes. The region features national parks, historical sites, and geological formations. Visitors find hot springs, underground caves, petrified forests, and archaeological sites of Pueblo culture.
Colorado features natural areas and historical sites away from common routes. The locations range from sand formations at Paint Mines Park to Zapata waterfalls. Bishop Castle displays hand-built stone architecture in the forest, while Devil's Causeway presents narrow rock bridges in the wilderness. Fossil discoveries, dinosaur tracks, and abandoned mining towns document the state's history.
Blanca Peak
17.4 km
Zapata Falls
13.2 km
Crestone Peak
26.8 km
Crestone Needle
26.4 km
UFO Watchtower
33.6 km
Colorado Gators Reptile Park
31.7 km
Challenger Point
28.8 km
Humboldt Peak
27.4 km
Kit Carson Peak
28.6 km
Little Bear Peak
18.5 km
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
29.6 km
Mount Lindsey
17.6 km
Baca National Wildlife Refuge
29.4 km
Ellingwood Point
16.8 km
D&RGW 169
42.5 km
Closed Basin Project
24.9 km
Iron Mountain
25.1 km
San Luis Valley Conservation Area
46.5 km
Hope Lutheran Church
44.7 km
Broken Hand Peak
25.4 km
Trujillo Homestead
19.7 km
Colony Baldy
29.5 km
First Baptist Church of Moffat
45.4 km
Westcliff School
44.7 km
Superintendent's Residence, Great Sand Dunes National Monument
1.1 km
Crestone School
33.7 km
Upper Sand Creek Lake
23.1 km
Big Spring Creek
10.6 kmReviews
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