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Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve

You wouldn’t expect to see a sand desert right in the middle of the Rocky Mountains but there is one and it’s home to the tallest sand dune in America! There is an unbelievable amount of sand here. There are no designated paths, you can climb any dune you want. Getting to the top of the tallest dune is quite a challenge, your feet sink into the sand with every step you take. It feels like you have no traction and are not getting anywhere but it’s totally worth it. The view from the top is incredible. This is one of the best places in America for sand sledding or sand boarding! It’s also a really great place for star gazing.  If you’re lucky you may see some UFO’s.  There have been a lot of sightings in this area.

How the Great Sand Dunes were created

Millions of years ago this area used to be a giant lake surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The bottom of the lake was covered with a thick layer of sand. The water, along with the volcanic eruptions created pressure in the lake and caused it to drain into the Rio Grande. The water that was left behind eventually evaporated exposing a valley full of sand with a few small lakes. It’s located between the Sangre de Cristo Range and the San Juan Mountains.

The predominant winds blow in from the south west, this pushed the sand to the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. During storms the wind blows down the Sangre de Cristo Mountains pushing the sand in the other direction. The constant back and forth motion of the sand causes the sand to pile up into sand dunes.

The main reason these sand dunes are so high is because nature recycles the blown away sand back into the dunes. Wind blows the sand up into the mountains. As the seasons change they also bring snow. As the snow melts away, it carries the sand into one of the two mountain streams that run down the mountain. The Medano and Sand Creeks wash all the sand back down to the base of the mountain and back into the valley below. As these cycles are repeated over and over again, giant sand dunes start to form. One of them kept growing until it reached 750 ft high!

The vegetation that now covers the area around the Great Sand Dunes make the area very stable. The sand dunes stay about the same size thanks to the way nature recycles the sand back into the dunes.

History

11,000 years ago, stone age nomads used this area for hunting area for buffalo in the summer. Ute traveled through here to hunt bison and collect berries. For the Utes, this is a sacred place. The lake that lies just west of the dunes, is believed to be the place where their people emerged from the underworld and into the present world. It is called the “Sip’ophe” Which means “Sandy Place Lake”

Hunters and herders from Spanish colonies first entered this valley around 1598. In the late 1850’s the Spanish sent scouts in this valley to look for gold and silver. The valley was a trail between the High Plains and Santa Fe, the dunes served as a landmark for Utes, Comanches and Spanish soldiers who were traveling along the trail. The first known writings of the dunes themselves was by Zebulon Pike on January 28th, 1807.

In the 1920’s during the gold rush, it was speculated that there could be gold in the sand dunes. In order to preserve the site members of the P.E.O. Sisterhood petitioned and president Herbert Hoover designated the site as a National Monument on March 17, 1932. The park covered 35,528 acres at the time. On September 24, 2004 the park was expanded to cover 107,028 acres.

Medano Creek

This creek makes the base of the sand dunes look like a little beach. The water creates mini waves as it rushes along the sand. You’ll feel like you are walking along a beach. It’s a great place to cool your feet from the hot sand. This creek is a great place for kids to build sand castles or play in the water.

The snow from the nearby mountains, melts into creeks along the mountain and the Medano Creek runs along the base of the dunes. Even though it’s very shallow in the summer months, it’s extremely refreshing.

Cool things to do!

While you are visiting the Great Sand Dunes, You must try sand sledding or sand boarding! It’s absolutely Awesome and fun for all ages! Do not try using snow sleds, they will not slide. You need a special sand-board or sand-slide for this to work.

It will cost you $20/ vehicle for a 1 week pass. It’s open 24 hours, they only collect when the entrance station is open. If there is no one collecting at the entrance station, do not try to pay at the visitors center. There is a gift shop inside the visitors center. There is no restaurant on site, the closest one is located by the main park entrance. It is the only one within 25 miles of the park. It’s only open from April – October. There are picnic tables for those who want to bring a lunch. There are restrooms at the visitors center and by the parking lot.

Plan according to the weather! Bring a LOT of water, especially if you are visiting in the summer. Dogs are allowed in most of the areas, they must be leashed at all times and you must pick up all waste and carry it out. I don’t recommend bringing your dog here in the summer. The sand can get burning hot. It gets up to 150 F! That can burn their paws. Watch your dog for signs of heat exhaustion.

From Alamosa take US-160 E, turn left on CO-150 N or from Alamosa, take CO-17N and turn right on County Lane 6

From Denver, take I-25 S, take Exit 50 for US-160 W. Turn right on CO-150 N

From Santa Fe, Take US-84W/US Hwy 285 N. Turn right to stay on US Hwy 285 N. Turn right unto 6th st, it will become US-160 E. Turn left onto CO-150 N

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