Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park has got to be one of the most amazing places to visit in Colorado. And it's only a few hours drive from Colorado Springs. The park is located 35 miles northeast of Alamosa. You can reach it by U.S. 160 and Colorado 150 from the south, or from Colorado 17 and County Lane 6 from the west. To our surprise, a lot of locals have either never been here or don't even know about it. That could be because the Great Sand Dunes National Park was only deemed a National Park in September of 2004. So it's a relatively “new” adventure for many. These are the tallest dunes in North America. 85,000 acres of them, many of them several hundred feet high. The STAR DUNE is the tallest at 750 feet! Nestled up against the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, the sand dunes also have six 13,000 ft mountain peaks on their horizon. What's happening is actually the buildup and breakdown of tiny sand dams. They look like waves, and can be up to a foot high. It's a bit surreal... 
Kids of all ages will love playing in the creek, especially after a hot hike on the sand.Don't worry--there are showers and foot sprayers in the restroom area adjacent the parking lot, so you won't take the sand home in the car. Our favorite thing to do is launch off the top of a summit in huge, sweeping steps all the way down. It's kind of like being an astronaut... Read more about STAR DUNE - the tallest dune in North America!!! A few INSIDER TIPS to make hiking the dunes a great experience… *The dunes are much higher than you think. Give yourself plenty of time to reach the summits, especially if you're not used to the altitude. *Bring plenty of water. It's a fun climb, but the sand slips away like sand tends to do, and you'll be glad you brought some hydration along. *It's windy! If you're a contact lens wearer, you might consider wearing glasses for the hike. When the sand is in the wind, there's no stopping it. *Walk the ridges. It's easier to navigate to other dunes if you can map out a pathway of ridges. *Watch out for lightning. This is deadly serious. We've been to the top when a storm comes through, and it's a harrowing experience. Colorado weather changes suddenly, and there's no exception at Great Sand Dunes National Park. Often, storms show up in the afternoon. So watch the time, and watch the skies. You're the tallest thing out there when you're hiking those ridges, so be careful!
  Art Poster - View at AllPosters.com LODGING You can make a day trip of this adventure from Colorado Springs or Denver, but if you want to stay overnight there are plenty of hotels/motels in nearby Alamosa. We recommend the Great Sand Dunes Lodge, which is right on the edge of the park entrance. It's your basic motel-style lodging, but the owners are friendly, the rooms are immaculate, there's a small pool, and the views of the park are stunning from your private back porch, including the ever-present hummingbirds. Great Sand Dunes Lodge If you're a camper, we recommend visiting the San Luis State Park campground. They have a very well-run campground, with metal ramadas for shelter, full bath/showers, and, of course, a view of the dunes. Also, the stargazing is unmatched as the San Luis Valley is one of the darkest places in the country. You might even hear a coyote or ten. Directions: Take Highway 160 west from Walsenburg for 60 miles just past the town of Blanca. Go north on Highway 150 for 13.5 miles. Turn left on Six Mile Lane and drive straight for 8 miles and then drive north 1/8 mile to park entrance. For more information visit: BONUS: The Great Sand Dunes are also very close to the UFO Watchtower, and the Colorado Gators alligator farm. Don't miss out on those unique adventures!
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If that weren't enough, the Medano Creek surrounds the base of the dunes, and in the spring/summer, a phenomenon known as “surging” occurs in the stream. 
