Colorado, United States

Great Sand Dunes

DesertMountainNature

4.2 / 5· Hidengo

The notebook of Great Sand Dunes

Recess with landscapes full of head.

Giant dunes tied to the tops of Cristo's Sang.

At your own pace

Climb Explore Contemplate

Identity summary

Ideal duration

2 to 5 days

Best time

Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter

Car

Recommended car

Type of stay

Desert · Mountain · Nature

Accessibility

Variable accessibility

Rhythm

Modular rhythm

General presentation

Great Sand Dunes

Giant dunes tied to the tops of Cristo's Sang.

The discovery of Great Sand Dunes revolves around Great Sand Dunes, Medano Creek and High Dune. The stay thus alternates between desert areas, mountain reliefs and natural areas, giving a concrete picture of the destination beyond its only best known site.

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For a stay of 2 to 5 days, it is better to balance visits and travel times. Also to be anticipated: conditions to be checked according to the season. A car is usually the easiest way to connect the different sectors. Accessibility varies from site to site and deserves to be verified step by step.

Strengths and constraints

Strengths

Great Sand Dunes
Medano Creek
High Dune

Before you choose

Car often useful
Conditions to be checked by season

Places worth visiting

A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.

Nature and panorama

Great Sand Dunes

4.7 / 5· Hidengo2 hrs to half a day

Great Sand Dunes brings together a field of golden dunes laid at the foot of the Sangre Mountains of Cristo, striking contrast between sand, possible snow and very open sky. Walking on ridges requires effort, but each step reveals moving shapes, clear shadows and an almost desert landscape in the heart of Colorado.

Place indismissible

Medano Creek

4.6 / 5· Hidengo1 to 2 hrs

Medano Creek flows at the foot of the dunes in the spring and early summer, forming a shallow beach where the water waves over the sand. This mixture of streams, mountains and dunes attracts families, barefoot walkers and those who want to feel the park other than by climbing the ridges.

Place indismissible

High Dune

4.5 / 5· Hidengo2 hrs to half a day

High Dune It is not a fixed summit but one of the great ridges accessible from the foot of the sandfield. Ascent is made on sight, in a slope that is stolen under the steps, with an immediate reward: the dunes stretch in waves to the mountains.

Nature and panorama

Zapata Falls

4.5 / 5· Hidengo30 min to 1 hr 30

Zapata Falls hides in a rocky gorge south of the Great Sand Dunes, accessible by a short path and then a few steps in the water according to the conditions. The fall appears in the cool, between tight walls, offering a marked contrast with the heat and opening of the nearby dune field.