Great Sand Dunes National Park
Surrounded By Sand
Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, offering an extraordinary landscape of golden sand stretching as far as the eye can see. The vast, open space and towering dunes create an otherworldly experience. It is perfect for hiking, sandboarding, or simply taking in the stunning views.
Surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, the park is a place where desert beauty meets alpine wilderness. Whether you are climbing the dunes or admiring the scenery, this park is a reminder of nature's power and wonder. Every step on the soft sand feels like an adventure in an untouched, raw landscape.
Camping in the Dunes
August 27th-28th, 2023
We arrived at the park around 10:30 p.m. and had to hike 1.5 miles into the dunes to set up camp for the night. Instead of carrying everything, we loaded our gear onto a sled to drag it through the sand. With full backpacks and the sled in tow, we headed into the sand dunes. Though it was dark outside, the light of the moon guided us. We knew we had to hike up and over the tallest dune to set up our tent, but it seemed to get farther and farther away the longer we hiked.
The beginning of the hike was flat for about a half mile, but it didn't take long for the real challenge to begin - we quickly realized this was going to be harder than we anticipated. Walking uphill in sand is hard enough without carrying anything, so hauling heavy backpacks, dragging a sled, and holding blankets made the trek even more exhausting. We had to take many breaks going up the dunes so we could catch our breath, but those pauses gave us the chance to admire the stunning night sky and the mountains glowing under the light of the moon.
It eventually began to feel like we were never going to reach our destination. Each time we reassured ourselves that the next peak was the last, an even taller one seemed to loom just beyond it. The high altitude added to the challenge, making it difficult to breath, and at one point, we both felt as though we might be sick.
We ended up pitching our tent too high up, where it was so windy that the tent began collapsing as we tried to fall sleep. Exhausted, we almost gave up and considered hiking all the way back to the car. After regrouping, we came up with a plan: we threw all of our belongings into the tent and dragged it down the side of the tall dune to a lower spot nestled between two larger dunes. Finally, we were able to settle down and get some rest.
When we woke up the next morning, it made everything worth it. Seeing the dunes for the first time after the wild night we'd had was exhilarating. I felt pure joy and had endless energy as I ran around the dunes that morning. It was an experience I will remember for a lifetime.
Gallery
©Copyright. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.