The sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park are massive. Until you’re standing there in person, it can be hard to really grasp the scale. As you drive up to the park and see the dunes in the distance, they look huge. However, it’s not until you’re standing out there that you can really appreciate how massive these dunes really are.
But as I planned my trip to Colorado, I wasn’t quite sure what things to do at Great Sand Dunes National Park. Lucky for me, it turns out that there were a few fun things to do.
Things to Do at Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park feels different than many other parks. You won’t find miles of hiking trails, large varieties of ranger led tours, or much wildlife spotting. Given that, you may find yourself wondering what on earth you should actually do on your visit. Well, there’s more to do that just drive up and look at sand dunes. Here’s six great things to do at Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Sand boarding or Sand sledding
This is probably the most popular thing to do at Great Sand Dunes National Park. While you’ve likely never been sand boarding before, you can imagine something similar to snowboarding. You’ll get on a board (or a sled) and ride it down the dunes. It’s a lot of fun and not only are kids having a blast, but most adults are laughing and smiling as much as the kids.
Sand boards and sand sleds are available to rent from a number of local businesses. You can’t actually rent them at the park, so make sure you pick up a rental before you arrive. I rented my sand board from Kristi Mountain Sports in Alamosa for $20 for 24 hours. However, they are not the only operators. The National Park Service provides a list of businesses providing rentals.
I called and reserved my sandboard a week in advance and had no issues. There are a few other businesses that will rent sandboards so shop around. Find one that has hours that work in your schedule and offers a convenient pick up/drop off option.
Why get a rental? If you have your own, by all means, use it. However, most people don’t have these specialized boards. The boards that you can rent are designed to be ridden on sand, so snowboards won’t work well (but people will still try). On my visit, several people attempted to make their own sleds. I saw snow sleds and even just a cardboard box. Neither of these options worked at all, so spend the money and rent a sand board.
Beyond the board, you’ll also need wax. The wax is what helps you actually move on the sand. Without it, you may get one or maybe two rides, but not much else. When you rent your sand board, the shop will also give you wax (and instructions on how and when to use it).
Keep in mind that you earn every ride. If you ride to the bottom, you have to climb all the way back to the top of the dunes to go again. There are no shortcuts. Do you want a longer ride? You need to climb up a higher sand dune.
My other piece of advice is to start slow. You don’t have to go to the tallest dune. Start at some of the smaller dunes and work your way up. It’ll take a little bit for you to find your balance.
Hike The Dunes
Yes, you technically hike on the dunes if you go sandboarding. However, I’m listing it as separate because it’s worth walking out when you aren’t carrying a sandboard. It’s just easier to maneuver, take photos, and enjoy the sweeping views.
You can hike all the way up to High Dune or Star Dune (although neither has designated hiking trails so you’ll just need to follow the marker on Google Maps). The other option is to walk out as far as you want for some great views. I did option two, since I was still acclimating to the elevation and climbing on sand is difficult.
Have a Picnic
I was here on Labor Day weekend and so many families brought a picnic lunch to spend the day. Between the parking lot and the actual dunes, is a large sandy area that is mostly flat. People had chairs, umbrellas, snacks, and more and were just content to spend time with friends and family.
I picked up a sandwich and some chips in Alamosa before going to Great Sand Dunes National Park. It was a pretty great dinner view.
If you do this, make sure to bring your own snacks. You won’t find any in the park.
Watch the Sunset
The sunsets at Great Sand Dunes can be absolutely beautiful. If you have the time, I highly recommend finding a good spot to watch the sunset behind the dunes.
It seems many people stayed on the dunes to do this. For those who climbed up to High Dune or Star Dune, I’d have to imagine they had a great view. However, I went back to the Visitor Center.
The building was closed, but just behind the visitor center, there’s a few benches with a great view. I had the area almost entirely to myself and recommend it if you don’t want to deal with walking across the dune field in the dark. Plus you get the added benefit of seeing the entire dune field silhouetted against the sunset.
Stargaze
Great Sand Dunes National Park is was designated an International Dark Sky in 2019. This means that stargazing can be particularly amazing because you don’t have any light pollution.
I had plans to stargaze, at least for a little bit. However, it was pretty cloudy on the night I was here. I stayed for sunset and then called it a night. The chance of actually seeing some stars was pretty low. Hopefully, you’ll be luckier than I was.
While my stargazing plans failed at Great Sand Dunes, I did a bit of stargazing a few years later at Death Valley National Park. The dark sky is incredible and I have to encourage you to stargaze in one of these dark sky areas. I think it’s one of the best things to do at Great Sand Dunes National Park (or any other protected dark sky area).
Sleep on the Dunes
For a big adventure, you can get a backcountry permit and camp on the dunes. About an hour before sunset, you’ll see several groups loading up their big backpacks and hiking out on the dunes. These people planned to camp out under the stars. I’d have to imagine that on a clear night, this would be absolutely incredible.
Where to Stay for Great Sand Dunes National Park
Alamosa is the nearest town to Great Sand Dunes National Park, but it’s still a nearly thirty minute drive from Alamosa to the park entrance. Plan your time accordingly.
This planning also includes sandboard rentals. With a large distance between Great Sand Dunes National Park and rental providers, it’s important to make sure that you don’t have to do some major backtracking to pick up or return your board.
Entrance Fees for Great Sand Dunes National Park
A seven day pass for Great Sand Dunes National Park costs $30. For $80, you can get the America the Beautiful Pass which is valid for one year and is accepted at all US national parks. If you plan on visiting more national parks on your road trip (or in the next 12 months), this is a good option to consider.
Final Advice for Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park sits at nearly 7500 feet of elevation. You need to make sure you have plenty of water and are staying hydrated, particularly if you are not used to the elevation yet.
No matter how much you try to clean yourself, you will continue finding sand for days (or even weeks!) after your visit. I recommend bringing a Ziploc bag to put your sandy clothes in at the end of the day. That way you can keep the sand out of all of the rest of your belongings. Or at least try. There will still be loads of sand even with Ziploc bags.
Continue Your Adventure
Colorado National Parks: Colorado is home to four national parks. Along with Great Sand Dunes, you’ll also find Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, and Rocky Mountain National Parks.
More in Colorado: One of the best things about Colorado is its plethora of scenic drives. Check out my list of favorites.
Colorado Itineraries: For an epic road trip through Colorado, check out this 10 day itinerary. Or if you don’t have ten days, try one of these 5 day Colorado itineraries.
Similar National Parks: If it’s sand dunes that you’re after, consider Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana or White Sands National Park in New Mexico.