Great Sand Dunes National Park - Colorado

In the summer of 2015, we relocated from the Air Force Academy Campground to Haggard’s RV Park in Pueblo, Colorado to visit our son who also lived in Pueblo. While parked there, we also met up with our RV friends, Brittany and Eric (also a Coast Guard Vet) of RV Wanderlust some comraderie and campfires.

When our RV friends weren’t working their remote jobs, we’d get together for an outing and vittles. One morning, we all rose early to drive out to the Great Sand Dunes National Park for some hiking, sightseeing and to get our National Park Passports stamped.

Brittany and Eric gladly agreed to drive if we packed a picnic lunch for the trip. It was about a three hour drive to the Dunes.

About Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is actually quite young; established in 2004. It sprawls some 150,000 acres; across part of Southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley, a broad and plain between the San Juan Mountains on the west and the Sangre de Cristos on the east. The tallest dune towers over 750 feet.

Streams and creeks flowing out of the San Juan Mountains over millennia carried gravel and sand into shallow lakes in the San Luis Valley. During drought periods, these lakes dried, releasing the sand particles to the action of the wind. Strong prevailing southwesterly winds carry the tiny grains toward the Sangre de Cristos, piling them up against the foothills.

The resulting dunes are the tallest in North America, covering more than 30 square miles. Adults hike across them and marvel at their beauty; children run and slide down their steep faces, enjoying a playground of fairy-tale proportions. You can read more about how they formed and their geological natures here.

Welcome to the Dunes…

Once we got to the entrance, we stopped for photos because, in our world, it didn’t happen unless there were pictures!

After getting parked, we got our passports stamped at the Visitor Center and viewed a video and hands-on informational exhibits.

All four of us headed to the picnic area where we sat down to enjoy some fellowship while chowing down on our cooler full of vittles. We were blessed with beautiful weather too.

After packing up leftover crumbs of our lunch, we all trekked out to the base of the Dunes and climbed up the first that led to the rest of them.

Climbing the Dunes (or Crawling?)

It was already a very warm day so it seemed like it was a little more work but that didn’t stop Dan and Brittany from doing the inevitable; climbing to the top of the dunes. Being that Eric has bad knees and I have back issues, we hung out at the top of the smallest dune to watch Brittany and Dan challenge themselves. We were already 6000′ above sea level, so this was a bit more challenging than just taking a stroll up a 750′ hill, not to mention, it was loose sand.

While Eric and I stood there chatting for what seemed forever (because we stood there in the heat for all of it), Brittany and Dan disappeared over the crest of the first dune. They looked like little ants the further they hiked. We’d see them again and then loose them doing down another…and another…and another.

Brittany’s words upon their return, ‘it was quite exerting; one step forward, three steps back and doing it at higher altitude, we just couldn’t catch our breaths’.

Dan said they had to stop often to empty their shoes which weighted them down. Adding to that, it was a very warm day; about 85 degrees.

A few times, we’d see one of them, bend over in the distance during their climb and stop for awhile. They said they were offered water by some passerby’s (hikers that were faster and more in shape as them?!). Then we’d see them start up again.

The Finish Line

An hour and a half later, they successfully made it to the top and another hour and a half after that, they came back tired, weary but celebrated. They were red-faced and a bit dehydrated so Eric and I sacrificed our own water bottles to get them back to looking a normal color. But LOOK at them looking all celebratory!

It was a fun day trip with great friends! A little RV family bonding is what we call it. Dan and Brittany felt celebrated and accomplished. I bought them each their own I climbed the Great Sand Dunes sticker for their vehicles (if there were trophies, I would have bought them too!).

Planning to go? You may want to read these…

Which National Park Pass Should I Get?

The Dirty Truth About Our National Parks

Making the Most of Your National Park Experience

5 Replies to “Great Sand Dunes National Park – Colorado”

Had a blast with you guys (as always) wish we could have made it to the top of the dunes too Lisa. But at least we got to share in their accomplishment and were still rewarded with that Bingo Burger haha!

We had a great time too! Dan felt so accomplished considering he's almost twice Brittany's age. Someone had to stay behind to cheer them on…and save them some water.

Bingo Burger ROCKED!! Going there again when we go back for our son's wedding.

A fun day by the looks of it. We won’t be hiking up to the tallest, but maybe the shortest! We have been to White Sands (though that’s Gypsum not sand) so thanks for the tips on this.

alwaysonliberty says:
June 30, 2018 at 11:55 pm
It’s been a couple years since we’ve been there, Mary. Have fun! Just watch for those fires going on in Colorado. There is a KOA in West Pueblo that’s not too bad; no frills, right off I-25. If you settle there, make sure to take a day trip to Colorado Springs to Garden of the Gods and out near Rye, to Bishops Castle (we blogged it). Great pizza place called Manhattan’s and Bingo Burger in Pueblo. Safe travels friends! BTW, Tell your better half, ‘sorry about your Golden Knights’ -Dan & Lisa
Reply

Well we’re finally headed to Great Sand Dunes today, last year the road to get there was blocked due to a wildfire. Read your post again to refresh my memory.
**oh the Golden Knights ??** there’s always next year?