Great Sand Dunes National Park is one the more unique parks in the United States. The landscape here is home to the highest sand dune in North America (hence the name) and offers activities that you can’t find in many other places in the US. Nestled at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the set of Lawrence of Arabia, Aladdin, or… Dune.
Exploring Great Sand Dunes National Park for a day is a fun and unique stop on any Colorado road trip. Follow our one day itinerary for Great Sand Dunes National Park for an exciting day of sand boarding, dune hiking, waterfall trekking, and incredible stargazing.
One Day Itinerary for Great Sand Dunes National Park
Go Sand Boarding Down the Slopes of a Dune
Start your day with sand boarding down the slopes of the dunes in Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Sand Board Rentals
Sand board rentals are available at the Oasis Store right outside the park. Head to the Oasis Store right when it opens in the morning and rent sand boards for the day. (If sand sledding is more your speed, sand sled rentals are available at the Oasis Store as well!)
Getting to the Oasis Store early is important for a few reasons:
- The lines for renting boards can get long so it’s nice to be at the front of the line and be able to get in and out quickly.
- There is a limited supply of boards. They can quickly run out for the day!
- Sand boarding or sledding are best done in the morning since the air and sand temperatures get hotter as the day goes on. The earlier you start, the cooler it will be.
Hit the Slopes
After you get your sand board rental, drive back into Great Sand Dunes National Park and park in the main dunes parking lot. Gather up your backpack, sunscreen, water, snacks, and other supplies – it’s time to hit the dunes!
The foothills leading up the first major dune ridge are great for easing into sand boarding and sand sledding. Steeper bowls can be found along the hike to High Dune, the most prominent dune on the first dune ridge. During your search for the perfect sand boarding slope, we recommend hiking towards High Dune in case you’re feeling ambitious and want to continue all the way to the top of High Dune.
Sand Boarding & Hiking Tips for the Great Sand Dunes:
- Hike along the dune ridgelines. The sand is more hardpacked and easier to walk on along the dune ridgelines. The sand tends to collapse on the dune faces making it harder to hike.
- Wax the board thoroughly. Waxing the board well will help make sure the board glides across the sand and doesn’t get stuck.
- Take breaks and drink plenty of water. Keep in mind that the Visitor Center of the park is at 8,000 feet elevation. If you’re visiting from a place that’s at a lower elevation and have not acclimated to the higher altitude, be sure to take breaks, drink plenty of water, and plan for longer hiking times.
- Hike in the morning or evening when it’s cooler. The best time of day to hike the dunes is in the morning or evening when the air temperature and the sand temperatures are cooler. Be sure to bring sun protection, plenty of water, and snacks on your hikes. The sand temperature can get hot enough to burn your feet during the day so wear closed-toe shoes. Shoes are not allowed to be worn with sand boards so wear thick socks as well.
- Be prepared for a water crossing. Medano Creek flows along the base of the dunes so be prepared to cross it. The water level of Medano Creek can be found on the national park website.
- Bring bug spray. The mosquitoes can be vicious near Medano Creek so it’s best to be prepared.
Hike to High Dune
High Dune is the most popular hike in the park and stands at about 693 feet tall. From the peak of High Dune, you’ll have sweeping views of the immense dune field.
The High Dune hike is about 2.5 miles long roundtrip from the main parking lot and takes about 2 hours. While 2.5 miles may sound undemanding, don’t let the short distance catch you off guard. The hike to High Dune can be challenging given that you must traverse through sand. Also, something unique about hiking the dunes is that there is not a set trail since the sandy terrain is always changing. The exact distance and elevation of the trail vary over time.
Personally, we didn’t feel the need to summit High Dune. We hiked part of the way up to High Dune with our sand boards, but with the elevation, the rising temperatures, the extra weight of the boards, and enjoyable views all around, we decided to turn around before reaching the peak and sand board our way back down to the base on the dunes. It was an epic ride!
Hike Through a Creek to Zapata Falls
After sand boarding and hiking through the dunes, head back to the parking lot. There’s a rinse station in the parking lot to clean off the sand, which is likely embedded in every crease of your body at this point.
Mid-day on the dunes can be sweltering hot. To escape the heat and take a break from the sand, drive over to Zapata Falls.
Zapata Falls is a beautiful cascade tucked within a narrow crevasse located just outside Great Sand Dunes National Park. The trail to Zapata Falls is a short 1 mile round-trip hike up South Zapata Creek. We recommend wearing water shoes or high waterproof boots for hiking through the creek bed up to the falls.
Getting to Zapata Falls
Getting to the parking area for the falls requires a 3-mile drive up a steep and very rocky road. A 4WD vehicle with high clearance is recommended for the drive. The road is doable in a 2WD sedan, but you’ll be apologizing to your vehicle along the way for the beating it will endure. We saw a tow truck making the climb up the 3-mile road as we left so be warned!
If you don’t have a vehicle that is suitable for the drive for Zapata Falls, we recommend cooling off with a swim in Medano Creek at the base of the dunes (check to see if it’s flowing here) or touring the Visitor Center.
Hike the Dunes from the Point of No Return for Sunset
Hiking the dunes near the Point of No Return for sunset is a great way to avoid the crowds of the main dune parking area. If you take the extra effort to go to this off-the-beaten-path area, it’s likely that the only footprints in the sand you’ll see will be your own.
Just before sunset is an especially beautiful time to hike – the sand turns golden and the shadows accentuate the flowing shapes the dunes. Sunset is also a more comfortable time to hike than midday. In the evening, the air temperature starts cool down along with the sand surface temperature.
Getting to the Point of No Return
The Point of No Return is a small parking area for non-4WD vehicles along Medano Road. Do not go past the Point of No Return unless you have a high clearance 4WD vehicle. Medano Road is rough, sandy, and primitive, and a 4WD, high-clearance vehicle is required past this parking area.
Reaching the Point of No Return parking area can be tricky without a 4WD vehicle so use your best judgement to ensure your car doesn’t get stuck in the sand. Once parked at the Point of No Return, use the small trail next to the nearby picnic area to reach the dunes.
If you don’t have a vehicle that is suitable for the drive to the Point of No Return, we recommend parking in the main dunes lot and hiking the dunes for sunset from there.
Stargaze
As an International Dark Sky Park, Great Sand Dunes has incredible stargazing. End your day by enjoying all of the beautiful stars and planets shimmering in the night sky.
Great Sand Dunes Stargazing Tips:
- The best time to visit Great Sand Dunes for stargazing is during the days near a new moon. During a new moon, the skies are the darkest and star viewing won’t be interrupted by bright moonlight.
- During your trip, be sure to use a headlamp with a red light option at night. Red light helps to keep eyes adjusted to the darkness so it’s easier to see the stars.
- If you hike the dunes at night for stargazing, remember where your car is parked! This may sound ridiculous, but since there are no trails through the dunes, it can be very easy to get lost in the dark.
Summary: One Day Itinerary for Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Sand Board or Sand Sled Down the Slopes of a Dune
- Hike to High Dune
- Hike Through a Creek to Zapata Falls
- Hike the Dunes from the Point of No Return for Sunset
- Stargaze
That wraps up our one day itinerary for Great Sand Dunes National Park. To make sure you have everything you need for sand boarding and hiking the dunes, check out our packing list. For more ideas on things to do during your trip to Colorado, head to our Colorado Travel Guide.