This packing list for Great Sand Dunes National Park includes all the gear and clothing you’ll need for hiking the dunes, sand boarding, exploring waterfalls, and stargazing during your trip.
Packing List for Great Sand Dunes National Park
Clothing
- Waterproof Hiking Boots: We recommend wearing waterproof hiking boots with ankle support for dune hiking. The waterproofing and high ankle support will help keep sand out of your shoes for more comfortable hiking. My favorite boots are the Salomon X Ultra’s (Women’s | Men’s), and Jordan’s favorite are the Merrell Moab’s (Women’s | Men’s).
- Water Shoes: The Zapata Falls hike requires walking up a creek bed to the falls. If you plan to do this hike, bring along water shoes (Women’s | Men’s).
- Hiking Socks: Good socks are important for preventing blisters. Smartwool Hike Light Socks (Women’s | Men’s) are our favorite hiking socks. If you plan to sand board or sand sled the dunes, note that shoes aren’t allowed to be worn while riding so wearing good hiking socks to help protect your feet from the hot sand.
- Doggie Booties: If you’re bringing your dog to the dunes, definitely put booties on them to protect their paws from the hot sand too. We saw a few pups dressed in their booties – super cute AND functional!
- Moisture-Wicking Bottoms: I like to wear athletic leggings to prevent sand from sticking to my legs while exploring the dunes. Jordan wears Prana Brion shorts.
- Moisture-Wicking Tops: Choose quick-dry materials for your clothing and avoid cotton. Cotton retains water which can make you feel colder in cold weather and make you feel sweatier and cause chaffing in the heat. I typically will wear a tank top and layer on a long sleeve shirt like the Brooks Dash 1/2 Zip (Women’s | Men’s) for extra sun protection when needed.
- Moisture-Wicking Undergarments
- Bandanna or Buff (Amazon | REI): Wearing a bandanna or buff provides extra sun protection, and, when hiking in the heat, it feels refreshing to wear a bandanna or buff soaked in cold water.
- Sunglasses: With classic designs and polarized lenses, Suncloud Sunglasses are a good bang for your buck.
- Hat: A breathable hat that provides extra sun protection is recommended.
Gear
- Day Pack: Osprey makes excellent backpacks that come in a variety of sizes, support types, and colors. For a pack with suspension and breathability for your back, the Osprey Sirrus (Women’s) or Osprey Stratos (Men’s) are great options. For a lightweight multi-purpose day pack, check out the Osprey Daylite Plus. We have both styles!
- Hydration Bladder or Water Bottle: The heat, elevation, and sand can make hiking at Great Sand Dunes challenging. Be sure to stay hydrated and bring plenty of water during your trip. While hiking, we tend to drink more water when using a hydration bladder versus a water bottle so we recommend bring a hydration bladder along.
- Bug Spray: The areas near the Medano Creek at the base of the dunes can have a lot of mosquitos even when the creek bed is dry. We recommend bringing bug spray along and pretreating your gear with permethrin just in case the mosquitos are out! DEET can be applied to your skin, though it should be kept off of your hiking gear as DEET can damage plastic and certain synthetics. Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent (Amazon | REI) is an alternative to DEET that won’t damage your gear. Sawyer Permethrin Spray (Amazon | REI) is another insect repellent option that can be used to treat your clothing and backpack prior to your trip. Be sure to plan ahead when using Permethrin so the items you spray have plenty of time to dry before use.
- Sunscreen and SPF Lip Balm: There is no shade when hiking the dunes. Be sure to bring sunscreen and lip balm with SPF. For lip balm, we’re fans of Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 since the tube is completely sealed and won’t melt all over your gear in the heat.
- Snacks
- Phone/Camera
- First Aid
- Camping Gear
- Headlamp with a Red Light for Stargazing: Great Sand Dunes National Park is an International Dark Sky Park that has incredible stargazing. When stargazing, it’s best to use headlamps that have a red light option since red light helps preserve your night vision and helps you to see more stars! Our favorite headlamp is the Petzl Tikka Headlamp.
- America the Beautiful Annual National Parks Pass: An America the Beautiful Annual Pass provides entrance to all U.S. National Parks as well as additional recreation areas for a year. If you plan to visit multiple parks within the year, getting the pass may be more cost effective than paying individual park entrance fees.
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That wraps up our packing list for Great Sand Dunes National Park. For more information on the park, check out our one day itinerary or our post on things to do during your trip.
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