Great Sand Dunes National Park is located in southeastern Colorado, but exploring the unique landscape here is like taking a portal across the world to the Sahara. The immense amount of sand in the park covers an area of 30 square miles. With each step on the dunes, hikers become immersed in a scene of soft sand and sky. At night, the skies of this International Dark Sky Park shine with bright stars.
This guide highlights the top things to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park during your trip.
Top Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park
1. Sand Board or Sand Sled Down the Slopes of a Dune
Sand boarding and sand sledding are fun and unique ways to enjoy Great Sand Dunes National Park. We had a blast riding the dunes!
Sand Board Rentals
Sand boards and sand sleds rentals are available at the Oasis Store, which is just outside the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The Oasis Store is the most convenient rental option. The next closest place to rent sand boards is over 30 minutes away from the park.
Get there early because boards can quickly sell out for the day. We also recommend sand boarding or sledding in the morning since the air and sand temperatures get hotter as the day goes on.
What to Wear Sand Boarding
Shoes are not allowed to be worn while riding the sand boards and sleds. Be sure to wear thick hiking socks to help protect your feet from the hot sand.
Where to Sand Board
The main dunes parking lot is the best access point for sand boarding and sand sledding. There is a rinse station and bathrooms at this parking area.
The foothills leading up the first major dune ridge are great for kids trying out sand boarding and sand sledding. Steeper bowls can be found along the hike to High Dune.
2. 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.
Star Dune: An Alternative to High Dune
For even more of a challenge, you could opt to hike to Star Dune, the highest dune in North America. (Yes, Star Dune is higher than High Dune…who names these dunes?!) Star Dune stands at about 741 feet. The most direct hike to Star Dune is via its base, which is about 2 miles away from the main parking lot along the Medano Creek bed. The hike to the peak of Star Dune is about 6 miles round-trip and takes about 6 hours.
Hiking Tips for the 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.
- Choose your ridgeline wisely. We made the mistake of hiking up a ridgeline that did not connect to where we wanted to go, so we had to hike up the face of a sand dune. On the face of the dune, the sand collapses so every step is a slog. We had avoided getting overly sandy up to this point, but after climbing the dune face, sand was everywhere!
- 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.
- 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.
3. Hike the Dunes from the Point of No Return for Sunset
Hiking the dunes near the Point of No Return is a great way to avoid the crowds of the main dune parking area. If you take the extra effort to go to this 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.
4. Stargaze
As an International Dark Sky Park, Great Sand Dunes has incredible stargazing. 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.
5. Hike Through a Creek 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.
This hike offers a break from the sand and nearby camping so it is understandably very popular and can get crowded.
Getting to Zapata Falls Trailhead
Getting to the parking area for the falls requires a 3-mile drive up a steep, 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!
Summary of the Top Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Sand Board or Sand Sled Down the Slopes of a Dune
- Hike to High Dune
- Hike the Dunes from the Point of No Return for Sunset
- Stargaze
- Hike Through a Creek to Zapata Falls
That wraps up the tops things to do in 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, check out our Colorado Travel Guide.