Our Visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park

https://waybeyondthenorm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Great-Sand-Dunes-featured-image.png 600 500 Kristi Corder Kristi Corder https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/40c10ae894fb923ade0e927cd19d64dd?s=96&d=mm&r=g November 30, 2018 August 6, 2019

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After spending a month in southwestern South Dakota, it was time to make our way to Colorado. We had hoped to find somewhere to stay in Denver, but it just wasn’t in the cards. Our next option was Alamosa, CO and a visit to the Great Sand Dunes. We hope you enjoy our pictures and videos from our September 2018 trip to the dunes!

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Great Sand Dunes National Park in pictures!

The Great Sand Dunes was FUN even though it was a really long walk to get to the dunes. I liked sledding down the tall dunes. The sand was really hot the first day we went to the dunes and I liked it much better the day we went in the evening when the sand wasn’t so hot.
Allison

Kids getting taking their Junior Ranger pledge

It was really fun and I liked sledding down the dunes. The only part I didn’t like was the long walk. If you go in the evening, the sand felt cool. Don’t bring your own disk to try to sled, rent one of the sand sleds because they work much better.
Abigail

I didn’t really like the sand dunes that much because it was so hot the first day it made me have a bloody nose. Sledding down the dunes was fun, but not when it was so hot.
Peyton

Have you had an opportunity to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park or did these pictures and videos inspire you to make the trip? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

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21 comments

Dawnmarie @ EnjoyingtheDays September 15, 2019 at 11:46 am

I di not think that I knew about this park. Now that Info, though, I would like to go sledding there!

- Kristi Corder September 17, 2019 at 10:09 pm
  
  Just be sure to rent a sled before heading in. Trust me…you don’t want to trek out to the dunes and find out that your own sled doesn’t do well. It’s a long haul back to the car.
  
Hera September 14, 2019 at 7:00 pm

I’ve never been to a sand dunes park. This looks fun to sled and hike through. Good to know about the heat, I’ll plan around that. Great pics!

Missy September 14, 2019 at 1:04 am

We have not been there yet. Yes, I am inspired. I like the idea to sleding down the dunes.

Heather September 13, 2019 at 12:02 pm

I have never heard of it. I can imagine that it gets hot! My boys would have enjoyed when they were smaller. What an interesting place.

kmf September 13, 2019 at 5:49 am

I didn’t even know about this National Park. I would love to go sledding on the sand dunes. Looks like so much fun! Oh, and I loved the kid critiques…great idea!

- Kristi Corder September 17, 2019 at 10:11 pm
  
  Thanks! Even the adults have fun on the dunes.
  
Wendy Robinson September 13, 2019 at 4:43 am

My husband has been wanting to go dune sledding for years but we’ve never made it to a dune yet. Looks like a lot of fun but bring the water and sunscreen when we go

- Kristi Corder September 17, 2019 at 10:35 pm
  
  Absolutely! Lots of water and sunscreen. And preferrable don’t go in the summer. LOL!
  
Lisa Manderino September 13, 2019 at 2:39 am

This looks really fun! I love national parks! What an adventure!

Susan Whitehead September 13, 2019 at 2:26 am

This reminds me so much of our time living in the United Arab Emirates where there was NOTHING but SAND everywhere! We never go to play in the dunes like this, though. So much fun!

- Kristi Corder September 17, 2019 at 10:36 pm
  
  Interesting! I think if I lived around sand all the time it might not be quite as fun.
  
Julie Gazdecki September 13, 2019 at 2:04 am

OMG!! I have never heard of this here. So much fun. Love the reviews from the kids.

- Kristi Corder September 17, 2019 at 10:36 pm
  
  What?!? You have to go!
  
Lori Nielsen September 13, 2019 at 1:12 am

Sledding down the dunes looks so fun! Walking back up not so much. How long of a walk was it to get to the dunes?

- Kristi Corder September 17, 2019 at 10:38 pm
  
  So, the parking lot is quite a ways from the dunes. I mean, it doesn’t look horribly far, but when you’re walking through sand, it can take a good 15-20 minutes to get to a good dune. And that’s just the bottom, so it’ll take you a few more minutes to walk to the top of one. Then you just want to go higher even, so however long it takes you to get there. Seriously, it took so much out of us just getting to the dunes.
  
Leeanne September 13, 2019 at 12:50 am

What a fun adventure. I used to live in Colorado but I never made it to the Sand Dunes. What a shame. I will have to bring my kids out for some fun.

- Kristi Corder September 17, 2019 at 10:38 pm
  
  Oh, your kids would love it!
  
Tricia Snow September 13, 2019 at 12:14 am

Looks like the kids had a great time! I can totally see bringing my grandkids when they are old enough.

Lee Anne September 12, 2019 at 7:26 pm

We have stopped through Alamosa before. I have a large photograph on my wall that I took of Blanca Peak from the last trip! I wanted so much to stop at the Sand Dunes but we have not yet! It looks so unique and fun!

Pam September 12, 2019 at 7:15 pm

So beautiful! Plus the sledding looks like a blast!