Hike the Sand Dunes, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Add to My List Check Off

The large, main dunefield covers approximately 30 square miles, but there are many more square miles of smaller dunes in the sand sheet surrounding the main dunefield. At the widest point, the main dunefield runs six miles and at the greatest length, eight miles. Great Sand Dunes has the tallest dunes in North America. Star Dune rises 750 feet from its base to its crest. High Dune rises 650 feet from its base, but because it starts on higher ground, its crest is higher above sea level that of Star Dune. There are no designated trails in the sand. In summer months, plan to hike the dunes in morning or evening to avoid sand temperatures reaching up to 150 degrees F. The "High Dune" is neither the highest in elevation nor the tallest in the park, but it looks that way from the main parking lot. It is about 650 feet (198 m) high. Cross the flats and zigzag up the ridgelines to reach it. The 360 degree view is inspirational. Average round trip hiking time to "High Dune" is 2 hours. From High Dune, the skyrising dune you see to the west is the spectacular Star Dune, rising 750 feet (229 m). It is the tallest dune in North America. To reach it from High Dune, journey another mile and a half up and down across the dunes to its summit. Average round trip hiking time to Star Dune is about 4 hours. The Eastern Dune Ridge can be reached by driving a high clearance 4WD vehicle to Sand Pit or Castle Creek Picnic Areas. Or, with 2WD vehicle, drive to Point of No Return, then hike 3/4 mile (1.3K) to Sand Pit or 1.5 miles (2K) to Castle Creek. Castle Creek Picnic Area offers an impressively tall, steep dune face. Both areas have access to Medano Creek, which usually flows through autumn in this area. It is very easy to experience the dune-building process. This is a very windy region, as hikers on the Sand Dunes will attest, as on many days they will be pelted by sand and even small rocks when hiking on the dunes. The winds normally go from SW to NE, however during the late summer months, the wind direction reverses causing reversing dunes. This wind regime is part of the reason why the dunes are so tall. A dunes-accessible wheelchair is available for free loan at the Visitor Center.

Write a Review

No Ratings Yet

Flag as inappropriate ›