Great Sand Dunes National Park, located about three hours south of Colorado Springs, Colorado, has some of the largest sand dunes in the United States. Enjoy camping under the stars in a tent or RV with a few of your closest friends, or a hundred of them. The park offers opportunities to see wildlife and enjoy the wide-open spaces. Because much of the park is sand, there are few trails and you are able to wander through much of the park freely.
Camping Overview
Great Sand Dunes National Park has several different options for camping. Three loops separate the different campgrounds. Loop one has campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis. If the ranger kiosk is open, check in there; if not, do a self-check in. From May 15 to September 15, Loop two campgrounds are open for reservation. The sites can be reserved as much as six months in advance, but also must be reserved at least four days ahead of time. In the case that not all sites are reserved, the remainder are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Loop three is for group camping. Sites can accommodate between 15 and 110 people. Reservations must be made and are available between April and October. Group sites cost between $65 and $80 per night, 2010 rates. Pets are welcome at any site.
Hiking
Hiking in Great Sand Dunes National Park is different from many other parks because there are no defined trails in the dunes. Visitors can enjoy walking on the dunes wherever they like. Popular places to visit include Medano Creek where you can play in the water. The tallest dunes are more than 650 feet high. The tallest one, which is also the tallest dune in the United States, is called Star Dune and reaches 750 feet high. Forested trails are also available in the park. These trails are more traditional and defined.
Horseback Riding
Take a guided horseback riding trip, or bring your own horse and explore the park. People with their own horses have virtually full access to the park. Several areas are closed off to horses, so check with the park ranger before you go exploring. Nearby Zapata Ranch sponsors horsemanship experiences where they take you around the ranch on a horse so you can experience life working there. They also offer tours around the park. A three-night all-inclusive vacation with Zapata Ranch costs $788 for adults, as of 2010.
Sandboarding and Skiing
Take advantage of some of the biggest dunes in the country by sandboarding and skiing down them. Bring any type of equipment you normally use in the snow. Sleds, skis and snowboards all work well. Depending on recent weather, the sand may or may not be good for sliding down. Snow on the dunes makes for a particularly fun time. Boarding and skiing are allowed on any of the dunes in the park. The park does not rent any boards or skis, so bring your own or go to a rental place near to the park.
Tours
Get special tours to seldom visited parts of the park with a Bison Tour. For $50 for adults and $25 for children, 2010 rates, the two-hour tour takes you to the north end of Zapata Ranch where on 50,000 acres, 2,000 bison roam. You will also get an opportunity to see other wildlife including elk, deer, porcupines and owls. On the tour you stop in historic Medano Ranch Headquarters, which dates to the 1800s. Four people are required for a tour, but if you have less than four, you will be grouped with others.
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