Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, creating a landscape that seems more akin to a desert than the typical Colorado scenery of mountains and forests. These magnificent dunes rise up to 750 feet high and cover about 30 square miles, formed from sand and soil deposits of the Rio Grande and its tributaries, flowing through the San Luis Valley. Over time, winds coming over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east pick up particles and as the wind loses power, the particles are deposited, gradually forming the dunes seen today. The park's landscape includes not only the vast dunes but also forests, wetlands, grasslands, and alpine tundra. This diverse ecosystem supports a wide variety of wildlife, from the elusive kangaroo rats to the majestic elk. Birds also thrive here, with sightings ranging from the sandhill cranes to the bald eagles. Great Sand Dunes National Park offers a number of activities. Visitors can explore the dunes through sand sledding, hiking, or even skiing. The park also features a host of trails that lead into the adjacent Sangre de Cristo Mountains. For a more relaxed experience, the Medano Creek provides a perfect spot for cooling off during the warmer months as it flows at the base of the dunes. Human history in the park dates back to the ancient Paleo-Indians and continues through the early Spanish settlers and American homesteaders. The park's cultural history is as layered and evolving as its natural history, providing visitors a comprehensive insight into the resilience and adaptations of past civilizations.