Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve guide · 2 min read
Wellington Ditch, Sand Pit and Other Short Walks
Spread across about 30 square miles, the dunefield holds the tallest dunes in North America.
No marked routes cross the sand, so you are free to wander in any direction. Ridgetops give the firmest footing. With the mountains, the entrance road and the visitor center always in sight, adults are unlikely to get lost. Boots paired with long pants keep the sand at bay, while sandals tend to chafe.
Reaching the sand is simple. Park at the main dunes lot and head toward Medano Creek, a shallow stream you may wade across on the way. One visitor found the flat but loose sand slow going, needing roughly 10 to 15 minutes to reach the base of the dunes. In summer the surface can hit 150 degrees, and thunderstorms bring lightning and wind, so early morning or evening is the best time to go.
Just past the entrance station, the visitor center has restrooms and a spot to refill water bottles. Hands-on displays and a film of about 20 minutes explain the park, and rangers can answer questions and suggest how to spend your day.
For shade, try the Montville Nature Trail, a good summer afternoon choice when the sand is too hot. It is named for a late 1800s settlement that grew to about 20 houses, and its highpoint looks out over the dunes and the valley. The longer Mosca Pass Trail climbs beside a small creek through aspen and evergreen forest to the top of a gentle pass through the Sangre de Cristo range, 3.5 miles one way. Plan on two to three hours for a route Native Americans and early settlers once used to enter the valley.
In warmer months, watch the sand for insects. Seven endemic species live here and nowhere else on Earth, each adapted to the harsh dune environment.
