There is tremendous outdoors recreation at Great Sand Dunes National Monument, so you can have a load of fun. Great Sand Dunes National Monument has loads of natural beauty; it's a spot that everybody enjoys. It is very dried up here at Great Sand Dunes National Monument usually; all through the month of July you get the most rain around here, and January is the month with the least moisture. Why not camp at San Luis Lakes since you're here at Great Sand Dunes National Monument, and do stop at Dollar Lake, it's a scenic lake. The beauty of Great Sand
Dunes National Monument is there for you to like. There are a lot of exciting things to do for everybody. If you came for an overnight stay Great Sand Dunes Oasis is a good place to camp, and there are other sites here than Great Sand Dunes National Monument, for example Twin
Lakes. Summertime highs at Great Sand Dunes National Monument mostly tend to be in the 80's; the nighttime is a bit cooler of course, usually in the 40's. For the duration of the winter this place gets highs in the 30's with winter lows in the-10's overnight here at Great Sand Dunes National Monument. You'll wish for more hours in a day to enjoy all the enjoyable things at Great Sand Dunes National Monument. Lakes are such serene places, why not check out San Luis Lake near Great Sand Dunes National Monument. Going to Great Sand Dunes National Monument
Dunes National Monument is there for you to like. There are a lot of exciting things to do for everybody. If you came for an overnight stay Great Sand Dunes Oasis is a good place to camp, and there are other sites here than Great Sand Dunes National Monument, for example Twin
Lots of people from Mosca come to Great Sand Dunes National Monument, and you'll come across a lovely lake called Head Lake.
Nestled in southern Colorado, North America's tallest dunes rise over 700 feet high against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The wind shaped dunes glow beneath the rugged backdrop of the mountains. This geologic wonderland, containing 39 square miles of dunes, became a national monument in 1932.
With the passage of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000, resources now also include alpine
lakes and tundra, six peaks over 13,000', ancient spruce and pine forests, large stands of aspen and cottonwood, grasslands, and wetlands--all habitat for diverse wildlife and Rocky Mountain plant species.
CONTACTS
Email
- GRSA_Interpretation@nps.gov
Fax- 719-378-2594
Write to 11500 Highway 150 Mosca, CO 81146-9798
Phone Headquarters - 719-378-2312
TRAVEL BASICS
Operating Hours, Seasons The monument is open
24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Visitor center open daily, closed on winter holidays.
Getting There PLANE - Limited air service is available to Alamosa, Colorado. Airports in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Albuquerque are all within 4 hours drive.
CAR - Great
Sand Dunes National Monument is located 35 miles northeast of Alamosa,Colorado, reached by US Highway 160 and Colorado Highway 150 from the south. or from Colorado Highway 17 and County Six Mile Lane from the west.
BUS - Greyhound Bus Lines serve Alamosa and Blanca, CO, but
do not enter the park.
Weather & Climate In fall, winter, and spring, expect moderate daytime temperatures and freezing to sub-zero temperatures at night. Summer temperatures during the day average 70 to 80 degrees, lows may drop to 40 degrees. Sand temperatures
can reach 140 degrees in summer; shoes are highly recommended for hiking the dunes.
Accessibility The Visitor Center and restrooms are fully accessible. There is an accessible trail at the visitor center, two accessible campsites and one backcountry accessible campsite.
Call 719-378-2312 ext 220 for more info.
Getting Around By foot, bicycle, or personal vehicle. Please note: bicycles are not permitted on trails.
FEES/PERMITS
Entrance Fee PER PERSON, 17 AND OLDER $3 for 7 Days $!0 for
Annual Great Sand Dunes Annual Pass is good for the holder and everyone in the same car for entry to Great Sand Dunes for one year from the month of purchase.
Activity Fee CAMPING $10 for Day 6 person / 2 vehicle limit per site.
CAMPING
Pinyon
Flats Open All Year Pinyon Flats campground is open year-round, and has 88 campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Fire grates, picnic tables, flush toilets and drinking water available. The campground is located in pinon/juniper forest and has excellent
views of the dunes and the Sangre de Christo mountains. Winter low temperatures average between 0 and 13 degrees F. Fire wood can be purchased in the visitor center, open daily 8:30 am to 4:340 pm.
FACILITIES
Visitor Centers MAIN Open All
Year 9 am to 4:30 pm Phone - 719-378-2312 ext 220 Closures - Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day Special Programs - Interpretive programs begin here in the summer months. Available Facilities - Visitor center has a 15 minute video, exhibits,
bookstore and computer touchscreen information systems.
Outdoors Recreation Near Canon City, Colorado Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Canon City, Colorado, the metro area neareast to Great Sand Dunes National Monument. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.