Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Great Sand Dunes
The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Available day and night year-round, this park offers stellar experiences of starry skies on moonless nights or surreal walks on the dunes under bright full moonlight.

Discover Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Great Sand Dunes photo

Discover a landscape of towering dunes, rugged mountains, and diverse ecosystems at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado. Home to the tallest dunes in North America, this extraordinary park invites visitors to hike, sled, and explore its ever-shifting sands. Beyond the dunes, alpine forests, wetlands, and grasslands provide a stunning contrast to the arid landscape. Great Sand Dunes offers an unforgettable blend of adventure and natural beauty, where you can scale the 750-foot Star Dune, splash in Medano Creek, or marvel at the star-filled sky.

Explore Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve protects 140 thousand acres in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, with 45 miles of trails leading through beautiful forests and up 13,000-foot mountain peaks. Both the park and preserve are home to the tallest dunes in North America, reaching heights as tall as 750 feet (taller than the Statue of Liberty). As a certified International Dark Sky Park, Great Sand Dunes provides awe-inspiring opportunities to experience the astronomical wonders with minimal light pollution. As one of the most ecologically diverse parks in the United States, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve protects diverse landscapes, grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. This landscape is sacred to the Diné—Sisnaajini (Blanca Peak), located just south of the Great Sand Dunes, is one of four sacred mountains, believed to serve as a part of the boundary and protectors of the Navajo traditional homeland. Visit Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and experience the natural beauty and cultural connections of one of the most inspiring landscapes of the West.

Bison standing in a grassy field with sand dunes in the background.
Man in orange shirt shopping for hats in the park store at Great Sand Dunes National Park.
WNP

Visit the WNP park store

Before you hit the dunes, visit the WNP park store, located inside the visitor center. Get your passport stamped, stock up on some outdoor essentials, and find the perfect park t-shirt to make sure everyone knows you've been to this incredible park. You'll feel good while you shop, knowing that your purchase directly benefits the park.

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Over $162 million

Since our founding in 1938, WNP has provided more than $162 million in aid to our partner parks to fund educational programs, initiatives, and scientific research.

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