Come fall, everyone flocks to the mountains and other places that are abundant in trees, which leaves several Colorado locations and attractions nearly abandoned. While I am also a huge fan of the changing fall foliage, I enjoy discovering other must-see autumn attractions, which include this one iconic spot that is often overlooked this time of year. Here’s everything you should know about planning your visit to the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado.
Quite possibly one of the most surprising and unexpected landscapes in the West is that of the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado.
Patrick Alexander/Flickr
The National Park & Preserve together encompass 232.9 square miles of land along the Sangre de Cristo Range.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, PC: Patrick Myers / Flickr
The dunes alone stretch over 30 square miles and are made up of a mind-blowing five BILLION cubic meters of soft sand.
Larry Lamsa/Flickr
The region was initially created as the Great Sand Dunes National Monument in 1932, then changed to the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve in 2004.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
This stunning place actually has the tallest sand dunes in the country, with Star Dune reaching 750 feet tall!
Chris Scully/Flickr The people standing at the base of the dunes in the photo above give a pretty incredible perspective of how massive they really are.
Why visit the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado in the fall versus other times of the year? For starters, the temperature is more stable.
Flickr/PRODuncan Rawlinson - Duncan.co - @thelastminute Temperatures at the Sand Dunes change dramatically between seasons, with winter lows dropping below 0° F and summer highs reach above 100° F. In autumn, you’ll find the region at its most pleasant; the average high in September is 71° F and drops down to 60° F in October.
The cooler temperatures mean less worry about burning your feet.
Rene Rivers/Flickr The heat of summer can make the sand itself can reach 140° F… ouch!
You’ll also have better chances of seeing wildlife in the fall.
Wikimedia Commons Keep your eyes peeled - this National Park & Preserve is home to hundreds of species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. We’re not the only ones who prefer to protect our toes from the scorching sand - the cooler temperatures are more comfortable for the wildlife here, too.
Worried you won’t see any beautiful fall foliage at the Sand Dunes? Don’t be; the region encompasses several different ecosystems in addition to the dune fields.
Flickr/Fred Moore
The highest elevation areas of the park are actually alpine tundra, and the mid-elevation subalpine and lower transitional areas support a wide variety of plant life that bursts into color during the autumn season.
Wikimedia / Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, NPS: Patrick Myers
With summer vacations behind us and kids back in school, there tend to be fewer visitors in the fall, which makes the experience of exploring the dunes feel even more otherworldly and surreal.
Flickr/Rene Rivers
The Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is open 24/7 and truly should be experienced in all four seasons, but fall will always be our favorite.
Jack McLane/Flickr
The main access areas to the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado are via the Dunes Visitor Center or Piñon Flats Campground. Here’s a handy map to help you find your way to this stunningly beautiful location:
Patrick Alexander/Flickr
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, PC: Patrick Myers / Flickr
Larry Lamsa/Flickr
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Chris Scully/Flickr
The people standing at the base of the dunes in the photo above give a pretty incredible perspective of how massive they really are.
Flickr/PRODuncan Rawlinson - Duncan.co - @thelastminute
Temperatures at the Sand Dunes change dramatically between seasons, with winter lows dropping below 0° F and summer highs reach above 100° F. In autumn, you’ll find the region at its most pleasant; the average high in September is 71° F and drops down to 60° F in October.
Rene Rivers/Flickr
The heat of summer can make the sand itself can reach 140° F… ouch!
Wikimedia Commons
Keep your eyes peeled - this National Park & Preserve is home to hundreds of species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. We’re not the only ones who prefer to protect our toes from the scorching sand - the cooler temperatures are more comfortable for the wildlife here, too.
Flickr/Fred Moore
Wikimedia / Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, NPS: Patrick Myers
Flickr/Rene Rivers
Jack McLane/Flickr
Do keep in mind that this region is a pretty remote wilderness area, so there is limited cell phone service and no WiFi near the park. For this reason, it’s best to bring along a map or guide that is not reliant on GPS to help you navigate once you arrive. You can find more information about the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve on the National Park Service website (here’s the official park map – you can also pick one up at the Visitor Center, which is located at 11999 CO-150, Mosca, CO 81146).
Ready to discover even more fall fun? Here Are 11 Of The Very Best Things You Can Possibly Do In Colorado This Season.
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Address: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Great Sand Dunes In Colorado January 08, 2021 Beth C. What are the best parks to visit in Colorado? As you likely learned from the above article, the Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of the best hidden gem destinations in Colorado. However, there are several other national, state, and regional parks worth exploring in the Centennial State. Some of the best parks to visit in Colorado include Eleven Mile State Park, Arkansas Headwaters State Park, Rifle Falls State Park, Navajo Lake State Park, State Forest State Park, Mueller State Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Roxborough State Park, and Lory State Park. What are Colorado’s most famous natural attractions? Colorado is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true, with breathtaking natural wonders to explore at every turn. If you’re planning a trip to Colorado and are eager to explore the state’s most famous natural attractions, you’ll have plenty to choose from. The following is a list of destinations that belong on your outdoor bucket list: Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Rocky Mountain National Park, Island Lake in Silverton, Devil’s Causeway in Meeker, Natural Water Slide in the San Isabel National Forest, Boulder Creek, West Maroon Pass in Aspen, Eldorado Springs Swimming Pool in Eldorado Springs, Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs, Molas Lake Park & Campground in Silverton, Last Dollar Road in Telluride, and Wheeler Geologic Area in Creede. Of these, Rocky Mountain National Park is the most famous. What is the best hiking trail in Colorado? Colorado has thousands of trails, so narrowing down the best is a difficult task. One of the most famous trails, however, is the Maroon Bells Trail near Aspen. This 1.9-mile loop showcases some of the most exquisite scenery in the state and is most popular during the summer and the fall. Curious to learn more? Here’s why Maroon Bells is considered to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Great Sand Dunes In Colorado
January 08, 2021
Beth C.
What are the best parks to visit in Colorado? As you likely learned from the above article, the Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of the best hidden gem destinations in Colorado. However, there are several other national, state, and regional parks worth exploring in the Centennial State. Some of the best parks to visit in Colorado include Eleven Mile State Park, Arkansas Headwaters State Park, Rifle Falls State Park, Navajo Lake State Park, State Forest State Park, Mueller State Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Roxborough State Park, and Lory State Park. What are Colorado’s most famous natural attractions? Colorado is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true, with breathtaking natural wonders to explore at every turn. If you’re planning a trip to Colorado and are eager to explore the state’s most famous natural attractions, you’ll have plenty to choose from. The following is a list of destinations that belong on your outdoor bucket list: Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Rocky Mountain National Park, Island Lake in Silverton, Devil’s Causeway in Meeker, Natural Water Slide in the San Isabel National Forest, Boulder Creek, West Maroon Pass in Aspen, Eldorado Springs Swimming Pool in Eldorado Springs, Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs, Molas Lake Park & Campground in Silverton, Last Dollar Road in Telluride, and Wheeler Geologic Area in Creede. Of these, Rocky Mountain National Park is the most famous. What is the best hiking trail in Colorado? Colorado has thousands of trails, so narrowing down the best is a difficult task. One of the most famous trails, however, is the Maroon Bells Trail near Aspen. This 1.9-mile loop showcases some of the most exquisite scenery in the state and is most popular during the summer and the fall. Curious to learn more? Here’s why Maroon Bells is considered to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
As you likely learned from the above article, the Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of the best hidden gem destinations in Colorado. However, there are several other national, state, and regional parks worth exploring in the Centennial State. Some of the best parks to visit in Colorado include Eleven Mile State Park, Arkansas Headwaters State Park, Rifle Falls State Park, Navajo Lake State Park, State Forest State Park, Mueller State Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Roxborough State Park, and Lory State Park.
What are Colorado’s most famous natural attractions?
Colorado is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true, with breathtaking natural wonders to explore at every turn. If you’re planning a trip to Colorado and are eager to explore the state’s most famous natural attractions, you’ll have plenty to choose from. The following is a list of destinations that belong on your outdoor bucket list: Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Rocky Mountain National Park, Island Lake in Silverton, Devil’s Causeway in Meeker, Natural Water Slide in the San Isabel National Forest, Boulder Creek, West Maroon Pass in Aspen, Eldorado Springs Swimming Pool in Eldorado Springs, Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs, Molas Lake Park & Campground in Silverton, Last Dollar Road in Telluride, and Wheeler Geologic Area in Creede. Of these, Rocky Mountain National Park is the most famous.
What is the best hiking trail in Colorado?
Colorado has thousands of trails, so narrowing down the best is a difficult task. One of the most famous trails, however, is the Maroon Bells Trail near Aspen. This 1.9-mile loop showcases some of the most exquisite scenery in the state and is most popular during the summer and the fall. Curious to learn more? Here’s why Maroon Bells is considered to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.
