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The Dunefield
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Colorado
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What we do know
Inside Great Sand Dunes National Park
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
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The Dunefield
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
No elevation data on file for this trail.
The centerpiece of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is the 30-square-mile (78-square-km) dunefield, featuring the tallest dunes in North America. Because there are no trails, you can venture out anywhere you'd like to discover unusual insects, plants, wildlife tracks, ripples, and sand grains of every color. In warmer months, watch for one of 7 species of endemic insects, found nowhere else in the world, that are specially adapted to the extreme environment here. During summer, plan your dunes time for early morning or evening to avoid sand surface temperatures of 150 degrees F, or thunderstorms with lightning and wind. From November through April, snow falls on the dunes about once per week, and cold temperatures prevail. Wind is possible in any season, mainly whenever storm fronts are coming or going. Spring is the windiest season, especially in the afternoon. Wear sturdy footwear year round; boots with long pants work best to keep sand out of your shoes. It's very difficult for an adult to get lost in the dunes, because you can see the mountains, entrance road, and visitor center for reference. But children can wander away and become disoriented. Watch children closely, especially when there are larger crowds.
High Dune on First Ridge
~1 min drive
The high dune on the first ridge is neither the highest in elevation nor the tallest in the dunefield, but it looks that way from the main parking lot. This is the most common destination in the dunefield, providing a great view of the entire dunefield. It is about 692 feet (2…
Mosca Pass
~2 min drive
<p>Just above the dunefield are forests of aspen, pine, fir, and spruce. The easiest hiking access to forest in the national park is in Mosca Pass, on the Montville Nature Trail and Mosca Pass Trail. On these trails, you are walking in the footsteps of Pleistocene mammoth hunt…
Star Dune
~3 min drive
Star Dune is currently tied with Hidden Dune as the two tallest dunes in North America. It is a majestic dune now measuring 741 feet (225 m) from base to summit. While it can be hiked from the summit of High Dune on First Ridge, it's more direct, and less up and down, to acces…
Hidden Dune
~4 min drive
Hidden Dune is currently tied with Star Dune as the two tallest dunes in North America at 741 feet/225 m. Hidden Dune is named for its remote location in the dunefield, where it is not visible from most of the main visitor day use areas. It is even hidden from much of the high…
Raspberry
~12 min drive
7.1 mi · Moderate
Zapata
~13 min drive
3.7 mi · Hard
Ute
~15 min drive
6.8 mi · Hard
Lily Lake
~15 min drive
6.6 mi · Easy
Sand Creek Basin
~23 min drive
<p>Sand Creek Basin is part of the alpine watershed of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. A longer drive and hike is required to reach these lakes and peaks, but the mountain scenery is worth the effort. Check with a ranger for conditions before travel. Snow may block these t…
Comanche
~37 min drive
8.8 mi · Expert
