Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
National Park & Preserve ยท Colorado
NPS/Patrick Myers
National park in Colorado, United States
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a national park of the United States that conserves an area of large sand dunes on the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley, and an adjacent national preserve in the Sangre de Cristo Range, in south-central Colorado. The park was originally designated Great Sand Dunes National Monument on March 17, 1932, by President Herbert Hoover. The original boundaries protected an area of 35,528 acres. A boundary change and redesignation as a national park and preserve was authorized on November 22, 2000, and then established on September 24, 2004. The park encompasses 107,342 acres while the preserve protects an additional 41,686 acres for a total of 149,028 acres. The recreational visitor total was 527,546 in 2019.
About Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience countless stars in this International Dark Sky Park! Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week year-round. There are no timed entries or reservations to visit.
Park Photos
Activities
Operating Hours
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
The park and preserve are open 24/7 all year
| mon | tue | wed | thu | fri | sat | sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Day | All Day | All Day | All Day | All Day | All Day | All Day |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to enter Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve?
Entrance - Private Vehicle: $25.00. Fees are charged only when the entrance station is open in the spring, summer, and fall seasons or when the visitor center is open in the winter season. Fees can be paid by cash, check, or credit card. Passes may also be purchased in advance online through recreation.gov . Entrance - Non-commercial Groups: $15.00. 15+ passenger vehicle, age 16+ Entrance - Motorcycle: $20.00. Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Commercial Entrance - Sedan: $25.00. This fee is for a commercial group of 1-6 people in a smaller vehicle. Valid for 7 days. Commercial Entrance - Van: $40.00. This fee is for a commercial group of 7-15 persons in a van. Valid for 7 days. Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus: $40.00. This fee is for a commercial group of 16-25 persons in a mini-bus. Valid for 7 days. Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach: $100.00. This fee is for a commercial motor coach with 26+ capacity. Valid for 7 days. Entrance - Per Person: $15.00. Entrance Fee for Bicycles or Walk-In Visitors
What are the best activities at Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve?
Popular activities at Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve include: Arts and Culture, Craft Demonstrations, Live Music, Auto and ATV, Auto Off-Roading, Astronomy, Stargazing, Biking.
What is the weather like at Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve?
Temperatures are relatively cool all year at the park elevation 8000 ft. Conditions are most often calm, but winds can arise, especially in spring and during storm fronts. Daytime temperatures feel warmer here year round due to intense high-altitude sunlight, and mid-day summer sand surface temps can be 160 degrees F! Plan to explore the dunes morning or evening during summer. Nights are cool in summer, and frigid in winter. Visit https://nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/weather.htm for details
How do I get to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve?
To access the main park area, including the Dunes Parking Lot, Visitor Center, and Pinon Flats Campground, take US 160 to CO 150 from the south, or CO 17 to Lane 6 to CO 150 from the west. The national park is at the north end of CO 150.
Entrance Fees
Fees are charged only when the entrance station is open in the spring, summer, and fall seasons or when the visitor center is open in the winter season. Fees can be paid by cash, check, or credit card. Passes may also be purchased in advance online through recreation.gov .
15+ passenger vehicle, age 16+
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
This fee is for a commercial group of 1-6 people in a smaller vehicle. Valid for 7 days.
This fee is for a commercial group of 7-15 persons in a van. Valid for 7 days.
This fee is for a commercial group of 16-25 persons in a mini-bus. Valid for 7 days.
This fee is for a commercial motor coach with 26+ capacity. Valid for 7 days.
Entrance Fee for Bicycles or Walk-In Visitors
Weather
Temperatures are relatively cool all year at the park elevation 8000 ft. Conditions are most often calm, but winds can arise, especially in spring and during storm fronts. Daytime temperatures feel warmer here year round due to intense high-altitude sunlight, and mid-day summer sand surface temps can be 160 degrees F! Plan to explore the dunes morning or evening during summer. Nights are cool in summer, and frigid in winter. Visit https://nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/weather.htm for details
Directions
To access the main park area, including the Dunes Parking Lot, Visitor Center, and Pinon Flats Campground, take US 160 to CO 150 from the south, or CO 17 to Lane 6 to CO 150 from the west. The national park is at the north end of CO 150.
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Official Resources
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