Have you ever been somewhere that made feel so, so small? Somewhere that looked right out of a children’s novel or a sci fi movie?
With over 107,000 acres of land and elevation ranging from 7,520 feet all the way up to 13,604 feet… This is definitely a place to put on your bucket list. The tallest sand dunes in North America are here, with some of them as tall as 750 feet!
The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Mosca, Colorado was originally established as a National Monument in 1932. In 2004, there was a boundary change and it was established as a National Park.
A few of my friends, my energetic puppy, and I all set out to explore the Sand Dunes in September. The weather and day were nothing short of perfect! We grabbed some sand boards on the way in, and spent the day completely enthralled by this wonderful place. Playing with the sand, sand boarding, and hiking around… It was SO much fun!
So after seeing these wonders I had to know how they were created?! They were actually caused by dried lake and stream beds releasing particles of sand into the air. The wind then carried it to the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos Mountains. Even though they were made over 440,000 years ago.. they are constantly changing! The 40+ mph winds are continuously reshaping them!
If you ever have the opportunity to visit this magnificent place, you should definitely take it!
One of the last thing I’d like to say about the Sand Dunes is they are a wildly touristy spot. The summer is the most crowded (and the hottest, obviously!). Bring more food & water than you think you’ll need and WEAR SHOES. Sand temperatures can reach as hot as 105 degrees in the summer!
And if you want to help keep this National Park and all other ones funded, consider donating to the National Park Service!
Every little bit helps keep our lands beautiful and able to be explored.
We only have one Mother Earth 💛🌍🌞
