We visited Great Sand Dunes National Park in June several years back. The weather was warm during the day and chilly at night. Camping was also a windy experience.
The sand dunes are quite large and climbing up the dunes is challenging. Our children only made it a little way up the dunes, but I was able to walk to the top of one of the large dunes. Hiking to the top of a dune would be a unique experience for older children and teens.
You can also rent wooden sleds for use on the dunes. This is not something that we did as a family, but if I were to go back, now that the kids are older, it is something we would probably do - we did take sled to White Sands National Park and it was fun to try sledding on the dunes there.
The highlight of our trip was playing in the water. The Medano Creek follows at the base the of the dune field in late spring and early summer. The water is cold, especially in the morning, but quite fun. The water is shallow across the sand - perfect for sand and water play. The children also used tubes in the creek.
Tip/Things to keep in mind:
- Prepare for the weather
- Be prepared to get a little dirty
- Bring plenty of water and plan to wear shoes - the dunes get really hot, even when the air is chilly
- Do your research and have a plan
- Camping was more windy than I expected, but it was amazing to wake up with a view of the dunes
- Make reservations! Camping and hotels fill up, especially in late spring/early summer when the creek is flowing.
- This park is fairly remote - be sure to bring all that you’ll need.
*All information is based on our experience at this park and is provided for information and entertainment only, not as professional advice. Reading and using information from More Than Scenery as well as any travel/hiking/camping is at your own risk. Accuracy is important to me, but park rules and conditions change constantly. If you find an error, please let me know so that I can correct it.
Unless stated otherwise, all images are my (Jessica Branch) own and I hold the copywrite. Please get permission before using any images or text from More Than Scenery.
