Sandboard down Great Sand Dunes

1 day itinerary

A park that many might not be familiar with, Great Sand Dunes includes a stunning backdrop, one freezing river, forested hikes, and of course, enormous dunes to conquer and descend! One day here will put more than enough sand in your hair and will have you smiling and laughing!

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To really maximise your day in Great Sand Dunes, arrive under the cover of darkness and cross the bitterly cold Medano Creek, which usually has a decent flow even into summer. Find a good spot on the sand to watch sunrise, and quickly feel the temperature warm as the sand starts to gather the suns rays. Within just a few hours in summer, you'll probably find the sand becomes almost too hot to stand on barefoot!

Head over to the nearby visitor centre to learn how this unusual looking landscape, with sand dunes juxtaposed in front of snow capped mountains, came to be. Nearby, just across the road, begins the Mosca Pass Trail, one of the main hikes of the park. Through woodland, you ascend gradually, with some great views of the landscape on your ascent. The view at the top is actually no more special than on the way up, so hike as much as you would like. But as this hike is less exhausting than what you will find on the sand, you might well choose to hike all of the 6.8 mile out-and back round-trip trail.

On your way back to the sand, make sure to pick up some sandboards, such as from Oasis Store, which is the closest opportunity to hire. Sometimes in the busier season of late Spring and Summer you may need to reserve your boards in advance - just something to keep in mind! While difficult to master, it is an experience that very few other parks in the nation can offer! There is usually a couple of boards you can choose from - snowboard style for maximum freedom, or sled style for more stability. Pace yourself in the heat, with the steep dunes being very thirst inducing. Hydration and sunblock is key to enjoying today!

We recommend a couple of hours sandboarding, to allow you to get to grips with the new equipment, try various gradients of dunes, and to give you plenty of time to rest between runs. You can then end your day how it began, with a calming session sitting on the dunes watching the colours of the sky change as the day concludes. Or take in the view from afar with the dunes and mountains both in view, for that classic Great Sand Dunes NP photo opportunity. That would be our pick to end the day!

If you want to combine Great Sand Dunes National Park with a trip to some of Colorado's other amazing national parks, then check out our Colorado Plateau itinerary! Or if you really want the adventure of the lifetime, have a look at visiting 20 national parks on the Great 48!