Skip to content

Tips for Visiting the Great Sand Dunes National Park with Kids

A visit to North America’s tallest sand dunes has long been on our family’s extensive travel wish list. We flew to Colorado for a three-day holiday weekend in January and visited some amazing attractions but most of all, spent some time at the incredible Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Here are some tips for visiting the Great Sand Dunes National Park with kids.

Great Sand Dunes sign

We caught sight of the dunes that were dwarfed by the snowcapped Sange de Cristo Mountains from a distance. Rising from the valley, it almost looked like a mirage.  It was mind-boggling to see this huge sandpile, resembling a vast desert, in the middle of Colorado.

Great Sand Dunes with mountains

In the afternoon glow, it looked smaller from a distance. But, as we got closer and saw the people at the bottom, we came to realize its immense size. Can you see the people on the dunes in the photo below?

Great Sand Dunes with people

So, how did all this sand get here? Water and wind played a huge part in creating and forming the dunes. Lakebeds in this valley receded thousands of years ago leaving behind sand sheets.

Great sand dunes national park

Prevailing southwest winds carried the sand across the valley but were blocked by the mountains and accumulated on the foothills. Storm winds blew back the sand into the valley reversing  the flow and the resulting opposing action made the dunes grow vertically. For a wonderful illustration of how the sand dunes were formed, the National Park Service website has a brief animation with  more detailed pictures.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

The tallest sand dune measures up to 750 feet(229 m) but also extend below the surface. We saw a few people climbing the tallest dunes. We read that it takes approximately 75-90 minutes one way to climb the 1.1 mile trail. I’m sure those hikers had some breathtaking and unique views of the dunes from way up there. Our hike to the top will have to wait another day.

Great Sand Dune climb
The main dune field is about 30 square miles but with no new sand. Photo comparisons show that the location and size of the largest dunes haven’t changed much over the last century.

Great Sand Dunes national Park

During the warmer months, Medano Creek appears and flows by the dunes as snow melts. Of course during our visit, there wasn’t any sign of this creek flowing anywhere. We saw pictures of the creek in the summer filled with kids swimming and people in swimsuits. It looks like we’ll need to return to see this beach party at the sand dunes.

Great Sand Dunes medano Creek

We actually found out  that there were different types of dunes (reversing, star, transverse) based on their formations.  Ripples form as sand grains are blown across the dunes.

Great Sand Dunes sand ripples

Sandboarding and sand sledding at the Great Sand Dunes

This giant sandbox was every kid’s ultimate play area. The sand happens to also bring out the inner child in many of us. Walking through the soft sand, playing in it and doing uncommon activities like sandboarding and sand sledding were unforgettable experiences for us.

Great Sand Dunes shadows

We rented a sandboard which the kids also used as a sled. Specialized sandboards rented from a specific vendor in Alamosa (30 miles from the park) are the best equipment.  Bare feet or wool socks must be used with the boards. Cardboard boxes and snow sleds don’t work very well on dry sand. The bottom part of the sandboards also had to be waxed after each use but worth the trouble for some fun and excitement.

Great Sand Dunes sandboarding

We chose the lower dunes knowing the taller dunes will result to more strenuous uphill climbs back to the starting point. The longer the downhill run, the harder the climb back up. Though the sand was very comfortable to walk in,  I never realized it’s a lot harder than it looks to climb.

Great Sand Dunes sand sledding

Of course, my kids could have stayed here the whole day. Despite the constant sledding and climbing, my 7-year-old son surprisingly had such a burst of energy and didn’t seem to get tired with all the activity here. He made use of that sandboard more than the rest of us.

Great sand Dunes Jump

I was much more comfortable with the kids sand sledding than sledding in the snow. The sand was soft to fall on with no rocks, shrubs or trees in their way. Yes, you’ll get sand everywhere and possibly in your eyes and mouth but to them, totally worth it. We got lucky and there were no strong winds during our visit.

Great Sand Dunes with kids

The sand dunes don’t have to be a whirlwind of activity though. I was perfectly content sitting there and admiring the scenic vista that surrounded us. At one point, we were the only ones on the dunes which was a little suprising during a US holiday weekend. It was a bit eerie being there by ourselves but those clear blue skies were just marvelous to look up to. I can imagine how magical the sky filled with stars must look at night.

Great sand Dunes National Park

It had snowed days before and there were still remnants of them in the sand.  I was secretly hoping to seeing part of the dunes blanketed with snow but we did see some areas with melting snow. The undisturbed areas were beautiful with the snow crystals sparkling against the sun with hints of sand ripples.

Great Sand dunes snow

The pathways where snow had melted and people had walked on looked more like some sort of chocolate with icing dessert up close instead of snow and sand mixed together.

Great Sand Dunes snow detail

Being here also gave us a chance to do these fun shadow poses. The ridges distorted the pictures but who knows, this may end up on our Christmas card collage this year.

Great Sand Dunes shadow family
One of the other great things, and not often known, about this place is the diverse landscapes that make up the preserve that surround the dunes. Forest, grasslands and wetlands can be found throughout the preserve which makes this an ideal place to visit during the summer months for the many outdoor activities it offers.

Great Sand Dunes mountains

It wouldn’t be a visit to a National Park without some wildlife sighting. We spotted a couple of mule deer on the way out of the park and a coyote wandering around the following morning.

Great Sand dune wildlife

The Great Sand Dunes National Park was an extraordinary place to visit. These pictures can’t convey the amazing beauty of the dunes with the stunning snow-covered backdrop.

We were here in the afternoon until the sun was setting during our first day and returned the following morning.  It gave us a chance to see the different light and the shadows moving across the sand dunes for some dramatic contrast.

Great Sand Dunes National park

Tips for Visiting the Great Sand Dunes National Park with Kids

  • Admission Price: $15 per car. Some dates are designated for free park admission.
  • Go to the Visitor’s Center for maps, guides and interactive exhibits.
  • Get the Junior Ranger booklet for the kids to learn more about the parks, its ecosystem and wildlife. Kids can earn either a  patch or badge after completing the activities. My kids enjoyed the packet and were happy to add another badge to their  collection.
  • Rent a sandboard or sand sled from Kristi Mountain Sports in Alamosa.  Cost was about $18 per day.  This was worth the detour! Or bring your own but skis and sleds work better with wet sand.
  • From the visitor parking lot, the walk to the dunes is about a half mile with the creek flowing in warmer months.
  • Be aware that in the summer, sand can get very hot. Hiking should be done early and hydration is very important. The sand was  nice and cool during our winter visit.
  • There were no food services nearby other than vending machines so pack some snacks or picnic lunches.
  • Bring beach and sand toys for some fun in the sand.
  • The nearest major airport was Colorado Springs (where we flew) and was a three hour drive to the park.
  • Lodging options are limited to camping and tiny lodges usually available during the summer. We stayed at the city of Alamosa (30 minutes) away which had a few  chain hotel options.
Great Sand Dunes window quote
Looking out from the Visitor’s Center window

*Have you visited the Great Sand Dunes National Park with kids or a similar sand dune?

Great Sand Dunes National Park with kids

63 thoughts on “Tips for Visiting the Great Sand Dunes National Park with Kids”

  1. Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista

    My kids would love to sandboard! I find Sand Dunes very pretty – as long as the wind isn’t blowing :) I’ve never been to this National Park but would definitely consider stopping by if in the area.

    1. You guys would love this place! We spent about 3 hours there in the afternoon and another hour or two the following morning. You can definitely make it an all day trip if you go hiking or go to the taller dunes. Hope you two make it out there soon.

  2. Looks like an awesome couple of days!! I have not been to this National Park but I have been to the sand dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan. Very pretty in their own way. The scenery looks gorgeous and I love the snow capped mountains in the background. My son would really enjoy the sandboarding and sandsledding. Hope to hit this National Park sometime in the future.

    1. I didn’t know they had sand dunes on Lake Michigan. I’m sure your son would have a great time here as mine did. I hope your family gets to visit this park soon. Thanks for stopping by, Sere.

  3. The sight of snow and sand together is totally unexpected. As usual you got the
    most out of the experience. Sandboarding and nature-spotting would top the bill for me.
    But it did pike on the sandboarding in the Sahara – it was too hard to climb back to
    the top of the hill with the board for the next person!

  4. I love learning about all these new places and parks in the States. Fancy these massive sand dunes being in the middle of Colorado. it’s certainly not what I’d expect…and then to have snow as well! My kids would have been right into the sand boarding when they were younger.

  5. I was wondering how your trip there went. I’m so glad everyone had fun! We were there 3 summers ago, and I can attest that the sand gets VERY hot by late morning. It was pouring in over the tops of our shoes, so we had to quit after just an hour. Luckily, Medano Creek was flowing, so we ended up spending most of our visit there. And I can also confirm that cardboard definitely doesn’t work. If only I had known about a sandboard rental place. We finally had a chance to do some sandboarding and sandtobagonning when we visited Little Sahara in Australia.

    1. Looking forward to reading about your sandboarding and sandtobagonning in Oz. It sounds so fun to be in Little Sahara! We’d love to see Medano Creek flowing but would probably have to reserve it for Spring to at least walk in the dunes.

  6. Such beautiful photos! I had no idea that there were sand dunes like this in Colorado – I need to brush up on my U.S. geography a bit, I think. Sandboarding looks like so much fun – but can you just imagine in a wind storm!! All the pics are amazing but I love the rippled sand and the photo of your shadow family – that would make a great card!

    1. Thanks Lisa! Many Americans don’t know about this sand dune in Colorado :) We got lucky there were no windstorms but I think they happen more frequently during spring and summer. We’ll try to include our shadow family on the card this year. We were hoping for smoother surface but you go what with you have.

  7. Mary, these are fantastic photos!! Wow. I have visited in the heat of the summer when the sand was so hot you couldn’t walk on it in bare feet. I think going when you did was smart. And I think looking at your pictures that I’d like to try sand boarding. I think this park is ideal for kids!!

    1. Thanks Leigh! It was so perfect for kids. I can’t imagine having that huge sand dune and not being able to walk because it’s so hot. I’ve heard it’s pretty crowded too. We love visiting National Parks in the off season and having it to ourselves is also another reason.

    1. Sand dunes no matter what size counts. We actually want to visit White Sands too. Thanks Becca..I’ll take the compliment but I’ve got a long way to go with all the National Parks. We make do with work and school..you know how it goes.

  8. I have wanted to visit this park for quite some time now, and now I have a great reference! What a perfect trip for your kids. Like Becca said, I’m so impressed with how you guys use your vacation time. I’ve visited Jockey’s Ridge in the Outer Banks of North Carolina many times…had so much fun as a kid running down the dunes, but those are nothing compared to your experience here!

  9. That place looks amazing! I’ve been to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as a kid, which is neat in its own way. If we ever make it to Colorado, we’ll have to visit.

    1. Ryan, there are actually straps/bindings to the sandboard but you have to use socks or go on bare feet. It’s a bit slower than snowboards (or maybe because the hills were smaller for us). The bottom part also needs to be waxed after each use. You also have to lean forward. There’s a sandboarding park in Southwest Oregon we just found.

  10. Great article.. we loves the Great Sand Dunes. We were here as part of our 40 day cross cointry national parks roadrrip in 2011. We were here for the 4th of July. We did get caught on a crazy wind storm while attempting to aee the fireworks at night. Definately was a scary experience with the kids. But its such an amazing park.

    1. Thanks Joe! How awesome to do a 40-day cross-country/National parks roadtrip. We’ve always wanted to cross the country slowly. You’re so right about it being an amazing park. My biggest worries coming here were windstorms and being caught out there during a lightning storm. Glad to see your family made it out okay.

  11. My Gosh! Absolutely stunning!!The sandboarding looks like so much fun (I actually wrote snowboarding at first!)I love all the different textures and patterns you’ve managed to photograph of the sand! It seems like an oxymoron to have sand and snow in the same place!

  12. This is actually the second time I’ve read about the Sand Dunes National Park in the last few weeks and it’s really piqued my interest now. We have family in Colorado and I think this is going to have to be added as a side trip on our next visit.

  13. Hi Mary, what time of year did you visit the dunes? We are thinking to visit in April with our two boys, so just doing a little research and came across your page. Your photos are amazing!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.