Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Elk are sometimes seen by visitors along the park entrance road or County Lane 6, primarily fall through spring.
Open 24/7 year round! There are no timed entries or reservations to visit. 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!
Map showing location of park.
A Park ranger in green and grey uniform with straw ranger hat leans over a table to help a child with a magnetic sand activity
Great Sand Dunes Offers Living History and Junior Ranger Day Programming
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is offering two free programs to the public the first weekend August. On Friday, Aug. 1, Buffalo Soldier reenactor Terrance Beasley will present a living history program at the visitor center from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. On Saturday, Aug. 2, the park’s education team will host Junior Ranger Day with kid-friendly activities at the main dunes parking area between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Three female Navajo dancers in colorful regalia weave a large sash while two Navajo men hold the sash and sing
Dineh Tah’ Navajo Dancers Come to Great Sand Dunes on Friday June 20th
On Friday, June 20th, Great Sand Dunes welcomes Shawn Price and the Dineh Tah’ Navajo Dancers for two special presentations at 1:30 pm and 6:00 pm.
A group of children standing around a glass display case of artifacts with a museum docent
Great Sand Dunes Staff Hosts Family Archeology Day at Fort Garland
Children and their families are invited to join the staff of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and the Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center on June 6th to learn about how archeology has led to a deeper understanding of the Fort’s story. Enjoy a guided tour of the Fort and learn how the buildings were made by making your own adobe bricks!
Grasslands, large dunes, and snow-capped peaks at sunset
Photo by NPS/Patrick Myers
Girls Sand Sledding
Photo by NPS/Patrick Myers
Elk, Grasslands, Dunes, and Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Photo by
Lower Sand Creek Lake, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Photo by NPS/Kris Illenberger
Upper Sand Creek Basin, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Photo by NPS/Patrick Myers
Fall Colors Along Mosca Creek, Great Sand Dunes National Park
Photo by NPS/Patrick Myers
Gold cottonwood trees, large dunes, a silver cloud, and snow-capped mountain
Photo by NPS/Patrick Myers
A teen girl sits on a floatation device
Photo by NPS/Patrick Myers