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!
A small bird with gray-green body, white eye ring and red stripe on its head perches on a branch.
Great Sand Dunes Hosts Christmas Bird Count on December 31
This year, the annual Christmas Bird Count will be held at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve on Tuesday, December 31, starting at 7:45 a.m. Volunteers of all skill levels and ages are welcome and encouraged to take part in this exciting event.
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
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