Sand Dunes NP

A quick stop at the Sand Dunes

August 3, 2020

Our first stop when we got to Sand Dunes National Park was to check to see if there were any last-minute open campsites in the park, and unfortunately, they were all taken. We opted to drive home that night, but before leaving, we had to climb the dunes.

Miss Monroe was able to be off-leash and run where she wanted. Luckily it rained right before we got there, so the sand was cool to the touch. HOW CUTE IS SHE!!

Fun Facts

Cost: $25 per vehicle for 7 days or National Park Pass for free entrance (dogs on and off leash are welcome (when the sand is not too hot))
Elevation: 8,170 Feet (at the visitor center)
View: Crestone Needle, High Dune, Sand… LOTS of sand
Don’t Miss: Zapata Falls, Dune surfing (you can rent boards)
Note: The dunes are 30 square miles and the sand can reach temperatures up to 150F.
Fun Fact: The park became a National Park in 2004 and covers over 107,000 acres.

There were remnants of Medano Creek flowing down the dunes' front side, but the water was drying up.

The sand dunes are one of those places where you simply cannot take a bad picture, and they all look so cool! The orange hues of the sand mixed with blue skies give out good vibes even though you are working hard to climb the dunes.

Since we could not find a campsite at the dunes, we decided to drive home and try next time. If you go to the sand dunes, you can pay to camp at the dunes in advance or choose the free first come dispersed camping option near Zapata Falls, 20 minutes south of the dunes.