Wilderness.net's Great Sand Dunes
Wilderness Fact Sheet
Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Great Sand
Dunes Wilderness in 1976 and it now has a total of
32,643 acres. All of the wilderness is in Colorado and
is managed by the National Park Service.
Description
For century after century, streams, creeks, melting snows, and flash floods brought bits of rock that
became sand grains out of the mountains and to the valley floor. When sand lay exposed,
southwesterly winds began the slow process of bouncing the grains toward the low curve of the
Sangre De Cristo Mountains where they piled up to become the Great Sand Dunes. Reaching heights
of 700 feet, these are the tallest dunes in North America, and the sight of them lying at the very foot
of the snow-clad Sangres can be a bit unsettling at first. This is the only Wilderness defined as a
saltbush-greasewood ecosystem, with hardy plants that include blowout grass, Indian ricegrass,
scurfpea, and prairie sunflower. It's also the only place on Earth where you'll find the Great Sand
Dunes tiger beetle and the giant sand treader camel cricket. Kangaroo rats may be seen dancing
lightly on the shifting sands, and the night awakens other interesting denizens of the dunes.
You really should stay overnight in order to appreciate the greatest wonder of the dunes: the
ever-alternating colors and shadows as the sun moves across the sky and the moon rises.
Leave No Trace
How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the
country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more
about how they apply in the Great Sand Dunes Wilderness.
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.
Location
The wilderness area is entirely within Great Sand Dunes National Park located in the San Luis
Valley of south-central Colorado. The nearest city is Alamosa (pop. 7,500) located about 35 miles to
the southwest. From Alamosa take U.S. Highway 160 east about 16 miles and turn left onto
Colorado Highway 150. From there it's 19 miles north to the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center.
Area Management
The Great Sand Dunes Wilderness is part of the 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation
System. This System of lands provides clean air, water, and habitat critical for rare and endangered
plants and animals. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking,
backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing, and
extraordinary opportunities for solitude. You play an important role in helping to "secure for the
American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of
wilderness" as called for by the Congress of the United States through the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Please follow the requirements outlined below and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting the
Great Sand Dunes Wilderness to ensure protection of this unique area.
An entrance fee is required to enter the park if you don't already have an Interagency Annual Pass,
Interagency Senior Pass, or Interagency Access Pass. Otherwise, the fee is $3.00 per person for
everyone 16 years or older.
Camping is allowed in most areas of the wilderness excluding the popular day-use area. Obtain a
free permit and information about where to park at the visitor center. The group size limit is 6
persons. Additionally, groups with livestock may have up to 6 animals per group. Camping is
prohibited within 1/4 mile of the Sand Ramp Trail or any park roads. Campsites beyond 1/4 mile
must also be out of site from trails or roads.
Toilet paper must be carried out of the backcountry. Human waste should be buried in at least six
inches of soil and at least 200 feet from any water source.
Dogs are allowed on a leash only within the day-use area. Fires are not allowed anywhere within the
wilderness.
Contacts
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Visitor Center
11999 Highway 150
Mosca, CO 81146
Phone: 719-378-6399
Fax: 719-378-6310
Email: [email protected]
Links to Other Websites
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Website
Links on Wilderness.net
National, Regional and Local Wilderness Organizations (NGOs)
A listing of societies, organizations, coalitions and other wilderness-related advocacy and
stewardship groups.
Career and Volunteer Opportunities
A listing of sites providing information about wilderness- and environmentally-related career and
volunteer opportunities.
Applicable Wilderness Law(s)
Law
Date
Acreage Change (in acres)
Public Law 94-567
October 20, 1976
33,450
(No official title, designates National Park Service wildernesses) - Public Law 94-567 (10/20/1976)
To designate certain lands within units of the National Park System as wilderness; to revise the
boundaries of certain of these units; and for other purposes.
download 94-567
General Trip Planning Information
Visiting in the spring: Spring at Great Sand Dunes can mean anything from warm sun and mild
spring temperatures to chilly winds or blizzards -sometimes in one day! At this 8200' (2470 m)
elevation, be prepared. Have clothing available for a warm, calm day splashing in the water, but also
for snowy or windy conditions if needed. In average to wet years, popular Medano Creek begins as a
trickle in early April, increasing to a wide, shallow stream flowing in rhythmic waves at its peak in
late May. Bring a swimsuit to enjoy this natural beach environment. A dunes-accessible wheelchair
is available for those unable to walk in the dunes.
Visiting in summer: About 300,000 visitors come to the park annually, and most visit during the
warmer summer months. Plan to hike on the dunes in morning or evening to avoid afternoon storms,
and to avoid the hot mid-day sand surface.
Visiting in fall: Fall at Great Sand Dunes can mean anything from warm sun and mild fall
temperatures to blizzards - sometimes in one day!
Visiting in winter: Winter at Great Sand Dunes offers solitude, natural quiet, and incredibly clear
day and night skies. When snow does fall on the dunes, sledding, snowboarding or skiing are
fantastic, with no trees or rocks as obstacles. Whether the dunes are snowy or sandy, a winter hike
on the dunes can be a refreshing experience for all ages.
Recreational Opportunities
Recreational opportunities include hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, photography, and enjoyment
of clear night skies. Many people enjoy sledding or skiing down barren dune slopes!
Medano Creek: When there's water in Medano Creek at the base of the dunes, adults and kids alike
love to splash in the stream. Watch for waves in the water, a phenomenon called 'surge flow'.
The Tallest Dunes: The High Dune is neither the highest dune in elevation nor the tallest but it looks
that way from the parking lot. It is about 650 feet (198 m) high. Cross the flats and zig-zag up the
ridgelines to reach it. From High Dune the skyrising dune you see to the west is the Star Dune, rising
750 feet (229 m). It is the tallest dune in North America. To reach it from High Dune, journey
another mile and a half up and down across the dunes to its summit.
Eastern Dune Ridge: By high clearance 4Wd vehicle, drive to Sand pit or Castle Creek Picnic Areas.
Or, with 2WD vehicle, drive to Point of No Return, then hike .5 mile (1K) to Sand pit. Castle Creek
offers an impressively tall, steep dune face. Both areas have close access to Medano Creek.
Climate and Special Equipment Needs
Summers are generally pleasant with high temperatures rarely exceeding 90 degrees F. but the sand
can get quite hot (140 degrees or more) so wear shoes that will protect your feet and be considerate
of what pets will encounter if you bring them along. Thunderstorms with abundant lightning are
common in the summer months.
Spring time brings strong winds (which is why the dunes are here in the first place) and hiking on
the dune field can be a sand blasting experience!
Autumn temperatures are often delightful with cool or even cold nights. Wintertime temperatures
can dip as low as -20 F overnight.
Safety and Current Conditions
Beware of hot sand during the summer months; it's best for pets if you leave them at home.
Remember to put on sunscreen as the sun's rays are especially intense at the high elevations
encountered here.
Stay off dune ridges if thunderstorms are approaching (even if they're still miles away) as lightning
is a common occurence on the dunes.
Remember that the sand that makes up the dunes is very fine and can easily find its way into
everything so be especially careful with camera gear.
Drink plenty of water. At over 8,000 feet (2,499 m) above sea level, altitude sickness can be a
problem, especially if you're accustomed to lower elevations. Symptoms include shortness of breath,
headaches, and nausea.