8 Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park

Replace snowy slopes with sandy ones. Sliding down the golden dunes on a seated sled or snowboard-like board is a popular and unusual park activity. About $20 per day for sandboards and sleds. Wax your board for speed.

Go Sandboarding on the Dunes

Think of Medano Creek as Colorado s pop-up beach. Each spring, snowmelt creates a wide, shallow stream with gentle waves at the base of the dunes, providing a refreshing reprieve. 

Splish-Splash in Medano Creek

The Great Sand Dunes became an International black Sky Park in 2019 because to its black sky, high altitude, and dry air, which make stargazing ideal. Here, stargazing is multisensory.

Stargaze in the Park

Over 200 bird species live in and around the area. One of the finest birding events is the Sandhill Crane Migration, when over 20,000 cranes converge on the San Luis Valley.

Watch the Sandhill Crane Migration

Riders may see Eastern dunes and bighorn sheep in the meadows as the route traverses waterways. Check road conditions before riding your bike to the park in winter since the route shuts.

Fat Bike on Medano Pass

The Sand Dunes offer two horseback riding options. First, bring your horse to the park. Second, stay at the Zapata Ranch on a three-night ranch vacation package .

Explore the Park on Horseback

Replace snowy slopes with sandy ones. Sliding down the golden dunes on a seated sled or snowboard-like board is a popular and unusual park activity. About $20 per day for sandboards and sleds. Wax your board for speed.

Hike the Tallest Dunes in the United States

Replace snowy slopes with sandy ones. Sliding down the golden dunes on a seated sled or snowboard-like board is a popular and unusual park activity. About $20 per day for sandboards and sleds. Wax your board for speed.

See (or Create) Some Otherworldly Art