Great Sand Dunes National Park

I love spotlighting our national parks!  They are all beautiful and unique and provide great vacations; nearly everyone can find one that is right for them.  Today I am going to take a look at a park that seems, at least to me, a bit more obscure.  Take a look and see what you think!

Grand Sand Dunes National Park is located in southern Colorado near the town of Alamosa.   According to a study from the National Park Service this is the quietest national  park in the country.  This is mostly due to the absorptive nature of the dunes themselves and the absence of vegetation.  There is one notable exception to the quiet.  The park is the home of “chorus frogs” who can be heard from a half mile away.  They are even noisy in the  snow and can freeze in the winter and thaw back out in the spring.  This park has the tallest sand dunes in North America with some towering over 750 ft tall! It also has an incredibly diverse landscape containing alpine lakes, forests, grasslands and tundra. 

There are numerous activities to be enjoyed here but experiencing the night is at the top of the list. In the late summer through the early fall the Dark Sky  takes center stage!  The dry air, high altitude with very little light pollution makes this one  of the very best places in the US to enjoy the night sky.  In fact, it is certified as an international Dark Sky Park by Dark Sky International.

There are many more activities available of course!  Take a look at this YouTube video for other ideas!   GREAT SAND DUNES GUIDE | 2-Day Colorado National Park Trip | Local Tips | Itinerary | How to Visit