Things to do in a great state Park Dunes

Great Great Dunes National Park Can tap your geographical taste in the most exciting way. In this section south of Colorado, the snow-coated Alpine mountains share the horizon with wavy sand hills that attract comparison to the Sahara desert and the Swiss Alps.

Outside of the early geographical confusion, the Mysterious National Park had more surprises in the store. When the air pushes through the sand grain, it can create a low softness that makes it look like a hill -hill, which is an inspiration to hit Bing Crosby “The Singing Sands of Alamosa.” Also, NASA has tested rovers in the unknown landscape of the parks that are fun when you think the region is also home to the UFO guard tower.

From sand sledding to stongazing, here are 10 things to do at the Great Sand Dunes National Park, also known as the Colorado big sandbox.

Go sandboarding on sand dunes

Snow slopes for sandy ones. One of the most popular and unique activities in the park is to schussing down the hill -a golden hill on a skating car or through the board you strap your feet like a snowboard. Equipment built for snow, however, will not slide much in the sand, so leave the plastic and plate in the house and instead rent specialized equipment from local retailers. Sandboards and sleds cost about $ 20 a day. If you have a need for speed, candle your board for a faster travel.

Slish-Splash in the Creek Medano

Think of the Creek Medano as the Colorado pop-up beach. Each spring, Snowmelt creates a wide and shallow stream with a soft wave at the base of the sand -hill, gives a refreshing delay. The end of May and early June is usually the best time to sync your journey with the “spike flow,” when the wave flows across the sand. If the situation is right during this window, you can splash the river, go to the skimboarding and even take a relaxing floating in the bloated tube. Of course, the sandcastle building must also be done. The garden system provides Update river flow.

Stargaze in the park

Great Sand Dunes dark sky, high height, and dry air created a almost perfect condition for stars, and, in 2019, the park was set as an international dark park. Stargazing here is a multi -sensory experience. Not only can you see the stars that plant the sky like a giant pin cushion, but you can hear owls and coyotes floating in the distance and kissing pinon and juniper perfuming air. Summer and autumn is when the Milky Message is most visible from the garden. Even during the summer months, the temperature drops in the evening, so Park Rangers recommends carrying a warm layer.

Watch Sandhill crane migration

Bird winners can see more than 200 different species in and around the park. One of the best glasses even though it was the Sandhill crane migration when more than 20,000 cranes dropped in the San Luis Valley. The birds arrived in early February, crossing barley cereals to burn before late March to north of the United States and Canada.

In the fall, Cranes revisited the valley from late September to the end of November. One of the best places to watch migration is 45 minutes outside the park at Monte Vista country wildlife protectionwhich is in addition to your garden experience. But you can also Meet the crane From several areas inside and around the park, including from County Lane 6n.

Fat bicycles in Pass Medano

ATVs are not allowed in standard mountain parks and bikes that are not suitable for sandy areas. But fat bikes, which are mountain bikes with wider tires, are allowed on the primitive road of the field and can handle the extended sand, though it is a difficult trip. The road across the river and the rider can find views of the East Bukit and maybe even see some bighorn sheep on the meadow. The road is closed in winter and you want to check road Before taking your bike to the park.

Explore the garden by riding a horse

There are two ways to ride a horse in the hill -a sand hill. The first is to bring your horse to the park. The second is a guest at Zapata Ranch, staying in the “Ranch Vacation Package” which requires a minimum of three nights. Ranchlands, which manages Zapata Ranch, is the only licensed provider for horseback riding in the National Park. Those who are on vacation in the historic 17-bedroom can ride horses on the sand hills and also among the 2,000 bison herds.

Climbing hills -the highest hill in the United States

The sand transition means no route is set on the sand hills, and the visitors are free to wander around the 30 kilometer miles and destroy them to the sandy slopes. Measure at a height of 741 feet, Bukit Bintang and hidden hills bound to the highest sand dunes In the United States and it takes at least 6 to 7 hours to conquer each. For an easier approach, the top hill at the First Ridge, which is a 2.5-military trip that usually takes about 2 hours and comes with a panoramic view of the desert.

Something to keep in mind: the local high in the summer average 75 to 80 degrees, but the sand can be scorching with a surface temperature of 150 degrees on a sunny day. When the sand is too hot, raise the shade of forest and alpine.

See (or make) some other art

Another landscape in Great Sand Dunes has inspired several artists for years. Pop to the visitor center, which has an exhibition space that showcases fine art paintings and garden photography and preserving. Creative types can also capture the beauty of the hill -sand hill. Bring a sketch pad with you during your visit and follow this Ranger-led tutorial About how to create your own work, allowing “your hands to be like a wind when drawing a hill” and using a pastel for a layer on a gold, pic, pink, and tan. Photographers also love hills -sandy hills, with each season providing different autumn colors such as cotton trees in the fall, snow destroys hills -sandy hills in winter, and prairie sunflower growing in the sand in late summer.

Take part in the Ranger Program

Have you ever wanted to go up the full moon in the hillside? Or hear NASA experts talk about the exploration of deep space in the National Park used to test Rovers because of its alien -like landscape? The Great Sand Dunes hosted some eventsWith free ranger events held mostly in summer and fall.

Camping at the base of the sand dunes

For epic sleep, the campsite reserves are located at the base of the hill -the sand hill. Only north of the visitor center, the Piñon Flats camps are open April to October and many sites come with great hill views. Reservations are available at recreation.gov and individual sites can be booked six months in advance while the group site can be booked a year earlier. Toast S’Mores in the fire hole and get up early to climb the sand -hill before they are too hot.