Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Jul 14th Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Sand Dunes

We spent the 4th of July weekend exploring the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. It’s a pleasant 3.5 hour drive from Colorado Springs to the Dunes, if you are towing a fifth wheel trailer. There are only a few sites inside the Park that fit our trailer comfortably, so we opted to set up camp at The Oasis a little campground just outside the main gate of the Park. It offers full hookups, a plus, and a spectacular view of the Dunes. No we don’t own a behemoth trailer, it’s only 30 foot with a 40 inch slide, but the older parks aren’t built for today’s trailers and can be a tight fit. Ok, ok, I like my microwave, surround sound, DVD player and flat screen TV. But we never once turned the TV on and it had nothing to do with the fact I forgot the DVD’s.

Here comes the storm – Sand Dunes

Now, I gotta tell you the Great Sand Dunes corner of the world is like no place, I’ve ever been. Nestled against
the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Great Sand Dunes are one of Mother Nature’s amazing feats and North America’s tallest Dunes. Mother Nature has free reign over the ever shifting billion grains of sand, the sparkling streams, high mountain peaks and howling winds. Did I mention the 80 foot dust devil, crashing thunder, spectacular lightning show and hail we witnessed.

Dunes Early Morning After the Storm

Of the four nights we spend there, two were spend enjoying the beautiful evening around a campfire, munching on smore’s until well after midnight. The other two,well, we witnessed Mother Nature’s wrath.

Early morning is the best time to explore the Dunes, especially after a storm, the sand is packed and cool on your dog’s feet, not to mention your own. Wet sand is much easier to walk in too. By mid-morning the sun it hot and the sand is hotter. Afternoon storms are frequent, fast moving and you want to get off the Dunes immediately.

Zepata Falls

Down the road a few miles is Zapata Falls, a little slice of heaven, with dense foliage, a beautiful water fall and an easy hike. Just a quarter mile from the parking area to the falls and only a 400 foot rise in elevation, there are several benches on the trail, should you need or just feel like a rest on the way up. The temperature drop at the falls a good 10 to 15 degrees. Early morning is the best time to schedule a visit to the falls. Hiking in cool morning air is ideal and a crowd is less likely at the falls as you slip between the rocks to get a look at the falls origination.

So what are you waiting for? Check out the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Oh, don’t forget Zapata Falls.