Many of my favorite memories as a child come from this park. After my dad died, when I was 3, my mom bravely struck out with me in a big 70’s Blazer that we camped in the back of. We let the air out of the tires and drove along the Medano Pass road. We camped, roasted marshmallows, and I got to see up close and personal that women can do anything they want to do. Later on, we camped in a pop-up trailer there, too, listening to the wind pass back and forth between the Sangre de Cristos and the San Juans, from what I’ve told the wind action that created the dunes. We went to ranger talks at night, played in the sand, and made memories that are clear as day to me almost 40 years later. This Park, among others, gave me some of the best memories of my life.
Sincerely,
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
How can something that is constantly shifting stand up to 750 feet tall? This southwestern park features the largest sand dunes in North America, and the key to their extraordinary height seems to lie in the combination of strong opposing winds and the presence of rivers and creeks, which capture drifting sands and redeposit them back on the dunes. Some of these remarkable hills are formations known as star dunes, molded by complex wind patterns into multi-pronged shapes, which look a bit like starfish from above.
State(s): Colorado
Established: 2004
“The National Parks are a vital part of our national heritage and culture. They are one of the reasons other nations look up to us, and they are one of the very best parts of being an American. They allow us to come together and celebrate our country in ways that unite us in our diversity.”
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Greetings from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
I visited a national park for the first time in August of 2022. Growing up in urban New Jersey, it was quite a culture shock to suddenly be amidst the San Juan mountains of Colorado. I went to the Great Sand Dunes National Park as part of my orientation for…
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Greetings from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
I visited when this used to be a National Monument and returned years later when it grew up to become a National Park. Forest, river, sand dune, mountains topped with snow capped peaks I see a natural layer cake.
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Greetings from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
I moved to CO after my high school graduation to establish residency and then attend the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. I loved CO and never lacked for visits from friends and family who wanted to visit me (or more likely visit Colorado! : ). I used these visits…
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