We are a roadschooling family who have been travelling the USA, living in our RV, for two years. Our boys have earned Junior Ranger badges at over 100 National Parks and Monuments, with a goal to earn them all. The one pictured is Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. We had an epic day playing in the creek and sledding down the dunes. We’re always asked which park is our favorite, but that’s an impossible decision, as each park is unique, important, and beautiful in its own right. For every park we’ve visited, we have a story. What a great country we live in!
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
“They hold our nation's greatest, most historic, most beautiful treasures. They remind us to slow down and appreciate our great country and all it has to offer.”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.
In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!
Here’s your unique story page link:
{{ storyUrl }}-
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…
-
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.
-
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…
Preserve Our Parks
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.
Donate Now