Greetings from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July of 2012. This photo was taken the day after my first round of chemo in September. We spent the night in nearby Alamosa, CO, on our way to Pagosa Springs to visit friends for the weekend (before I would become too sick to travel). We had only lived in CO 8-9 months after moving from Tampa, FL, when I was diagnosed, and this place was on my ‘bucket list’ of parks to visit. The dunes were incredible, and we plan to go back when I am healthy enough to attempt a hike to the summit!

Sincerely,
Elaine

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

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