- State: CO
- NPCA Region: Southwest
- Est. Date: 2004
Air Quality Conditions
View the Polluted Parks ReportVisibility
Unsatisfactory
Health
Significant Concern
Nature
Significant Concern
Climate Change Threats
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.
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Blog Post
Sunflower Bloom at Great Sand Dunes
Lots of rain earlier this year led to a showy display of prairie sunflowers at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
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Blog Post
See a Sky Full of Stars at These Certified Dark-Sky Parks
Lay out a blanket after the sun goes down and see a clearer view of the galaxy at these designated dark-sky parks.
My Park Story
Greetings from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
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…
More about Great Sand Dunes
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Read more about Case Reopened
Magazine Article Case Reopened A major school desegregation victory in Colorado was all but forgotten. A century later, it’s getting its due.
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Read more about These 10 National Parks Wouldn’t Exist Without Women
Blog Post These 10 National Parks Wouldn’t Exist Without Women From Joshua Tree to Great Sand Dunes, these 10 special places are protected today thanks to their female champions.
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Read more about The 12 Parks Most Threatened by Oil & Gas Drilling
Blog Post The 12 Parks Most Threatened by Oil & Gas Drilling Oil and gas development threatens the future of national parks. NPCA's new report, “Spoiled Parks,” highlights what we stand to lose in the face of the current administration's energy policies.
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Read more about Spoiled Parks: Top 12 National Parks Threatened by Trump Administration's Energy Agenda
Press Release Spoiled Parks: Top 12 National Parks Threatened by Trump Administration's Energy Agenda Spoiled Parks explores how current leasing policies have scarred landscapes and threaten future harm to clean air, cultural heritage, wildlife and tourism economies.
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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. — Sara
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Read more about Celebrate Colorado!
Blog Post Celebrate Colorado! 5 reasons my state’s national parks should be on your bucket list — and how NPCA works to protect them.
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Read more about Lease Sale Near Great Sand Dunes National Park Temporarily Delayed
Press Release Lease Sale Near Great Sand Dunes National Park Temporarily Delayed The Bureau of Land Management delayed the sale to allow for time to consult with Navajo Nation
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Read more about BLM Continues to Threaten National Parks with Inappropriate Oil and Gas Development
Press Release BLM Continues to Threaten National Parks with Inappropriate Oil and Gas Development "Once again, this administration has chosen to ignore concerns raised by the public when making decisions on our public lands" - Jerry Otero, Southwest Energy Program Manager for National Parks Conservation Association
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Read more about Sandbox in the Sky
Magazine Article Sandbox in the Sky High-altitude play at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
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Read more about One-of-a-Kind Destinations: 11 National Park Curiosities
Blog Post One-of-a-Kind Destinations: 11 National Park Curiosities National parks preserve wondrous landscapes, stories, and artifacts—as well as a whole host of weird and exceptional sights. From wacky-looking rocks to giant monuments of steel, here’s a short list of places to explore that are like nowhere else in the world.
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