Planning one perfect day at Great Sand Dunes National Park? You’re in the right place.
This lesser-known park in southern Colorado is a true hidden gem, and it offers a totally different experience from the usual national park visit.
Think wide open dunes and the chance to sled down sand instead of snow 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Great Sand Dunes may be off the beaten path, but it’s an easy overnight trip from Santa Fe, the Colorado ski towns, or even the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
If you are short on time, this one day itinerary will show you exactly how to see the highlights without rushing.
To see a little more about what the experience was like, check out this Instagram Reel we posted with videos of the sledding.
Great Sand Dunes National Park One Day Itinerary
We visited Great Sand Dunes as part of a larger road trip through the 4 corners states.
We drove up from the Santa Fe area and stopped in Taos along the way.
We also opted for the driving route where we could drive across the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, which is the 2nd highest highway bridge in the US and the 5th highest bridge in the country.
All of this took us about 4 hours, so we didn’t arrive in the area until around noon, which is still plenty of time to enjoy this park.
Sand Sled Rental
The most important thing to do before arriving at Great Sand Dunes National Park is securing a sled rental that is specifically designed for the sand dunes.
Sleds and snowboards only work if the sand is very wet, which it usually never is, so don’t bring your snow equipment.
Cardboard and saucers will also just dig right into the sand, so don’t plan to bring those either.
The closest place to get these rentals is the Oasis Store, which is just 4 miles from Great Sand Dunes.
It’s currently about $20 a day to rent the sand sleds.
We used Sand Dunes Recreation for our rental, which is the same price.
We just got the 1 sand sled to share between the two of us.
Sand Dunes
From the main “Great Sand Dunes Parking Lot”, the walk to the sand dunes is about 0.7 miles.
If you want to go all the way to the tallest dunes, which are the tallest dunes in North America, it’ll be about a 1.25 mile walk.
It’s incredibly exhausting trekking through the sand, so be sure to bring plenty of water and be prepared for the physical exertion.
Some tips that you need to know before you plan your trip:
- the sand needs to be hot for the sleds to work, so in the spring and fall, go in the middle of the day or wait for a warmer day
- if you’re going in the summer, the sand can be too hot (like 150 degrees) in the middle of the day, so go early or in the evening
- also in the summer, afternoon thunderstorms are common, so there’s another reason to avoid that time of day
- in the spring, afternoons can be very windy, so try to go more around midday
Other than that, visiting Great Sand Dunes is very straightforward.
If you secure your rental, park in the main lot, then walk toward the dunes, you’re all set.
This can be your full experience if you’d like, or there are a few other things you can add to your itinerary to see more of the park.
Medano Creek
This is a seasonal activity that you can really only enjoy if you’re visiting in late May when the snow run off is happening.
There is a small window of time of a few weeks where this creek bed isn’t dry and you can enjoy it like you would any other beach.
Many people will take inner tubes and float around.
The National Park Service provides up to date info on when you can expect to visit Medano Creek each year, so refer to them when you’re planning your trip.
Montville Nature Trail
This is a shady, forest trail and it’s the most accessible hiking trail in the park.
You can access it directly from the visitor center, which has a parking lot also.
It’s a short, 0.5 mile loop trail that takes less than 30 minutes.
It’s a great option in the summer to cool off and get out of the sun for a bit.
Stargazing
To make the most of a full day here, plan your trip during a New Moon, when the moon is least visible, and enjoy some stargazing.
It must be a clear night as well so that you can actually see the stars.
Great Sand Dunes is a designated Dark Sky Park, which allows you to see some of the best views of the galaxy.
Where To Eat
There is one restaurant at the main entrance, Oasis Restaurant and Store, that is open seasonally for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Typically they are open from about May through September.
Most dishes are less than $20, but there are a few in the $20-$30 range.
There are no other restaurants within about a 20-30 mile radius of the park!
The nearby towns of Mosca, Blanca, Hooper, Fort Garland, and Alamosa each have 1-2 restaurant options.
I recommend eating before you arrive at the park and either bringing a picnic lunch or drinks and snacks to hold you over until you’re done for the evening.
We like to make sandwiches, tuna cracker kits, and also bring protein bars when we spend a full day in a national park.
Also lots of water is a must!
When we visited, we had driven in from Taos, so we ate before we got there, and we drove on to Pueblo, Colorado, eating dinner at Tea Palace (a Chinese restaurant), so we were not there long enough to eat locally.
Where To Stay
Sand Dunes Recreation is a natural hot springs resort that offers cabins, RV sites, and tent sites.
If you’re staying here, you can rent your sand sled from here without having to make an extra stop somewhere, which is very convenient.
This is where we rented our sled from!
But the highlight of this resort is The Greenhouse.
It includes 4 pools (ranging from 98-111 degrees), a dry sauna, indoor and outdoor patio space, a bar with beer and wine, and a small plates menu all for the 21+ crowd.
There’s also a full restaurant out at the main pool that is accessible to all ages.
More Of Our Favorite National Parks Out West
Here are some more national parks you can visit in the nearby area.
These are all within the 4 corners states – Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado.
Arizona
How To See The Grand Canyon Sunrise At The South Rim
Petrified Forest National Park One Day Itinerary
12 Things To Do In Saguaro National Park In One Day
New Mexico
Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks Weekend Getaway Itinerary
Utah
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks In One Day
Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks One Day Itinerary
Hiking The Narrows At Zion National Park: Ultimate Guide
The Best Zion National Park One Day Winter Itinerary
The Best Zion National Park One Day Summer Itinerary
Conclusion: Great Sand Dunes National Park One Day Itinerary
Great Sand Dunes National Park is definitely the easiest to navigate because everything is right there at the entrance.
It’s pretty far from civilization, so definitely plan ahead for your food and drinks, and your sand sled rental.
The most important thing to consider is the weather.
Be sure to visit when the sand is warm enough for sledding, but not too hot that you’ll get burns when the sand touches you.
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