Camping in Colorado
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Camping in Colorado at Great Sand Dunes National Park is an almost unnerving experience. That is, if the "sound of silence" bothers you. As we hiked up the dunes, it suddenly struck us - there is no sound except for the occasional sound of a human voice. There were no bird sounds. And on a warm, sunny day, you would expect to hear or see flying insects of some sort. There were none.
It can be quite warm there in the summer - a bit cooler in the spring and fall. Medano Creek, which flows around the base of the dunes, creates a natural beach-like environment if you visit in late spring or early summer while the flow is low.
Hiking the Dunes is great fun! Plan on 1-1/2 to 2 hours to hike to the top. It takes only about 30 minutes to come down however, because it’s hard to keep from running or sliding all the way down.
The best time to hike the Dunes? In the middle of the night under a full moon. Absolutely breathtaking black and white panoramas!
I took this picture standing right by our truck looking through the trees at the Oasis Campground.
Must have items to take on your hike.
- Backpack containing drinking water
- Sun screen (there are NO trees up there)
- Water shoes for wading through the creek before heading up the Dunes (if you have tender feet). It really is best to go barefoot or wear water shoes through the creek so you can put on dry, hiking boots on the other side.
- Small towel for drying your feet as there is nothing worse than wet feet covered in sand stuffed into dry shoes. The sand can actually leave small cuts in your feet if you hike with sand-covered feet. Ouch!
If you avoid camping here on most weekends and holidays, Great Sand Dunes National Park is not too crowded. Piñon Flats Campground , located within the park, has 88 spaces, but is usually fully booked most weekends. Reserve early!
However, a great place to pitch a tent or park an RV is the privately owned Oasis Campground just outside the park. Hookups are available and there is a small motel and a general store. The great part about camping at the Oasis is that you can see the Dunes from most of the spaces.
If you need more information about this national park or want to make reservations at the campground, check out the National Park Service, Plan Your Visit . There are lots of interesting events going on all spring, summer and fall in the Great Sand Dunes National Park.
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