Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado

A Sea of Sand

Across the San Luis Valley and against the backdrop of rugged peaks, the Great Sand Dunes National Park provides a stunning sight to behold. Over 30 square miles of dunes appear as a “sea of sand” against the nearly vertical face of the 14,000-foot Sangre de Cristo Mountains. These unique dunes, created by the continuous work of water and wind moving sand, provide a recreation area unlike any other. Medano Creek flows seasonally at the base of the dunes, providing a place where visitors enjoy sand, water and sun in a spectacular mountain setting.

Climb the “High Dune,” nearly 700 feet above the valley floor, and sand board or “sled” back down! Before leaving the park, be sure to visit Zapata Falls. A half-mile hike leads uphill to an intriguing waterfall. If you wish to spend a little more time in the area, we recommend a stop by the Colorado Gator Farm, where you may view and feed over 400 gators as well as dozens of pythons, turtles, rattlers, iguanas, dragons, geckos, parrots, tortoises, and more.

Approximately 80 miles from South Fork  •  Learn more at www.nps.gov/grsa

SandDunes 01

SilverThread Map Trails 2024 banner
SouthFork VC Logo 03

©2024 South Fork Visitor Center. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of photos, logos or copy is prohibited without the expressed written permission of South Fork Visitor Center & B4 Studio. Built by B4 Studio, LLC  •  SitemapCookies, Terms & Conditions of Use, and Privacy Policy

SouthFork VC Logo 03

Join our Email List

Request a Visitor Guide

South Fork Visitor Center
28 Silverthread Lane
South Fork, Colorado 81154

719-873-5512

Sorry, this website uses features that your browser doesn’t support. Upgrade to a newer version of Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Edge and you’ll be all set.