Great Sand Dunes National Monument

Great Sand Dunes National Monument spans a total area of about 149,000 acres of land in Saguache and Alamosa Counties, Colorado. This land conserves the tallest sand dunes in North America that stand at the height of up to 750 feet tall and cover an area of about 30 square miles. 

The closest city to this natural national monument is Alamosa. To get to the main park area that includes the Pinyon Flats Campground, Dunes Parking Lot, and Visitor Center, use US 160 and drive to CO 150 from the south, or CO 17 to Lane 6 to CO 150 from the west. You'll find the entrance to the park at the northern end of CO 150. 

Once you get to this National Monument, you will find a lot of diverse landscapes that include wetlands, grassland, tundra, alpine lakes, conifer and aspen forests. All of this diversity can be experienced in several different ways including through sandboarding and sand sledding, hiking and backpacking, 4-wheel driving, and fat biking. 

Other areas allow horseback riding, bicycling, and so on. Some of the other activities that you could also enjoy at the park include photography, free ranger programs, splashing in Medano Creek, hunting, junior ranger program, accessible activities, and fishing. 

You are allowed to bring your tail-wagger into the park to join in on the fun and learning that you will experience. That said, it's important to realize that you must follow the strict park rules that are set to allow visitors to protect park resources, other visitors, pets and everyone else. 

Some of the park rules you must adhere to include keeping your dog constrained in an enclosure or on a six-foot leash at all times. Cleaning up after your dog and disposing of your dog’s waste in the right manner and ensuring that your dog does not wander off into areas of the park that are prohibited to pets. You can get details on areas where you can and cannot take your dog from the main office.