Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is a National Park & Preserve in Colorado. The NPS currently lists 5 active alerts, 3 campgrounds and 2 visitor centers; entrance fees start at $15.
Dunes and Crestone Peaks at Sunset · Photo: NPS/Patrick Myers (via nps.gov)
About the park
“The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience countless stars in this International Dark Sky Park! Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week year-round.”
Active alerts
5
Closures
0
Campgrounds
3
Visitor centers
2
Current alerts and closures
5 active NPS alerts as of Oct 28, 2026: 0 closures, 0 danger, 2 caution and 3 information.
Caution
Creek Crossings on Medano Pass Primitive Road Have Deep and Swift Water
The park weather station measured 1.5 inches of rain overnight on 10/23/2026. Medano Creek is currently flowing at 28 cubic feet per second. These conditions have resulted in many of the 9 creek crossings on this 4WD only road to have swift moving water that is 3 or more feet deep on some of these crossings. Extreme caution is advised. NOTE this does not affect access to the Main Dunes Parking or Pinon Flats Campground, or Visitor Center areas of the park.
Speed Limits are Much Lower Inside Park than Surrounding Highways
Speed limits for the park include 30 MPH near the park boundary and Great Sand Dunes Sign, and as low as 10 MPH near the Headquarters and Entrance Station. Speed limits are in place to protect park visitors, pedestrians, and wildlife in the park. Please drive carefully and responsibly.
Great Sand Dunes Currently at Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
As of August 18th, Great Sand Dunes is under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. All wood and charcoal fires must be in established fire rings in designated campsites or picnic sites. No other open fires are allowed. Fires MUST BE put out COLD before leaving your site and must not be left unattended. camp stoves and other pressurized gas devices allowed.
Sand Board and Sand Sled Rentals Not Available In Park.
Sand boarding and sand sled rentals are located in local communities surrounding the park. Visitors are encouraged to arrange rentals BEFORE coming to the park.
Visitors will be charged only one of the following fees. Entrance passes may also be purchased in advance through recreation.gov.
Entrance fees
Fee
Cost
Details
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$25
Fees are charged only when the entrance station is open in the spring, summer, and fall seasons or when the visitor center is open in the winter season. Buy online
Half the park is after dark! Night at Great Sand Dunes can include dunes exploration under a bright full moon, viewing thousands of stars on a clear moonless night, listening for owls along the foothills, or observing migrating amphibians on a wet night.
Explore the tallest dunes in North America! The centerpiece of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is the 30-square-mile (78-square-km) dunefield, featuring the tallest dunes in North America.
Arts and CultureCraft DemonstrationsLive MusicAuto and ATVAuto Off-RoadingAstronomyStargazingBikingMountain BikingCampingBackcountry CampingCar or Front Country CampingHorse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)Group CampingRV CampingClimbingMountain ClimbingCompass and GPSOrienteeringFishingFreshwater FishingFly FishingFoodDiningPicnickingGuided ToursHands-OnArts and CraftsVolunteer VacationHikingBackcountry HikingFront-Country HikingOff-Trail Permitted HikingHorse TrekkingHorse Camping (see also camping)Horseback RidingHunting and GatheringHuntingJunior Ranger ProgramTubingRiver TubingSkiingCross-Country SkiingDownhill SkiingSnow PlaySnowshoeingSwimmingFreshwater SwimmingWater SkiingWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingPark FilmMuseum ExhibitsShoppingBookstore and Park StoreGift Shop and Souvenirs
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Operating hours
The park and preserve are open 24/7 all year
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Day
Hours
Monday
All Day
Tuesday
All Day
Wednesday
All Day
Thursday
All Day
Friday
All Day
Saturday
All Day
Sunday
All Day
Weather: Temperatures are relatively cool all year at the park elevation 8000 ft. Conditions are most often calm, but winds can arise, especially in spring and during storm fronts.
Data: National Park Service (NPS) Data API, U.S. Department of the Interior (developer.nps.gov). This product uses the NPS Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the National Park Service. The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior do not endorse OpenParks. Photos are NPS images shown with their original credits; park descriptions are short excerpts credited to the NPS. Always confirm current conditions on nps.gov before you travel.
