Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park
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Wing-Chi Poon


Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a national park in Colorado. Covering 84,670 acres (342.6 sq km), it has the tallest sand dunes in North America, some of which rising to as high as 750 ft (230 m) from the floor of the San Luis Valley.

The sand dunes of the Great Sand Dunes National Park is believe to be 12,000 years old. They are on the western base of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The dunes were formed by sand and soil deposits of the Rio Grande and its tributaries.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
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Preiselbeere


The regular dunes are of white to brown sand, although in some areas, there is also black sand containing deposits of magnetite. Other features of Great Sand Dunes National Park are its alpine lakes and tundra, along with six mountain peaks over 13,000 feet (3,940 m) in height.

One of the interesting phenomenons at Great Sand Dunes National Park is Medano Creek. Sand continuously falling into the creek create surges that look like waves. Building sand castles and skimboarding are two popular recreational activities at the park.

Visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

The nearest town is Alamosa, Colorado, to the southwest of the national park. From Denver, take the Interstate 25 to Walsenburg, then west on US Highway 160, and then north on Colorado State Route 150 before reaching Alamosa (View Junction). This takes you north and into the national park.

Medano Creek
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Wing-Chi Poon


The national park is open the whole year round. Its visitor center opening hours are 8:30 am to 6:30 pm in summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in spring and fall, and 9:00 am to 4:30 pm in winter. Entrance fee to the national park is $3.00 per person aged 16 and older.

List of National Parks in the United States

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