Great Sand Dunes in Colorado took my breath away both figuratively and literally (we live near the Texas coast). The dunes are a true wonder with their tan soaring peaks in contrast to the surrounding jagged mountains. I love this place. It’s unlike anyplace I’ve ever been. Driving up to the park, be prepared for an amazing sight. Sand dunes out of nowhere.
Sincerely,
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
How can something that is constantly shifting stand up to 750 feet tall? This southwestern park features the largest sand dunes in North America, and the key to their extraordinary height seems to lie in the combination of strong opposing winds and the presence of rivers and creeks, which capture drifting sands and redeposit them back on the dunes. Some of these remarkable hills are formations known as star dunes, molded by complex wind patterns into multi-pronged shapes, which look a bit like starfish from above.
State(s): Colorado
Established: 2004
“Americans with a vision of preserving our unique and diverse land thought it important enough to create the National Park Service in 1916. I thank everyone since then and future patrons for their commitment to maintaining and protecting these wonders of nature.”
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Greetings from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
I visited when this used to be a National Monument and returned years later when it grew up to become a National Park. Forest, river, sand dune, mountains topped with snow capped peaks I see a natural layer cake.
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Greetings from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
We've visited the Great Sand Dunes over a couple of dozen times and each time provided unique experiences. Perhaps the most memorable ones included going there with my wife and kids in early June when Medano Creek pulsated with rather large waves coming from snow-melt from the Sangre de Cristo…
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Greetings from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July of 2012. This photo was taken the day after my first round of chemo in September. We spent the night in nearby Alamosa, CO, on our way to Pagosa Springs to visit friends for the weekend (before I would become too sick…
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