Tick It Before You Kick It

Great Sand Dunes National Park - Your Guide From a Local

August 29, 2024 • Alexandra Lauren | The Bucket List Mermaid • Season 1 • Episode 12

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Check out the show notes on the Great Sand Dunes 👉 here

Ever wondered what it’s like to trek across a sprawling desert surrounded by lush Colorado landscapes? 💭☀️

🧜🏻‍♀️Join me, Alexandra, as I recount my extraordinary journey through the Great Sand Dunes National Park in our latest episode of "Tick It Before You Kick It." 

🪐From the epic sight of towering dunes that look like they've been plucked right out of a Star Wars movie to the magnetic, colorful sands that make this park a hidden gem, you'll get the inside scoop on why this destination needs to be on your bucket list. 

🏔️I'll share my personal adventures traveling in my fifth-wheel RV and give tips on the best scenic routes from Denver, accommodation options, Great Sand Dunes Bucket List, FAQs, and safety tips.

Don't miss this episode if you're itching for a sandy (and unforgettable) adventure!😎

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Alexandra:

Just sounds like a Star Wars movie. I'm in Tatooine here. Hey there, adventurers, this is Alexandra with Ticket Before you Kick it a podcast where we talk about all of the adventurous things to put on your bucket list and some crazy travel stories. This week, we are going to be talking about one of the most beautiful and unique parks in Colorado, which is the Great Sand Dunes National Park. On this episode, we'll talk about what it is, what to do there and my personal experience with going there in my massive fifth wheel RV. So first let's talk about what are the Great Sand Dunes? Now, this is basically a giant sand pit that is in the middle of the mountains, which, I'm going to be honest, this does not make much sense to me, and I did go in the visitor's center, I went in their little museum area to learn about it, and it still just doesn't really make sense to my brain on how there's just this desert in the middle of nowhere. And when I was growing up, I heard about the Great Sand Dunes all the time because I'm a Colorado local and, I'm going to be honest, I really thought that the Great Sand Dunes were really small. I thought that it was a literal sandbox or like one dune. I didn't think it was an expansive desert that was surrounded by Colorado beauty and nature and streams and forests. I was pleasantly surprised coming here and I cannot believe that it took me so long to actually get here and, fun fact, they are actually some of the tallest dunes in North America. This is literally a playground for adventurous people. We're going to go through it, all of all the amazing things that you can do here, but it is incredible here and again, they're just a sight to behold. They just seem so out of place to me. So why actually does this happen? So I talked to the rangers, I went to the visitor center and here is what they said. So thousands of years ago, when it was a wetter time, there were lakes that covered most of this valley, and streams came and eroded materials from the San Juan Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and then these were deposited into lakes and, because of climate change, all the lakes dried up and this just left a crap ton of sand on the valley floor. So then winds from the southwest caused the sand to funnel into a low curve and then storms pushed the winds back, forming the dunes and, fun fact, because of this. The sand actually originates from over 200 different minerals and rocks found from these mountains. The sand is actually colorful. My favorite part of the sand was the black sand and they said it was magnetic so cool. Another thing that I learned there is that there were a bunch of different types of dunes. I'm going to be honest, it all looked like sand to me. However, there was like star dunes, which was one of the most common. There was the bark and dunes, the parabolic dunes, the reversing dunes and the Nebkov Dunes. Just sounds like a Star Wars movie. I'm in Tatooine here. Personally. They all looked like Reversing Dunes to me, but I am not an expert. So there you go.

Alexandra:

So from Denver, this is about a three and a half to four hour drive. There are two main ways to get here. One of them involves going through Colorado Springs and Pueblo, and then the other one goes through Buena Vista. The one through the mountains is going to be mountain driving and it's going to be a little bit longer, but it might be a little bit more scenic, personally, because we were driving our massive fifth wheel. We went through Colorado Springs and Pueblo. I'm going to be honest, i-25 isn't that great until we got to Pueblo, and then when we turned, it was beautiful.

Alexandra:

So you might be asking okay, I want to go to the Great Sand Dunes, but three to four hours is a bit much to do for a day trip from Denver. So where do I stay? You have options. Now, the first options there are a few hotels, and when I mean a few, I mean a few. There is like the Great Sand Dunes Lodge, which I'll link in the show notes, but it has good proximity to the dunes, but it is very, very basic. Another one is like the cozy, remote retreat, which is about six miles, that I found from there, and then the Hampton Inn, but that's all the way in Alamosa and you're going to be driving for 45 minutes just to get to the dunes. So I'm going to be honest hotels are probably my least favorite option for staying near the Great Sand Dunes.

Alexandra:

Now moving into the more fun options RVing. This is what I did. Now the actual campground within the Great Sand Dunes is called the Penon Flats Campground and it is so cute. It is open from April to October, it's at an elevation of 8,175 feet and they offer 88 campsites, some of which can be used for RV spots, but if you are RVing, it's at an elevation of 8,175 feet and they offer 88 campsites, some of which can be used for RV spots, but if you are RVing it is very short. I'm talking like at least 25, maybe a little bit over that, but it is a very small camp. So if you have a larger RV, I don't think you're going to fit With these ones.

Alexandra:

They have group campsites that you can reserve. They have individual campsites that you can reserve. However, these do fill up so fast. I've tried to get them. They're non-existent. So I would definitely make your reservation at least six months in advance, because in the summer this place is crazy busy. They know it's cool. The Coloradans come flocking because they know it's cool and it's not bad. It's like 20 bucks a night. They do say that if you are doing an RV, there are no hookups, but there is a dump station and a fill station and they do stress that if you are over 35 feet, aka me you physically will not be able to turn in the park. So please be aware of this if you are going to bring an RV or a trailer to camp in the Great Sand Dunes.

Alexandra:

If you're going a little bit more adventurous. They do have backpacking permits, so they're only $6, and there's actually seven sites along the sand ramp trail and then also 20 non-designated sites in the backcountry, which, if you're backcountry camping like, how cool is that? This is definitely a more outdoor, adventurous activity, so it might involve hiking to your campsite or more planning and food preparation. You might not be near that main Great Sand Dunes area. That might be what you're looking for. Honestly, I would probably prefer that, but I would definitely only recommend that to people who is comfortable with camping itself and enjoys a challenge in nature. Also, there are 21 campsites available on the Medano Pass Road, which we'll talk about this a little bit later because it's amazing, but it is first come, first serve, and Madonna Pass Road itself is a little sketchy, so be aware of that.

Alexandra:

Now, what if you have a massive fifth wheel or you can't find a reservation? This is what happened to me. I ended up going to the Great Sand Dunes Oasis and honestly, it was great. It was a pull through spot. We did get someone right next to us a couple days in which kind of obstructed our view of the dunes, but, funny story, I actually made up the camper all nice and pretty and I took photos of it and I posted it to a Facebook group just to kind of just show it off, because I was really proud of myself and so many people liked it, like in the thousands, and all of them were like, okay, we don't care about your camper at all, we just care about where you are, because the view out of the windows was stunning. It was like the whole dunes I had a complete view of. So yeah, great Sand Dunes, oasis, not gonna lie, I'll recommend it.

Alexandra:

And there are also tent campsites there. If you're not in an RV, there's actually 90 that are there and they also have showers, laundry and a store and, fun fact, this is actually where you rent the sand boards. We'll talk about it later. And of course, there are some other ones that you can go to, like Zapata Falls Campground, the Rustic Rook Resort, which is really cute, it's like glamping and a couple other ones there. I do have a complete article of camping in the Great Sand Dunes, so if you really are interested in that, I will link it in the show notes and definitely make sure to look at that, because there's some nice info for other places to go if you can't find a spot in the actual Great Sand Dunes.

Alexandra:

So, moving on, there is an entrance fee right as you get into the park. It really was not bad. I think we ended up paying around 25 bucks and it lasted for multiple days, which I was very happy with. And honestly, I'm fine with paying that entrance fee because you know it goes to preserving the park and I'm all for preserving natural beauty. You can also get an annual pass and I think it's cheap. It's like 40 bucks.

Alexandra:

So when should you go to the Great Sand Dunes? So there's several times that you can go to the Great Sand Dunes, one of which is spring. This is going to be for the people who want to swim in the Madonna Creek, because this is when all the runoff from the snow is high and you can actually like full on swim in the creek. But that late May to early June is when that water is going to be at its peak. This is also going to mean crowds, because everybody wants to swim in Madonna Creek. It's a very fun family activity. So just keep that in mind when you are coming in this springtime. I would also avoid coming in early spring, just because this is a very, very snowy time for Colorado and unless you want to be covered in snow in the Great Sand Dunes, maybe avoid it.

Alexandra:

Next is summer. So for summer I honestly it's not my favorite because it's so hot and from like July there's a lot of mosquitoes. When I say hot, I don't mean the actual air temperature, I'm talking about the sand itself. So this sand can actually get up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and this on your feet or your doggo's paws. It's just a lot. And also, if you are going in the summer, there is more of a chance of getting hit with those afternoon thunderstorms Very typical in Colorado. But if you're on the sand there's not much else around for the lightning to strike but you. So, unfortunately, there are a lot of very dangerous lightning strikes here.

Alexandra:

Now my personal favorite is the fall. If you look at the show notes, this is where all of my pictures are from and the fall is beautiful. The sand isn't as hot, it's not as crowded, kids are in school and the trees are like something out of a storybook. They're amazing, especially on that Madonna Pass road. It was out of a dream. Also, in that late summer and early fall area, the Milky Way is actually in the prime spot in the sky to be viewed. And we actually did this. We grabbed a blanket and we went out in the middle of the night and climbed the dunes and sat there and stargazed. It was amazing, it was so good.

Alexandra:

And, lastly, you can go in the winter. There's going to be hardly any tourists, but there might be some snow. There might be limited services. The campground isn't even open. The Madonna Pass Primitive Road is closed for winter, so and you might get some snow, which luckily they are plowed very quickly and it doesn't last very long. But it might not be the worst, but it might not be the greatest time to go. But what actually is the weather? Generally, it runs from 45 to 80 degrees in the summer, and then the spring and fall we'll see temperatures from 32 to 70 degrees. As far as winter goes, it can get below zero, low 40s, so pretty cold.

Alexandra:

Now next, just a really quick overview of what to do, because there are so many things to do in the Great Sand Dunes. You will not be bored, I guarantee it. Number one probably the most unique thing that you can do here is sandboarding and sand sledding. Now, it is super important. Please listen to me, they do not rent this gear in the park. The amount of people I heard complaining that they do not rent this gear and they were already there and they didn't want to turn around was astounding. So that Great Sand Dunes Oasis place that I stayed they rent the sand boards and honestly, it was a great experience with them. They taught me how to use it, they gave me the wax. We rented a sand board and a sand sled and I also have an entire article on sandboarding the Great Sand Dunes. So again, if you're interested in this, go check it out in the show notes. But sandboarding this was so fun. I'm also a snowboarder, so I quite enjoyed it. It was great. It was fun, but definitely something that needs to be done if you are visiting.

Alexandra:

I don't think you could go to the Great Sand Dunes without at least trying it once, because how often do you get to go snowboarding in the sand? Like how cool. It was different. So keep that in mind. If you are a skateboarder or a surfer or a snowboarder, it is a little bit different, but I think you'll pick it up a little bit quicker than somebody who hasn't done those sports. But just something to keep in mind.

Alexandra:

Next hiking. I am not going to sugarcoat it. I've been on my fair amount of hikes. This one was rough, this one was hard. There is something about hiking in sand. I was using my sandboard to push that in the sand and then propel myself up. And it was so funny because when I was there, there was this guy and he just looked like a gym bro, you know, like he was really, really muscular and he just looked like he was in really great shape and he was sitting there just complaining and moaning. And he just looked like he was in really great shape and he was sitting there just complaining and moaning. And he I just heard him say he was like I go to the gym seven times a week and I am getting my butt kicked by these sand dunes like he was so annoyed. So please realize that this is not for the faint of heart. Going a mile on the sand dunes is completely different than going a mile on a paved hiking trail. So please bring water it's hot out there, even in the fall and just realize what you're getting yourself into before you go. I was stupid and I decided to do it on a whim, like without anything. So don't be me. Actually prepare for it and you'll be fine, but it was really nice to hike with the sandboard and then just like sandboard down. It was great.

Alexandra:

Next, another thing that we did here which was so cool was the adventure driving with the four wheel driving on Medano Pass, primitive Road. Now, warning, this is for high clearance, four wheel drive cars only. And I looked at that sign and said, oh, it'll be fine. Nope, I am so glad that I had the right car to do it, or else we would have gotten stuck. I repeat, we would have gotten stuck. Do not dismiss the signs, because they tell the truth. That was some pretty good adventure driving. I mean, we were driving through sand, we were driving through rivers, we were driving over rocks, we were going down. It was so fun, but wow, it was amazing. And also, since we did go in the fall, there were trees where it was just lined with aspens and they were right out our window, Like the road was so tiny and it was just a sea of yellow. So if you are going here in the fall, it was just magical, it was so magical.

Alexandra:

Next one you could go stargazing. I know we talked about this before, but it was amazing. It does get a little cold, so make sure to bring a jacket. I brought my camera, but it was so peaceful out there it was wonderful. You can also do some photography. You could do astrophotography, like the stargazing just roaming around here Also be careful, because there's so many things roaming around here, but it's a perfect time to just whip out the camera and also educational opportunities. So they offer several ranger programs and educational programs if you are interested, especially for kids. They have evening programs. They have an exhibit in the visitor center. I learned so much there at that visitor center, so it's an amazing way to actually learn about what is going on around you, which I think that's great. You know, learn about where you are, learn about this wonderful Colorado National Park. And again, shameless plug, because I wrote about a million articles on this, but I have an entire Great Sand Dunes bucket list that goes into detail of all of these different things that you can do in the Great Sand Dunes. So if you're interested, check it out.

Alexandra:

Some questions Can you bring pets into the Great Sand Dunes? Yes, you definitely can, but they are only allowed in certain areas and, as it can get super hot, I would consider little pet booties, because if you're there in the summer and the sand is 150 degrees, you don't want your doggo's paws to get burnt. Please don't do that, or like leave them in the car. Just be sensible, use common sense, and I would also consider carrying significant water for both you and your pet, because you're not the only one who gets hot on these dunes, your pet also gets hot.

Alexandra:

Now, going back to all the other things that you can see in this park and I'm going to list these off because there are so many wildlife opportunities here my personal favorite was the Great Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle. There are over 250 species of birds. There are trout, minnows, an oared, kangaroo, rat, a mule, deer which they are everywhere, and they're in the road, so please be careful Black bear, mountain lion, pronghorn, bighorn, sheep, beavers and badgers, bisons, some lizards, some snakes and a wide variety of frogs and salamanders. There is also a lot of other things that I personally would not want to see, like centipedes and spiders and millipedes. So you know, keep an eye out for those two. Basically, this is a giant ecosystem. This national park is home to so many things not just you camping, and it's such a unique landscape, as I said, it just feels so out of place. So the fact that this is a thriving ecosystem is just so cool to me.

Alexandra:

So, really quickly, let's just talk about some safety tips. These came straight from the visitor center and they're also from my personal experience. I used to be an EMT. But if you have any concern, please talk to your doctor. You know, don't quote me on any of this, I'm just trying to help. So let's get started.

Alexandra:

The cell service can be really spotty, so I would definitely talk to the visitor center if you do have an emergency or try to call 911, but just keep in mind that it can be a little iffy sometimes and next that sand is super hot. So just please be careful if you do come in the summer and watch out for those lightning strikes. They said that if you're caught outside, crouch on top of a backpack or another item to prevent ground charge and stay in areas with trees, and I feel like this changes like every two years. So just be prepared and know what happens if you are in an area with lightning. Obviously, if there's a storm coming and you are on top of the dunes, don't be there. But I've heard several things like lay down on the ground or you know. So just just make sure to talk to the visitor center, make sure that you are up to date with the best thing to do in case of a lightning strike Now. Next, as I said that there are so many deer on the road, I actually almost hit one, so just be careful when you are driving through the park, because there are a lot of deer and other wildlife everywhere and you just want to preserve and, you know, save yourself as well. Also, if you are going on the sand dunes or hiking or sandboarding or doing anything, I would definitely bring one of those little buffer things or a gator or just something to go over your face and some sunglasses and maybe a hat, because it's hot, the sun is beating down, you're going to get sunburned, especially if you're like me and super pale, and also sometimes the wind can pick up and you can get what they told me was called sand blasted, so sand can just go everywhere. I personally didn't experience this there, but I was very glad that I had something to go over my neck, my face and my eyes just to protect them from the sand and just pay attention to the signs and the rules.

Alexandra:

With the Madonna pass. I was very hesitant because we first went in with a car that wouldn't have made it and I was like, oh, just go. Yeah, I'm really glad that they were like no, please stop being weird. And we came back with another car that was suitable for it and I am so glad that they listened to the signs. They're really there for your safety and they know what they're talking about.

Alexandra:

Now. Next, this is a high elevation area. Depending on where you are, you might be at 8,000 feet. So if you start feeling sick, just ascend slowly, rest, hydrate, call for help if you need to. Altitude sickness is not fun. Please don't let it be you. Also, I have to say this that Colorado is known for its legal substances and since this is still on federal lands, it is still legal here. So if you're having fun in Colorado, don't bring it here and just never feed or approach wildlife. Just enjoy it from afar, snap it with your camera and leave it alone. And if you do need anything first aid related, they literally had everything at the visitor center. It was so nice.

Alexandra:

So what do you think of the Great Sand Dunes National Park? Would you come here? Is it on your bucket list? Have you already checked it off of your bucket list? Definitely. Don't forget to get in touch, tell me. I'm on all social medias, at the bucket list, mermaid, and you can also check out my website, wwwthebucketlistmermaidcom. I will be linking the show notes because, as I said, I have about a million articles of all of these little tidbits. So there's a lot of information on my website and I will be linking every single article that I have on the great sand dunes on those show notes so that you can be informed when you are checking this off your bucket list. And it does deserve to be checked off your bucket list. So unique, so cool. If you did enjoy this episode, please don't forget to subscribe to your favorite podcasting platform and we will see you next time. Happy adventuring.