The Great Sand Dunes National Park is situated in the eastern part of Colorado in USA. Its vast area was measured at 85,000 acres and was recognized as a preserve and national park in 2004. It is composed of the most elevated sand dunes in North America at an elevation of 750 feet from the floor believed to have been formed approximately 440,000 years ago. The sand dunes were built from soil deposits and sand from Rio Grande drifting toward the valley of San Luis. It is also the center of wetlands, conifer, forests, tundra, alpine lakes and a landscape of grasslands.
Great Sand Dunes National Park is situated in a wide area of “High Desert” in San Luis Valley. Its temperature during winter drops below zero, but snowfall is short lived during the sunny and dry climate of Colorado. To reach the dunes, there’s a need for long walking opposite the Medano Creek, which only drifts during spring toward the early part of summer. This is the best time for hiking trips. Some more recreational activities include skiing, horseback riding, picnicking, playing and sledding in the sand, camping, backpacking, sand boarding and viewing exhibits.
Great Sand Dunes National Park is open round the clock all year round. During the winter, the Visitor Center is open from 9 AM until 430PM, summer at 830AM until 630PM and the same for spring and fall at AM until 5PM. The best time to visit is during the month of June where temperatures are warmer.