Great Sand Dunes National Park

This was our fourth and final national park to visit during our 6-month Workamper stay in colorful Colorado.  In case you don't remember what other ones we visited, here are the first three:  Mesa Verde, Rocky Mountain, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Our day trip started out with the beautiful fall foliage in full color.

 

 

 

 

 

The biggest surprise, however, on this day trip was the moose sighting!  We had been to Idaho (supposedly famous for moose) and Yellowstone (another moose area) without a sighting between the two.  You can't imagine the shock and surprise I had when we saw this moose meandering back to the mountains from the side of the road in the middle of between here-and-there (i.e., nowhere!).

What a beautiful sight to behold.  I'm one happy camper now with a moose-sighing behind my belt.

These are the beautiful snowy peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains viewed from the opposite side than we normally get to see them from the RV park.

 

Our first glimpse of the Great Sand Dunes with the snow-capped Sangre de Cristos in the background.  It had rained/snowed just a few days prior to our trip which made for a beautiful backdrop for the dunes.

 

Stone, Sand and Stream

Nestled against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Great Sand Dunes are the focal point of a wild natural system of high mountain peaks, sparkling streams, forceful winds, and billions of sand grains.  The Great Sand Dunes are the tallest dunes in North America, one of the country's most unique and complicated landscapes--the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes, and tundra.  So, let the journey begin!

 

I love the contrast between the snow-covered peaks and the whipped meringue-look of the dunes.

 

We stopped at the Visitors' Center first and got our bearings, some useful information, a small snack and then took off to the first (and most visited) area of the park which was within a 1/4 mile of the Visitors' Center.  In Spring and early Summer there is an abundant flow in Medano Creek which runs right in front of the dunes.  We were blessed to get there right after some rains so there was a small deposit of water in the creek. 

This is a trail-less area that invites you to explore wherever you want to go.  The highest peak is a 3-mile round trip hike up the dune and gains 650 in elevation ... and before you ask, "NO!  We did not hike all the way to the top!"  As a matter of fact we barely climbed up the lowest, closest dune ... but at least we did that!

From the parking lot, you can enter the dunes through this archway. 

Here you have Medano Creek in the foreground and then the sand dunes and the snow-capped mountains in the back. Such a cool contrast.

The photo below I got from the Internet to show you what Medano Creek can look like during the peak Spring and Summer seasons.  Here are kids out of school enjoying the refreshing creek water.

I think the peak on the left is the highest peak in the park.  There were definitely a lot of people who climbed to the top ... mostly younger I might add!

So much beautiful scenery to see at this park.  It's not all that well-known within the park system and (unless you have a good 4-wheel drive vehicle) most of the park is inaccessible.

 

The dunes were formed from sand and soil deposits of the Rio Grande and its tributaries, flowing through the San Luis Valley.  Over the ages, glaciers feeding the river and the vast lake that existed upon the valley melted, and the waters evaporated. Westerly winds picked up sand particles from the lake and river flood plain. As the wind lost power before crossing the Sangre de Cristo Range, the sand was deposited on the east edge of the valley. This process continues, and the dunes are slowly growing. The wind changes the shape of the dunes daily.

Plants stabilize most sand deposits outside the dunefield where old dunes, now grass- and shrub-covered are difficult to recognize.

 

Gary and Sadie prancing along on the sand.  Originally we left Sadie in the car because we thought, "National Park -- no dogs allowed."  But, not true here.  So we went back to the car and hitched up the pooch for some sand dune delight.

 Sadie's paw print.

Isn't this just too lovely with the deep blue sky, puffy clouds, sandy dunes, and green vegetation?

 

 

See those vertical stripes on the top of the dune?  That's where kids (and maybe adults too) ride down the dunes on cardboard or a sled.  Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

 Lost in a sea of sand.

 More natural contrasted, diverse beauty.

 Sadie and me with the Sangre de Cristos in the background.

 

You know I love videos, and I did take one panning the Great Sand Dunes so you get an idea of their expanse.  However, it was too big of a file to upload, so if you'd like to see the video, send me an email or whatever you'd like to do and I'll forward it to you.  It really does show just how beautiful they are with Medano Creek in the foreground and the dunes and Sangre de Cristos in the background.

 In the lower right-hand corner you can see the aspen gold glistening on the hillside.

 This is the ridge of the small dune we traversed to the top.  I loved the ridgy look at the peak.

 And the natural sandy swirls made by the wind shifting the sand into a sundry of shapes.

 

 More exquisite contrasting color encompassing this diverse topography.

We left that area and decided to take the 4-wheel drive trail further up the road until it was recommended for only those vehicles with high clearance [and believe me a Jeep Liberty does not qualify even though it is a 4-wheel drive and has the "Trail Rated" logo on the side :)].

 

  

Here's where we made our U-turn!  Don't you love that "POINT OF NO RETURN" message?

 While they were too quick to catch on film, we did see a herd of about 5 deer run through this area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learn more about the Great Sand Dunes from this Wikipedia website:  Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

 

 It's no bull, on our way home we took a different route and stopped to see this small buffalo herd.

 

 

It was a great day and another great national park and I apologize for all the photos ... Naw, I don't really!  Every turn of the head supported another surprise view of the natural environment and eclectic eco-system.  

We are so blessed to have the opportunity to travel around the country like this and see the spectacular diverse sites.  Can't wait for our next adventure when we leave Colorado ... and it's just around the corner!  Hopefully (the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise) the weather holds and we'll be able to explore Eastern Utah on our way to California for Thanksgiving.

Jeremiah 5:22

"Do you not fear Me?" declares the LORD. "Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it.  Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail."