Great Sand Dunes Fast Facts
How big is Great Sand Dunes National Park?
Great Sand Dunes covers a total area of 107,000 acres or 167 square miles.
How many people visit Great Sand Dunes National Park?
602,613 people visited Great Sand Dunes in 2021. A table showing all years can be found at Great Sand Dunes Visitation Stats.
When was Great Sand Dunes National Park created?
Great Sand Dunes was made a national park on September 13, 2004.
What are the highest and lowest elevations in Great Sand Dunes National Park?
Great Sand Dunes’ lowest point is 7,520 feet near San Luis Lakes. The highest point in Great Sand Dunes is 13,604 feet on Tijeras Peak.
What time zone is Great Sand Dunes National Park located in?
Great Sand Dunes is in the Mountain Time Zone.
How much does it cost to enter Great Sand Dunes National Park?
$25 per private vehicle per week.
Five Random Facts About Great Sand Dunes
Great Sand Dunes National Park protects the tallest sand dunes found anywhere in North America. The tallest, Star Dune, is 755 feet measured from its base.
Great Sand Dunes includes much of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Since the national park is still relatively new, it is often easier to find maps and information of the mountain region than the park itself.
According to a study conducted by the National Park Service, Great Sand Dunes is the quietest national park in the contiguous United States.
Sand surface temperatures can reach 150°F in the summer, more than hot enough to burn the feet of both people and dogs.
On November 22, 2000, President Bill Clinton signed the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act, with the ultimate goal of creating a national park. On September 13, 2004, President George W. Bush signed the bill officially creating the national park.
Where is Great Sand Dunes National Park?
Great Sand Dunes National Park is located in a remote area of Colorado, east and north of the city of Alamosa. It is part of the much larger Sangre De Cristo Mountains. The nearest city with full services is Alamosa, about a 30 mile drive from the park entrance. Further directions and maps can be found at Getting to Great Sand Dunes.