Great Sand Dunes National Park Camping Guide

GREAT SAND DUNES OVERVIEW AND FACTS

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is located in Colorado and is the newest designated National Park in the U.S. Here are some quick facts to get you familiar with the area:

• The park is located in the San Luis Valley in south central Colorado.
• The tallest sand dunes in North America are located within the park’s boundaries. 
• There are over 105,000 acres encompassed within the park, with an additional 40,000 acres protected by the preserve. 
• The Great Sand Dunes Park is located within a high desert, with both summer and winter nights becoming very cold and low precipitation throughout the year. 

GREAT SAND DUNES HIGHLIGHTS

The Great Sand Dunes Park isn't just about the sand dunes. There are six mountain peaks that are over 13,000 feet for hiking and sightseeing. 

You can swim at Medano Creek, an intermittent creek bed that determines peak season based on its current flow. There's also an expansive stargazing program which starts at 8,200 feet in San Luis Valley. 

Backpacking, hiking, horseback riding, sight-seeing, swimming, and camping can all be experienced in The Great Sand Dunes, along with unique events like Dune Sledding and Dune Hiking. 

This national park has something for everyone, from first time explorers to experienced adventurers.

GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK HISTORY

The Great Sand Dunes are most famous for its namesake, the sand dunes. 

They were formed around 440,000 years ago by soil deposits from the Rio Grande and tributaries, which, over time, were picked up by westerly winds and deposited in the San Luis Valley. 

This slow process is still going on, making the Sand Dunes themselves unfixed. Some of these dunes stand over 700 feet tall completely made of sleek, white sand. 

GREAT SAND DUNES CAMPING

Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park has several in-park camping options that are available for RV or car camping, as well as backgrountry camping sites. 

For any backcountry or backpacking campsites, you must first get a free permit from the park’s Visitor Center before you start your trek*. Permits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so if you’re camping during peak summer season, you’ll want to arrive at the center early to ensure you obtain a permit. 

When you’re camping at the park, keep these tips in mind: 

• Prepare to secure your food properly from wildlife including bears.
• Campfires are permitted at the Pinon Flats Campground and along the Medano Pass road. 
• Campfires are not permitted in designated backcountry campsites, with the exception of the Sand Creek site. Gas camping stoves are allowed. 
• Dogs and other pets are not allowed at any of the backcountry campsites. 
• Water opportunities may be scarce when backpacking, so bring your own water source and plenty of it. 
• Do not bring glass containers.
• Always follow the Leave No Trace principles.
• Bring a camping tent that can stand up to harsh elements, like wind and sand, and secure it properly.
• Bring appropriate close-toed shoes as the sand may reach up to 150 F on a summer afternoon.

As you’re planning your trip, refer to our camping supplies and gear packing list to ensure you’ll have what you need.  

PIÑON FLATS CAMPGROUND

Piñon Flats is a serviced campground located one mile north of the Visitor Center, open April through October. 

Piñion Flats requires reservations and can be booked on through the Recreation.gov online permit system. Individual sites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance, and group sites can be reserved up to 1 year in advance. 

Food storage lockers, potable water, trash collection, firewood and ice for sale, and staff on site are all a part of the amenities at the campground. This is an RV-accessible site. 

Read more about the Pinon Flats Campground here. 

BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING

Great Sand Dunes camping has seven designated backpacking sites along the Sand Ramp Trail and 20 non-designated campsites throughout the Dunefield backcountry. 

The Sand Ramp Trail camping area offers sites from 1.5 miles to 11 miles from the Medano Creek bed. A parking lot and permit will be issued to you based on your first night's stay. 

Non-designated sites throughout the dune backcountry are at minimum a one-hour hike to reach the top of the main ridge. Once you get to this ridge, you will encounter the 30-square-mile field of dunes and can find spots accordingly. 

Read more about backcountry camping at the Great Dunes National Park here. 

GREAT SAND DUNES HIKING & BACKPACKING TRAILS

Because the wind would cause dune trails to constantly shift, there are no maintained trails in the dune area of the park. Visitors can freely hike throughout this sandy area. 

Outside of the dunes, the park only has a handful of designated trails. Since most visitors come to see the dunes, these trails are not heavily-traversed, even in peak season. 

SAND RAMP TRAIL

The Sand Ramp Trail is a moderately popular trail that heads north from Pinon Flats campground. 

Parking is available at the trailhead, with overflow parking available at the campground entrance. 

The Sand Ramp Trail is a sandy trail that is 11 miles in length, though most visitors don’t typically hike the full length. Instead, many choose to go for a 4-mile loop hike, trekking through the Sand Pit Trail to see the sites and make for a much less arduous trip. 

• Route type: One way OR off-trail loop
• Length: 11 miles total OR 4 mile loop
• Elevation change: up to 400 feet
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Access: Dunes Overlook Trail, backcountry sites, Medano Creek
• Estimated Time: Depends on route taken

No permits are required for a day trip. Overnight campers must purchase a $6 permit from Recreation.gov. More information regarding the Sand Ramp Trail and other hiking areas may be found on the official Great Sand Dunes National Park website. 

MONTVILLE NATURE TRAIL

The Montville Nature Trail is a short little loop trail that climbs a small distance east of the dunes. 

Visitor’s will pass a homestead from the late 1800s, eventually reaching a peak with views of the dunes, sands, and mountains. 

The trailhead for this path is near the visitor center and is popular for families. 

• Route type: Loop
• Length: .5 miles
• Elevation change: 50 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Access: Mosca Pass Trail
• Estimated Time: 20–60 minutes

No permits are required for a day trip. Overnight campers must purchase a $6 permit from Recreation.gov. More information regarding the Montville Nature Trail and other hiking areas may be found on the official Great Sand Dunes National Park website.

MOSCA PASS TRAIL

The Mosca Pass Trail starts along the Montville Nature Trail. The trail is short in length, but is considered to be moderately difficult due to the steady climb throughout the entirety of the hike. 

Outside of starting at the dunes, Mosca Pass is the trail that starts hikers on their journey into the mountains. 

There are over 50 different types of wildflower species that bloom in the spring and summer—the major draw of this particular hike. 

• Route type: One way
• Length: 3.5 miles
• Elevation change: 1,500 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Access: Montville Nature Trail
• Estimated Time: 1–3 hours

No permits are required for a day trip. Overnight campers must purchase a $6 permit from Recreation.gov. More information regarding the Montville Nature Trail and other hiking areas may be found on the official Great Sand Dunes National Park website.

MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

While being the newest National Park in the United States, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve boasts some of the most unique landscapes in the country. 

From ever changing creeks, riverbeds, and dunes to ancient lakes and forests, the geography and ecology of the area make this park a must-do on any camper’s bucket list. 

Still need a little more info? Check out the park’s visitor center and get all the knowledge you need before you plan your trip.