Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Great Sand Dunes is one of the most surreal landscapes in America, and one of the most fun. Rising abruptly from the flat San Luis Valley of southern Colorado, backed by the snow-dusted peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, sit the tallest sand dunes in North America, some climbing more than 200m into the sky. The sheer improbability of an ocean of desert sand sitting beneath alpine mountains makes for a scene that stops families in their tracks.

A giant sandpit with a mountain backdrop

What makes this park a joy for families is that you are actively encouraged to play. You can hike up the shifting dunes, then sledge or sandboard straight back down, a proper thrill for teenagers. In late spring and early summer, snowmelt feeds Medano Creek, a wide, shallow stream that flows along the base of the dunes and becomes a natural beach, complete with rippling waves. Beyond the dunes, the preserve rises into forest and tundra, home to elk, bears and pronghorn. For a UK family, it is a landscape unlike anything at home and, unusually for a national park, one built for hands-on fun.

You come to Great Sand Dunes to play in the biggest sandpit imaginable, framed by snowy peaks. This is one of the rare national parks where the whole point is to get stuck in: teenagers can sandboard and sledge down the dunes for hours, and even reluctant hikers are tempted to scramble to the top for the view and the ride back down. When Medano Creek is flowing in late spring, the base of the dunes becomes a barefoot beach, ideal for younger family members to splash in while others tackle the summit. The combination of desert, water and mountains in one frame is genuinely unforgettable, and the night skies here are wonderfully dark for stargazing. For a UK family after a park that is active and joyful rather than just scenic, this one delivers.

Great Sand Dunes is compact and simple to navigate. A single main road leads from the entrance to the visitor centre and the main dunes car park, from where you set off on foot across the sand; there are no shuttles, so your hire car gets you to the trailheads. The dunes themselves have no marked trails, you simply choose a ridge and climb, and Medano Creek, when flowing, runs right beside the main parking area. Beyond the dunes, a rough four-wheel-drive road, Medano Pass Primitive Road, climbs into the forested preserve, but it requires a high-clearance vehicle and airing down your tyres, so most families skip it. Distances within the park are short. The main considerations are the heat of the sand and carrying enough water, rather than any complex driving logistics.

There is no public transport to or within Great Sand Dunes, so a hire car is essential. No buses, shuttles or trains serve this remote part of southern Colorado, and the park sits well away from any sizeable town. For a UK family, the practical route is to fly into Denver or Colorado Springs, hire a car and drive several hours south through the San Luis Valley. Once at the park, everything centres on the single dunes car park, so no further transport is needed beyond your own two feet on the sand.

• Hire a proper sandboard or sand sled from the shop outside the park entrance; ordinary snow sleds do not work on sand.
• Time a late-spring or early-summer visit to catch Medano Creek flowing, when the dune base becomes a natural beach.
• The sand gets scorchingly hot on summer afternoons; climb the dunes in the early morning or evening to protect bare feet.
• Bring plenty of water and sun protection; there is no shade at all on the dunes.
• High Dune, not the tallest but the most accessible high point, is the classic family climb for panoramic views.
• Stay after dark for the stargazing; this is a certified dark-sky park with superb Milky Way views.
• Empty sand out of shoes and pockets before getting back in the car; it gets everywhere.

Great Sand Dunes sits at high altitude in a high-desert valley, so expect intense sun, big day-night temperature swings and rapidly changing conditions. Summers (June to August) bring warm days and cool nights, with the sand surface reaching scorching temperatures by midday and frequent afternoon thunderstorms; climb the dunes early or late and pack sun hat, high-factor cream and lots of water. Spring is cooler and windy but brings the creek; autumn is crisp and lovely. Winters are cold and snowy. Whatever the season, bring layers, sun protection, sturdy footwear for the loose sand, and a warm top for the chilly nights and stargazing.

Great Sand Dunes sits in a remote corner of southern Colorado, so reaching it from the UK takes a connection and a drive. The closest airport is small Alamosa (ALS), about 40 minutes away but needing a regional connection; most families instead fly into Denver (DEN), around 4 hours' drive north, or Colorado Springs (COS) at roughly 3 hours, both reachable from London via a single hub connection. A hire car is essential, as there is no public transport to the park and the surrounding San Luis Valley is sparsely served. The drive down from Denver or Colorado Springs is scenic, crossing high passes and open valley country. Many UK families combine the dunes with a wider Colorado road trip taking in the Rockies, Mesa Verde or the historic mining towns of the San Juans.