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Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Mosca, CO

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Massive sand dunes, dark skies, and backcountry wilderness open year-round without reservations.

Dunes and Crestone Peaks at Sunset
Hikers on Dunefield at Sunset
Gold Cottonwoods, Dunes, and Cleveland Peak
Girls Sand Sledding
Elk, Grasslands, Dunes, and Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Dunes and Crestone Peaks at Sunset
Lower Sand Creek Lake, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Girl Floating Medano Creek
Upper Sand Creek Basin, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Girls Sand Sledding
Fall Colors Along Mosca Creek, Great Sand Dunes National Park
Elk, Grasslands, Dunes, and Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Woman Beside Waterfall, Sand Creek Basin, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Gold Cottonwoods, Dunes, and Cleveland Peak
Girl Floating Medano Creek
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Wetland, Great Sand Dunes National Park
Sandhill Cranes Dancing, Dunes, and Mount Herard
Girl in Medano Creek
Pinyon Flats Campground
Upper Sand Creek Basin, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Girl Sandboarding
Woman at Cottonwood Pass, Sand Creek Basin, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Children Floating Medano Creek
Girl Sandboarding Above Castle Creek Picnic Area
Gold Aspens, Dunes, and Cleveland Peak
Campsite in Pinyon Flats Campground
Boy Next to Mosca Creek, Montville Loop Trail, Great Sand Dunes National Park
Girls Hiking in Gold Aspens, Mosca Pass, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Fall Colors Along Mosca Creek, Great Sand Dunes National Park
Gold Cottonwoods, Dunes, and Cleveland Peak
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
View of Dunes and Sangre de Cristo Mountains from Park Entrance
Red Osier Dogwood and Aspens in Fall, Mosca Creek, Great Sand Dunes National Park
Lower Sand Creek Lake, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Sandhill Cranes Flying Over Wetland West of Dunefield

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve protects North America's tallest sand dunes alongside a mosaic of grasslands, wetlands, forests, and alpine terrain near Mosca, Colorado. The park welcomes visitors year-round with no entry reservations or time restrictions—arrive whenever you're ready to explore.

The park offers two main ways to experience it: Pinon Flats Campground for established camping, and Great Sand Dunes National Park Backcountry Permits for wilderness exploration and overnight backcountry travel.

The landscape shifts dramatically across the park's varied ecosystems, from sand-dune basins to evergreen forests and high-elevation alpine zones. As an International Dark Sky Park, Great Sand Dunes reveals exceptional stargazing on clear nights—one of the park's most memorable qualities for visitors who stay after sunset.

Experiences

Camping

Explore 1 camping location in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.

Nighttime. Glowing tent on dark sand dunes. A few stars and clouds in the sky.

Pinon Flats Campground

Mosca, CO
CampsiteReservations

Experiences

Wilderness Areas

Explore 1 wilderness areas location in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.

A wooden trail sign points to a sandy trail surrounded by grass leading to the Little Medano campsite.

Great Sand Dunes National Park Backcountry Permits

CO
Wilderness AreaPermit

Common Questions

What visitors most often want to know about Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.

Do I need a permit or reservation to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve?

No permit or reservation is required to visit the park. The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week year-round with no timed entries.

Can I camp at Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve?

Yes, camping is available at Pinon Flats Campground within the park. For details on campground reservations and availability, check Recreation.gov or contact the park directly.

Do I need a permit to backpack in the wilderness area?

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve contains a designated Wilderness Area. Backcountry permits are issued by the park; contact Great Sand Dunes National Park Backcountry Permits for current requirements and availability.

Is Great Sand Dunes a good place to visit for stargazing?

Yes—the park is designated as an International Dark Sky Park, making it excellent for stargazing. Visiting on a moonless night will give you the best experience to see countless stars.