We just got back from our annual camping weekend at the Sand Dunes and I love sharing our experience with you every year, this is a not-to-miss Colorado experience!
The trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Reserve is about a four hour drive, five hours for us with a trailer. And it is a GORGEOUS drive!
Our visit to the park
If you haven't been to the Sand Dunes before, make sure you stop into the Visitor’s Center to learn more about the sand dunes and pick up the Jr. Ranger books for the kids.
You can then head down to the Dunes Parking Lot and head out to the creek and sand dunes. We typically visit the first weekend in May, and the water level can definitely vary. In the picture below, the water was pretty low. But there was a nice mudhole that the kids really enjoyed digging and playing in. Depending on the year, it may be a bit of a walk out to where the water is, so be prepared to make the haul. This year during our visit the creek was flowing right down by the parking lot, super easy!
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If you have 4WD and are brave, head down the Medano Pass Primitive Road, it's our favorite place to set up! It takes about 20 minutes and I wouldn't recommend heading down that way unless you have 4WD Lo, there are some soft points in the road where it's easy to get stuck. You'll see signs recommending that you decrease your tire pressure because apparently, that gives you a better grip (if you do need to decrease the pressure, there's a free air pump when you come back out.) Our Expedition has handled the road beautifully.
We set up at the Castle Creek Picnic area and spend a full day here. We rent a sand sled at the Oasis and the kids climb up and down the dunes while we chill. I love that the water level is still low here, about 3-5 inches depending on the day, so even the smallest kiddos don't need a parent standing over them. There aren’t any ridges to follow on this side, which is an easier hike, but if you take it in small chunks it isn’t too bad. My daughter and husband have climbed to the very top every year
Keep in Mind
The creek flows heaviest in late May and early June, but that’s also when the park is the busiest. The first couple of weekends in May are always pretty quiet, but if you go later be prepared to wait. Either get there by 8:00 am or you'll wait anywhere from 45 - 90 minutes!
Don't forget this is a national park so there's an entrance fee.
Our Visit to Zapata Falls Nearby
A visit to the sand dunes would not be complete without visiting the nearby Zapata Falls. It’s just a couple of miles south of the park, but then you have to drive about 3.5 miles up a very bumpy dirt road. I think any vehicle could handle the trip, but 4WD certainly was nice to have.
The falls are about a half-mile from the trailhead, which was an easy, but rocky, gradual incline. We had read that we’d need to walk through a creek to get to the falls, which I thought meant crossing a creek, but the last 30-40 feet of the trail is through the creek! And the only way to see the falls is to make it through the creek, it’s hidden behind a rock wall.
The water is chilly, but it’s worth the scramble over the rocks to see the waterfall. Both of our kids made it through with our help when they were seven and three, and the falls at the end were a wonderful reward. I’d recommend water shoes or just wearing your shoes through the creek. They’ll get a little wet, but it will be warmer and less painful than going barefoot.
Camping Options
Unfortunately the campground inside the park fills up about six months in advance, so you’ll have to look at other options if you don’t plan that far ahead.
The campground we stay at, San Luis Lakes, was about 20 minutes away from the park, and recently changed from being a state park to a state wildlife area. This means that it’s a little more rustic camping, but it’s first come first served and there are only a few pit bathrooms and no water onsite. Each site does have electric hookups though, which is amazing, and there’s also a dump on site. A valid hunting or fishing license is required for everyone over 18 to stay in this area.
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Here are the other campground options:
Campground at the Oasis Lodge: Right outside the park and probably has gorgeous views of the sand dunes and surrounding mountains. Sounds like they have a lot of options including tent camping, RV sites, and cabins. Sites are pricey.
Zapata Falls Campground: The falls are an amazing addition to a trip to the sand dunes, and there’s a campground right near the trailhead. It’s at the top of a very bumpy road, I’m not sure we would take our camper up there, but it would be great for small sturdy campers and tent campers. Although any time you’d have to leave it’s a good 20-30 minute drive down to the road. (It’s probably about 30-40 minutes from this campground into the park). Once you’re up there, you’ll have gorgeous views of the sand dunes and surrounding mountain ranges.
Disbursed Camping: There were also several areas for disbursed camping in the area, check out freecampsites.net for more info!
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