FIND YOUR PARK WEST OF 105 | DESTINATION
COLORADO’s four national parks are all incredible and unique in their own ways. Although winter is a magical time at all four parks, spring is when the parks, and all the life that resides within them, returns. The snow at last begins to melt as temperatures rise and the parks take on another personality. Photo: Rob McGovern/ PComms
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GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE One of the youngest and most unique national parks in the system, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has 30 square miles of sand dunes, including the tallest dunes in North America as well as grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes, and six 13,000-foot mountains. The park attracts a somewhat modest number of visitors in early spring (see right). As for what to do, climbing the dunes is a must, and spring offers a great opportunity to do that thanks to lower temperatures (in summer the sand can get extremely hot during the day). High Dune on the first ridge is a 2.5-mile round trip that will take around two hours. Star Dune is the tallest in the dunefield at 755 feet and will take closer to five hours. Two sand wheelchairs are available for loan at the Visitor Center, one designed for adults and one for children. Twice a year - in spring and autumn - the San Luis Valley plays host to a spectacular sandhill crane migration. One of 250 bird species found in the park and preserve, over 20,000 cranes spend part of their spring and fall each year in this valley. They typically
SPRING VISITORS* begin to arrive in the San Luis Valley in early February before renewing their bond with their mate through a courtship ritual that includes dancing, bowing, chortling, and throwing tufts of grass in the air. They leave again by late March for the northern U.S. and Canada. While hundreds of cranes feed and roost in wetlands within the boundaries of the national park, this area is currently not accessible to the general public. There are several other areas nearby that offer great viewing opportunities including Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge and San Luis Lakes State Wildlife Area. Read more on page 14. Medano Creek is a popular seasonal creek that begins flowing through the park by late April. It reaches peak flow in late May or early June. This means, however, that weekends at this time are extremely crowded. Plan to visit on weekdays at this time of year for a more pleasant experience. And while nighttime can still be chilly, especially in early spring, hiking the dunes at night, particularly with a full moon, is an experience you are unlikely to experience anywhere else in the country.
March: 26,422 April: 20,934 May: 63,998
SPRING HIGHLIGHTS Medano Creek
CAMPING
Spring is a great time to camp at Sand Dunes. PiĂąon Flats Campground reopens April 1. Camping is permitted anywhere in the dunefield (outside of the day use area) but you need a permit.
MORE INFO nps.gov/grsa
*All data is based on 2018 figures
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