Great Sand Dunes NP and Preserve

So here we are in the Rocky Mountain area and stop at

This place was fascinating.  Surrounded by mountain here is an ecosystem that just does not belong.  Water erodes the softer rock and moves it down a valley creek.  It is a very fine sand.  Sun and wind dry the sand then wind blows it back up the valley forming massive sand dunes.

Our first day in the park we took a hike up the stream bed for about 2 miles.  The water was cool but very comfortable and only a few inches deep, so we went bare foot.  The patterns the water made in the sand were beautiful and constantly changing.

The sand is so fine the slightest shift in water creates a new pattern.  Our foot prints were eliminated quickly and replaced with more sand art.














We took a day and drove up to Zapata Falls.  The falls is outside the park but very close by.  With just a short hike were at the falls.

In order to get to the falls, you must hike through the stream.

This water is exceptionally cold.  We both had to step on to rocks or out of the water several times to let our feet warm up.

Finally the day came to hike up the dunes.  In every National Park we've been to (over 40) there are signs to stay on the trail and to not disturb the vegetation.  But here the wind reshapes the dunes constantly, so there are no designated trails.  You just hike up the best you can that day.  The hike up was difficult for both of us.  One because of the altitude and lack of oxygen, but also the sand is so soft that with each step forward you slide back about a half a step.  Then there is the additional work of just waking through sand.  Tough walk!

We did not climb the highest dune.  But the one we climbed was beautiful.  The view over the dunes, desert then the mountains was an amazing contrast.  We sat on the top for about 45 minutes talking with other folks and just enjoying the scenery.

You can rent sand sleds or sand boards and slide down the dunes.  We met 2 women who were trying it.  The only problem seemed to be once you slide down the dune, you might need to climb back up.  We did not do any sand boarding.

The trip down the dune was super easy.  Each step down into the soft sand resulted in about 2 steps in distance.  Also there was no need to stop and catch our breath.  Even with Diana"s bad knees the trip down was easy due to the soft landing in the sand.