Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve with Kids

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Sledding Down the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado in 2023

Have you been to the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado? What are you waiting for?

This is one of our kids’ favorite national parks! Bonus: it’s open 24/7 year round! Plus, there are no limitations or reservations to visit.

Have you ever been sand sliding or have you hopped on a sand board in Colorado, or anywhere for that matter?

We are about to show you how to plan your trip at Great Sand Dunes National Park for some awesome sand sledding down GINORMOUS dunes. Here we go!

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Walking across Medano Creek to do some sand dunes sledding

North America’s Tallest Sand Dunes

This worthy road trip to the Great Sand Dunes tucked away in the Sangre de Christo Mountains in Mosca, Colorado is your family’s chance to try sand sledding.

Take the challenge and climb the tallest dunes in all of North America. The highest dune, Star Dune, is 750 feet tall.

Then float down Medano Creek if you happen to visit in late Spring when the creek is flowing from snow melt.

Fall in Great Sand Dunes National Park is also a fantastic time to visit.

This diverse park includes more than racing down ginormous sand dunes on a rented sand sled.

See fantastic fall colors in Great Sand Dunes in Colorado

Discover Ponderosa Pine forest, grasslands, wetlands and 13,000+ foot mountains for climbing.

Plus, don’t miss a stunning, starry sky on moonless nights — and camping in Great Sand Dunes is a real treat.

Here’s your beginner’s guide on how to spend a few days here and sand sledding with kids this summer.

We recommend at least two days and two nights, or longer if you plan to take hikes in the forest and explore more of the park.

Things to do at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado

Zapata Falls Hike

Just seven miles before you reach the park entrance, you’ll find the Zapata Falls Recreation Area where you can park and hike a quick 1/2 mile to the 40-foot waterfall.

You will wade in a stream and slip through a narrow gorge to see the waterfall. Give yourself a couple of hours to enjoy the hike and the falls.

If you’re careful on the slippery rocks and pay attention to the current, this is very doable with older kids.

We wore our hiking shoes on the trail and then slipped on our Chacos for walking through the water.

The water may be freezing, but it is so worth it - the falls are gorgeous!

Love waterfall hikes in Colorado? We rounded up 27 of our favorites!

Sand dunes in Colorado

Sledding on Sand Dunes

The number one activity in Great Sand Dunes is most definitely sand sledding and sand boarding, especially if you have tweens and teens in your family.

April through mid-October is the time of year for this activity. Here are the best tips for having a fun, successful day sledding on sand dunes:

• Rent your sand sleds or sand boards at the Great Sand Dunes Oasis Store by 9 am (open April 1 through October 15). The Oasis is just 3.5 miles before the park entrance. The cost in summer of 2019 was about $21 per sled/board. If you’re not accustomed to snow-boarding or the like, just stick with renting sand sleds. Do not bring snow sleds because they will not work well.

• Plan to hit the dunes in the morning or evening, as they heat up significantly under the mid-day sun.

• Wear socks with sandals or tennis shoes while walking the sand dunes so you don’t burn your feet on the sand.

• Also wear sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, and a bandana around your neck to keep flying sand out of your mouth while sledding on sand dunes.

• Bring a backpack with lots of snacks and water! You will get thirsty and hungry from walking up and down the dunes. We recommend 1-2 Liters of water per person.

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Learning to sand board in Great Sand Dunes National Park

Float down Medano Creek

Did you know about this sandy beach in Colorado?

Snow melt from the mountains causes the seasonal flow of Medano Creek at the base of the Great Sand Dunes.

Medano Creek begins flowing steadily between April and June, with peak flow occurring from late May to early June. Here are the typical conditions each month at the sand dunes in Colorado.

Late May and early June are typically the best opportunity to experience "surge flow", where waves flow down across the sand. In average or wetter years, surge flow waves are high enough for children to float down limited distances on flat inflatable toys.

Summer was late in her arrival when we arrived to the Great Sand Dunes in the latter part of June, and due to a long winter and lots of snow melt, we lucked out with the chance to play and float in Medano Creek in the latter half of June.

Wade and float in Medano Creek after or before you hit the dunes is very popular with families, so try to go during the middle of the week to avoid the long lines, overflowing parking lots, a crowded beach, and full campgrounds on the weekends, especially in late May and early June. We were there on a Monday, and it was great.

Bring light rafts and tubes, sun shade, and a picnic. There are bathrooms, showers and changing stalls near the parking lot.

Check the current water flow and forecasted conditions for Medano Creek here.

Playing in Great Sand Dunes National Park’s Medano Creek

Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center

Spend 30 minutes here learning from the exhibits, watching the 20 minute film, interacting with the Rangers, and catch the view of the dunes from the outdoor deck. Learn all about the wildly different landscape of grasslands, wetlands, evergreen and aspen forests, alpine lakes, and tundra all in one place.

Ranger Led Tours

Late May through September, there are opportunities to take a Ranger led sunset walk, afternoon weekend tours, and even stargazing programs. Call (719) 378-6395 for more information.

Climbing back up after sledding on sand dunes

Hiking in Great Sand Dunes National Park

High Dune Hike to the highest sand dune (699’) on the first ridge of sand dunes you can see from the main parking lot. This is best done in spring, early summer, or fall. Be sure to pack lots of water and snacks, and wear hats, suglasses, and layers. Allow yourself two hours for the up and back hike. Or better yet, pack a picnic and plan to go on to Star Dune…

Star Dune At 750’, hiking to Star Dune adds another two to three hours of hiking from High Dune. This is a good workout, so pack at least two liters of water per person and a picnic lunch.

Take a beautiful hike after you finish sledding on sand dunes in Colorado

Mosca Pass Trail A great afternoon hike with fit older kids or teens, this moderate trail follows an original Native American trail alongside Mosca Creek through trees and meadows. In the summer, start by noon or 1 pm and give yourself four to six hours to do this seven mile out and back trail.

We hiked part of Mosca Trail in Fall and the colors were stunning.

Take a hike to Zapata Falls after you go sliding on sand

Zapata Falls Just seven miles before the park entrance is the turn-off to the Zapata Falls Recreation Area. The trailhead is 3.5 miles off of Highway 150, between mile markers 10 and 11.

The Zapata Falls hike is only a 1/2 mile trek from the trailhead. This Colorado hike is fabulous on a hot day when temperatures in the gorge are cool and welcoming. Watch your footing. Super fun with with tweens and teenagers.

We loved camping in Zapata Falls Campground, not far from the entrance to the Great Sand Dunes

Where to Stay

Camping Great Sand Dunes

Zapata Falls Campground* This completely first-come, first-serve campsite rests at 9,000 feet under Blanca Peak (14,345’) at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Gorgeous 360 views of the San Luis Valley, the San Juan Mountains and the Great Sand Dunes — plus, fabulous sunrises, sunsets and starry nights. Four wheel drive is helpful, but not required.

Piñon Flats Campground A great campground for families with a trail to the dunes, this one is inside the park itself and is located just one mile north of the Visitor Center. It is open April 1 through October 30 each year. Make reservations up to six months in advance.

*Our favorite!

Hotels & Cabins Near Great Sand Dunes

There are no hotels or lodges inside the park. But just 3.5 miles from the park entrance, Great Sand Dunes Lodge offers seasonal lodging options (April 1 thru October 15). Simple rooms sleep four and include a microwave and a refrigerator. The Oasis also offers primitive campsites, RV sites, and cabins.

Otherwise, you will be staying a little further out from Great Sand Dunes. And that’s not a bad thing because the San Luis Valley is beautiful.

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Best Time to visit Great Sand Dunes National PArk

The best time to go to the dunes with kids is late spring — end of May or beginning of June — if you want to enjoy Medano Creek too.

Aim for weekdays to avoid huge crowds.

You can enjoy sledding and the sand dunes any time over the summer, June through August — just be sure to go sledding or hiking on the dunes first thing in the morning or in the evening to avoid the heat off the sand.

Great Sand Dunes in Colorado in Fall

However, the spring and fall bring cooler temps, make hiking up to High Dune more inviting.

Hike Star Dune if you feel up for it; be sure to bring a picnic lunch.

Then head down towards Medano Creek to check out the grasslands and the wetlands. Some mornings you may be able to take a hayride to spy bison.

Did you know nearby New Mexico is home to one of the newest national parks where there are 275 square miles of wave-like soft white sand dunes?

You can also go sledding down the sand dunes at White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico.

We think late spring and early fall are the best times to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park.

RELATED: Explore nearby Mesa Verde National Park: Ancient Dwellings Tough to Top

What will it Cost

Entrance fees into the park are $3 per adult (age 16 and above) and are valid for one week. Children are always free. Backpacking permits are also free and available at the visitor center.

If you’re visiting other national parks within the year, consider buying a National Park Annual Pass that will get you into any national park for a year. Bonus: If you have a fourth grader, you can get a free national park annual pass!

Cost of camping near Great Sand Dunes at Zapata Falls campground is $11-$20 per night per campsite. For a campsite at Pinyon Flats Campground in Great Sand Dunes National Park, the cost is $20+ per night per campsite.

Cost of renting sleds/boards at Great Sand Dunes Oasis Store: $21 each (as of 06/19)

Driving to the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado

How to get to Great Sand Dunes in Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is about 240 miles southwest from Denver and 180 miles southwest from Colorado Springs. From Interstate 25 South, take US 160 Highway to Highway 150 North, which will take you right to the park’s entrance.

PRO TIP: Great Sand Dunes and the other three national parks in Colorado make an epic road trip!

If you’re coming from Denver, you can take this scenic route that only adds 10 more minutes of drive time: take US 285 over Kenosha, Red Hill, and Poncha passes, turn onto Highway 17 just south of Villa Grove, then take County Lane 6 to the park — watch for signs just south of Hooper.

If you go through Colorado Springs, there are so many fun things to do with kids in this adventurous city that sits under Pikes Peak.

Have you been to southwest Colorado? Great Sand Dunes is a great place to start a memorable summer road trip through Colorado with your family. If you have any questions, jot us a line, we’d love to help!