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Sand Play
Go sand sledding, sand skiing, or sand boarding down one of the many dunes in the park.
Guide Sections
Use Sand Play's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Sand Play Details
Difficulty
Open
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
Activities
Sand sledding and sand boarding can be a fun way to explore and play in the dunes. Note that sleds made specifically for sand work the best: only bring your own sleds/skis/snowboards as a last resort -- just don't work that well. The dunes are best for sledding and boarding in the evening or morning, before the sand gets too hot. Spring and fall brings more temperate sand temperatures, but afternoons can be windy and unenjoyable. Sandboarding, sledding, and sand skiing is permitted anywhere on the 30-square-mile day-use of the park. You'll have to hike a minimum of .7 miles to get to the smaller and medium-sized slopes; the distance to the first big dune is 1.25 miles. If you have a 4WD vehicle, you can drive up Medano Pass Road to the Castle Creek Picnic Area, where there's a 300-foot slope that makes for great sand sledding. Great Sand Dunes National Park does not rent sleds or sandboards, but you can buy gear at Kristi Mountain Sports in Alamosa (719-589-9759) or at the Oasis Store (open from April to October) just outside the park entrance (719-378-2222).
