{"id":84956,"date":"2026-06-16T02:14:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T02:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/84956\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T02:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T02:14:15","slug":"this-colorado-national-park-looks-like-egypt-and-switzerland-share-a-zip-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/84956\/","title":{"rendered":"This Colorado national park looks like Egypt and Switzerland share a ZIP code"},"content":{"rendered":"

Think of a national park road trip in Colorado and your mind probably flashes to alpine lakes, mountainous peaks and thick evergreen forests. Indeed, 4.5 million visitors flock to Rocky Mountain National Park every year to see the iconic sights.<\/p>\n

But the National Park System has some glorious surprises in store throughout the Centennial state, that is if you’re willing to take the proverbial “road less traveled” and head to a giant sandbox in southern Colorado. At the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, undulating hills rise in front of snow-capped peaks, making it look as though Egypt and Switzerland share a zip code. Optional detours on this road trip to see more spectacles like a UFO Watchtower just north of Hooper (follow the little aliens on Highway 17). You’ll spot more green guys at the Colorado Gators Reptile Park that’s home to rescued reptiles.<\/p>\n

Located near the town of Alamosa, the Great Sand Dunes draws just a fraction of the visitors that Rocky Mountain does, which isn’t too surprising considering it’s in a remote location and it’s more fun and quirky than other national park destinations. The Sand Dunes are equal parts adventure and mystery. In fact, the 30,000-square-foot dune field intrigues NASA scientists who want to know more about the alien-like landscape and have even used the geological conditions to test rovers.<\/p>\n

Another cool tidbit? When air pushes through the shifting sand grains during an avalanche, a low hum makes it sound as though the dunes are crooning. The sounds of the park inspired Bing Crosby’s 1940 hit “The Singing Sands of Alamosa.”<\/p>\n

Ready to explore Colorado’s otherworldly and giant sandbox? Here’s what to know about the drive and what you can do in the national park.<\/p>\n

The Route to the Great Sand Dunes<\/p>\n

The Great Sand Dunes is 225 miles from Denver and about a four-hour drive. You can take a mountainous route from U.S. 285 south to State Highway 17 south, then County Lane 6 east to Mosca.<\/p>\n

But the most common route from Denver to the dunes is from I-25 south to Walsenburg, west on U.S. 160 and then north on State Highway 150. If you take this route, Pueblo is a great stop for lunch. The “Steel City” is going through a renaissance and has a downtown riverwalk, lots of public art and local restaurants serving “sloppers,” which are a Pueblo specialty that includes a hamburger or cheeseburger smothered in green chile and topped with raw onions. We’ll let you be the judge as to whether Gray’s Coors Tavern or Sunset Inn slings the best slopper.<\/p>\n

One more thing to keep in mind during your drive: The national park doesn’t rent out sandboards or sand sleds, so if this is an adventure you want to have during your visit, you’ll need to rent your equipment before arriving in the park. Several outposts rent the gear, including Great Sand Dunes Oasis, which is just four miles from the park’s visitor center.<\/p>\n

What to Do in Great Sand Dunes?\"Visitors<\/p>\n

Visitors to Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park are free to climb the dunes wherever they want<\/p>\n

(Jim Glab via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Hiking in the dunes is one of the most popular activities in the park. But with steep inclines combined with the shifting sand, the trail-less treks can be deceptively difficult. Hidden Dune and Star Dune are the two tallest dunes in America, measuring at 741 feet each, and it takes skilled hikers about six hours to tackle these sandy summits. High Dune on First Ridge is a more approachable hike (2.5 miles round trip), and it’s a popular one because it shows off great views of the 30 square mile dunefield.<\/p>\n

Sandboarding and sledding is another must-do in the park, especially for those who prefer a darecation.<\/a> From the main parking area, there’s a minimum 0.7 mile hike to get to the small or medium-sized slopes. The top of the first high ridge is 1.25 miles. Suffice it to say, you earn your turn on this downhill adventure.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Here’s the 10 Best Things to Do in the Great Sand Dunes National Park<\/a><\/p>\n

Colorado may be landlocked, but it still has a great beach\u2014so long as you sync your visit up with the seasonal stream. Medano Creek typically flows in late spring and early summer after snowfields in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains melt into Medano Lake and join the stream. Those looking to beat the seat can surf, skimboard, raft, or build sand castles in “Colorado’s Natural Beach” during this period.<\/p>\n

Stargazing is another unique experience to enjoy in the Sand Dunes, which nabbed a Dark Sky designation a few years ago thanks in part to the Sango de Cristo Mountains that shield light pollution. You’ll get the best view of the Milky Way during late summer and fall. But stargazing is a multi-sensory experience; the quiet mountain air provides a soundscape for owls, toads and crickets that are most vocal after dark.<\/p>\n

5 Tips for First-Time Visitors to the Great Sand Dunes\"Alamosa<\/p>\n

Visitors can go sandboarding on the dunes in Great Sand Dunes National Park.<\/p>\n

(John M. Chase via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

New to the dunes? Here’s how to avoid some pitfalls and get the most out of your trip.<\/p>\n

The best time to visit the Sand Dunes is late spring when Medano Creek is flowing. During the summer months, the surface temperature of the sand can reach 150 degrees and it’s best to only hike in the dunes in the early morning or evening.<\/p>\n

In those summer months, when the sand surface temperatures are sizzling in the afternoon, Zapata Falls is a popular short hike that’s nearby. A \u00bd-mile hike will deliver you to falls, and you can wade into a crevasse where the 30-foot high falls cascade onto a ledge.<\/p>\n

Your own snow sleds or saucers won’t cut it on the sand. You’ll need to rent sandboards or sand sleds, which have an extra slick base material and special wax. Expect boards and sleds to be about $20 a day and reserve them in advance if you can.<\/p>\n

Pack sunscreen because you’ll be exposed to the sun and skin burns easily at high elevations. (The visitor center is at 8,200 feet and some of the dunes are even higher).<\/p>\n

To avoid heat exhaustion and burned paws, plan to take your pet on the dunes only in the early morning or evening in summer months.<\/p>\n

3 More Epic SandboxesWhite Sands National Monument near Alamogordo, New Mexico\"A<\/p>\n

A smooth gypsum sand dune forms an elegant curve beneath a clear blue sky, highlighting minimalism and natural form in White Sands National Park, New Mexico.<\/p>\n

(Jianmei Wang via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The largest gypsum dune field in the world is located in south central New Mexico. Hike in the snow white dunes or take a 16-mile, round-trip Dunes Drive that leads you to the heart of the dunefield. Visitors can sled on the sand, too; snow saucers are available for purchase at the park gift shop.<\/p>\n

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, Michigan\"Beach<\/p>\n

Beach scene with tables-Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan<\/p>\n

(William Reagan via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Located on the northwestern tip of Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore provides the best of both worlds with its rolling sand dunes that meet brilliant blue lakes. Huff and puff your way up the 300-foot Dune Climb; it’s a rite of passage. In the winter, the dunes become a winter wonderland for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.<\/p>\n

Coral Pink Sand Dunes in Kanab, Utah<\/p>\n

\"Footprints<\/p>\n

Footprints on a trail at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Kanab, Utah.<\/p>\n

(Cavan Images via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

It’s not an Instagram filter\u2014the Coral Pink Sand Dunes really are pinkish in color due to the erosion of Navajo sandstone. Just southeast of Zion National Park, the 3,730-acre area is a popular spot for four-wheeling. (About 90 percent of the dunes are open to off-highway vehicles). You can also rent sandboards and sleds onsite.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Think of a national park road trip in Colorado and your mind probably flashes to alpine lakes, mountainous…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":84957,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4],"tags":[11728,43422,43420,23761,43421,17],"class_list":["post-84956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-switzerland","tag-colorado","tag-colorado-gators-reptile-park","tag-great-sand-dunes-national-park","tag-national-park","tag-sand-dunes","tag-switzerland"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ch\/116757375770662654","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84956"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84956\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}