Great Sand Dunes National Park
This was really a place that had been on my list but not really near the top aside from the fact that it was a national park and basically a check mark on my quest to knock out all of the National Parks.
Well, I was extremely surprised how much I loved the Great Sand Dunes. Though we had sand EVERYWHERE it was a great experience. Sunrise and sunset on the dunes felt like we were in another place (not the middle of colorado). Jeff & Anna Bush, Gray and I made the most of our two half days there.
The Dunes are located in central Colorado surrounded by towering snow capped mountains all around. As we drove in, you could see the dunes miles in the distance….almost like the opposite of an oasis… Dunes in the middle of green forests. We arrived in the Westfalia (Lulu), Jeff and Anna’s campervan and our ride for the week, around mid afternoon to catch sunset on the dunes. We rented boards and headed out. The wind was crazy and sand was blowing everywhere. The boards were a little harder than they looked but we all got some great runs after some trial and error. The sun was hot but the wind kept it cool. As the sun began to set it felt like a scene from Tatooine.
We stayed out until almost dark and headed to our campsite for the night at the Oasis campground just outside the park entrance.
Early the next morning we got up before sunrise to get out on the dunes. Jeff and I ventured out while Gray and Anna slept in in the van a while. The sand was cold and the sky was soft. We walked all around the dunes for an hour or so as the sun rose over the mountains behind us and we watched as the dunes turned all different hues.
Though we only spend about 18 hours at the park, we captured an amazing sunset and sunrise. The Great Sand Dunes National Park should have been higher on my list. 100% worth the visit for the first time and for sure will not be the last
