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Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Sandhill Cranes, Dunes, and Mt. Herard In The Distance, Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve

A flock of sandhill cranes in the foreground, with flat lands and sand dunes in the midground and snowcapped mountains in the distance beneath a cloudy sky, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

One of 250 bird species found in the park, More than 20,000 sandhill cranes will spend 6 - 7 weeks each year in the San Luis Valley during their annual migration to southern New Mexico. Look for them in early February through late March, then again in late September through late March.

National Park Service

The End Of A Winter Night And The Beginning Of A Winter Sunrise At Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve

The winter night sky with a few remaining stars as the landscape begins to brighten with the coming sunrise over mountains and giant sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve in Colorado can get pretty busy during the summer. Spend some winter days in this park, however, and you'll experience no crowds, much solitude, and some amazing scenery, including the tallest sand dunes in North America.

Rebecca Latson

The Arrival Of Blue Hour Over Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve

A wide-angle view of valley, sand dunes, and mountains just after sunset, with a blue and purple sky, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

"Blue hour" is a term given to that time prior to sunrise and just after sunset, when the sky and landscape are bathed in swaths of blue, purple, pink, and mauve. During that time (which really doesn't last an hour - more like a few minutes), you might even see the atmospheric phenomenon known as the "belt of Venus," a line of deep blue and dark pink parallel to the horizon. A great place to view sunrise, sunset, and blue hour is at a pullout immediately after the turnoff from Colorado State Highway 150 onto Lane 6 N toward Mosca.

Rebecca Latson

Sunlight And Shadow, Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve

A telephoto view of the sinuous and shadowy sand dunes above a winter ground of snow and ice, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

If you bring along your camera (and you should), you can capture not only wide-angle shots of this national park, but also telephoto close-ups of the sinuous sand dunes. Early morning or later in the afternoon are great times to capture light and shadows to give the dunes some depth. Telephoto shots bring the viewer closer to these sand dunes for a better look. You might even want to include people in some of your shots, allowing your viewer a better idea of just how large and tall these sand dunes are in addition to adding a little familiar reference.

Rebecca Latson

The View At The Top Of A Dune Ridge, Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve

A footprint-covered dune ridge looking south toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and San Luis Valley at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Whatever season you visit this national park, a must-do activity is to hike up to the top of a dune. The sand is velvety soft, but still takes a little effort to climb. An easy way to hike up to the top of a dune is to switchback your way up. Once you are at the top, following the dune ridge is the easiest way to continue onward, and from the ridge top, you have a broad view around the park.

Rebecca Latson

A View Of Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve From San Luis Lakes State Wildlife Area

The view from San Luis Lakes State Wildlife Area toward a broad, flat valley below a distant dunefield and mountains beneath a blue sky, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

If you are interested in the geology of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, a great place to view the overall geologic system of the park is from San Luis Lakes State Wildlife Area just off of Lane 6 N, almost halfway between the community of Mosca and the turnoff onto Colorado State Highway 150 toward the park. From this vantage point, you can see all four primary components of the Great Sand Dunes geological system: mountain watershed, dunefield, sand sheet, and sabkha.

Rebecca Latson

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