The Great Sand Dunes
To be completely honest, we didn’t even know Great Sand Dunes National Park existed until some good friends invited us to join them on an adventure to Colorado.
Sand dunes in the middle of the Rockies? That idea goes against everything you think you know about sand dunes. But, of course, we always say yes to a good road trip, so we packed up Romin and headed to Colorado. Our reward? We discovered one of the most unexpected landscapes we’ve ever seen.
This was our first time in Colorado, and the Rocky Mountains did not disappoint. Mesa Verde also made the itinerary, but our drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park gave us a completely different view of the Rockies.
The mountains rise to more than 14,000 feet, and their snow-capped peaks took our breath away. (For our friends in Massachusetts, that’s 4 Mt. Greylocks stacked on top of each other!) As we drove into this remote corner of Colorado, the mountains seemed to call us closer. It was one of those drives where the scenery gets better with every mile—and you can’t help but wonder what’s waiting just around the next bend.
Sand dunes are taller than they look
We rented some sleds in a little town just south of the park and headed up for a day of fun. Our plan sounded simple: climb those sand dunes and slide right back down. Sounds like a lot of fun, right? Well, we failed to consider two important details: (1) we started at an elevation of 8,200 feet, and (2) the tallest sand dune rises 750 feet above the valley floor. That “simple” climb quickly turned into a serious workout!
See that teeny-tiny blue jacket in both pictures? That’s me, Lori! No? You’ll have to click on the pictures to enlarge them on your screen to find me. Once you spot me, you’ll get a much better perspective on just how massive these sand dunes really are!
Rocky Mountain Snow Melt
Every step through the loose sand took extra effort and I only made it to the top of the first small dune before my heart said, “You better bail now, or I will!” So I caught my breath, slid back down, and walked to the car. I stashed my sled, kicked off my shoes and socks, and waded into the Rocky Mountain snowmelt while I waited for everyone else to make it back.
Sure, the water felt cold, but it really wasn’t bad. The shallow water and warm sand took the edge off the chill. Honestly, standing there soaking my feet in Rocky Mountain snowmelt felt like a pretty good consolation prize.
Challenging and Incredible Experience
Everyone made it back and shook the sand out of their shoes and socks We grabbed some lunch while a curious magpie stalked us, hoping we’d share a treat.
Climbing the tallest sand dunes in North America challenged us, but we had an incredible time. The beautiful weather, breathtaking scenery, and wonderful company made the adventure even better.
Here’s to great friends, unforgettable adventures, and many more road trips to come!
Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time – Much love,
Romin, Pete, & Lori
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