We’ve lived in Colorado for nearly twenty years, and my husband has put the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve on our travel list for about ten of those summers.
We finally got our chance this July when we took a two-night adventure into the San Luis Valley to see the Dunes – and had an action-packed weekend full of fun and family time that went far beyond our expectations!
We decided to stay at the new privately-owned Ramble Camp, a nearly-glamping eco-friendly campground with amenities galore and plenty of space to explore. Ramble Great Sand Dunes is their flagship site, and they’re hoping to place more near national parks and large cities soon (fingers crossed!). For a more in-depth review, check out our recent blog post!
Our Weekend Great Sand Dunes National Park Itinerary
Arrival to the San Luis Valley: Friday Evening
We decided to head to the Dunes in mid-July, rather than early spring, to avoid some of the larger crowds. The trade-off was the high sand temperatures and one very windy, stormy evening, but we felt the trip was perfectly timed.
We drove from the Denver Metro, taking Highway 285 to add a little beauty to the journey and avoid some southbound traffic.
We grabbed gas, snacks, and firewood at the Mosca Pit Stop, the country convenience store that quickly became one of our favorite sites in the area. They closed early on Friday night (4:30 PM) and were absolutely kind and gracious when we walked through their doors at 4:15.
We made the final leg of our drive and rolled up to Ramble Camp well before sunset, with plenty of time to set up our pop-up camper and grill some hot dogs before we had a storm roll in.
Visiting the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve: Saturday Morning
Our awesome Ramble Camp Host, Chris, suggested we head to the Sand Dunes as early as possible on Saturday morning to avoid the scorching heat and the crowds. We used the well-appointed Ramble Camp kitchen to cook up nearly-gourmet egg, bacon, potato, and cheese breakfast burritos before renting our sandboard from the Ramble Camp community area and heading out to the Dunes.
After snapping photos at the entrance sign and queueing for about thirty minutes, we got to the entrance window and decided to purchase our first Annual National Parks Pass. It’s a great investment at $80 (2023) and grants access to the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the US Army Corp of Engineers sites.
The ranger at the entrance booth let us know that due to the heavy rains we had this summer, Medano Creek was still flowing! This was a huge surprise, as it would often be dried by late July.
(Pro tip: Check the NPS.gov website for ranger updates on the status of Medano Creek before you travel.)
We opted to park in the Dunes Parking lot, a quick walk from the Medano Creek’s flow into the base of the dunes. After getting our feet wet and splashing in a man-made pool, we headed into the dunes with our sandboard and plenty of water.
The sand at the Great Sand Dunes National Park was hot. Like, really hot. (Pro tip: Wear shoes! Flip flops or bare feet will be too hot after a few minutes on the sand.)
After about ten minutes of walking, we spread our outdoor blanket and launched into our sandboard adventures. Our two kids, ages 5 and 7, zoomed down the sand while my husband and I were a little slower on our feet!
Time flew by, and before we knew it, the clock struck 1, time to get out of the sun and into the visitor center.
We appreciated the air conditioning and the various small exhibits, as well as the beautiful patio. The kids loved noticing all the plants and animals we’d identified in the Dunes and surrounding areas. And we even purchased our National Parks passports and got our first stamps!
Lunch in Blanca, Colorado: Saturday Afternoon
After a few minutes of researching places to eat near Great Sand Dunes National Park, we knew we wanted to head into town to get a local bite. We chose Lu’s Main Street Cafe in Blanca, ordering a delicious mix of American and Mexican fare, including milkshakes, cheeseburgers, and tostadas. Yum!
Sightseeing in the San Luis Valley: Saturday Afternoon
With the heat rising into the high 90s, we drove to another San Luis Valley sightseeing staple: The Colorado Gators Reptile Rescue. We strolled past beautiful alligators sunbathing and swimming, heading into one of the large buildings to meet tortoises, fish, sharks, and even a piranha!
We spoke with one of the employees who shared about the recent fire that devastated the park in the reptile barn, taking the lives of nearly all the rescue snakes, birds, and lizards. With hundreds of animals left to care for and a large section of the park to rebuild, a GoFundMe has been established to support their efforts: Visit here to donate.
Relaxation & Dinner at Ramble Camp Great Sand Dunes: Saturday Evening
We rolled back into our Ramble Camp site at around 4:00 p.m., with plenty of time to enjoy their private outdoor showers and have a snack before the family launched into some board games beneath the kitchen canopy while I prepped dinner. We grilled marinated chicken, and I heated up some rice, beans, onions, and peppers on the double-range gas stove.
Stargazing at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve: Saturday Night
When we found out that the Great Sand Dunes National Park is an International Dark Sky site, we knew we had to get back there in the evening to try and photograph the Milky Way and the stars. We attended one of the free ranger talks in the amphitheater and nestled our (very tired) kids along with our friend into the car while my husband and I set up our tripod and did some dark-sky photography.
While the day was packed with fun and adventure, it didn’t feel overwhelming, and we loved that everything we picked was within short driving distance of one another.
Heading Home from the San Luis Valley: Sunday Morning
While everyone woke up and got ready for the day, I took a beautiful morning walk through Ramble Camp in the morning, checking out the walking paths, the 9-hole disc golf course, and a free little library at the campground entrance.
We packed up camp and got on the road, grateful for our adventure weekend.
Three Days, Two Nights at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
We absolutely loved our time in the San Luis Valley, and are already making plans to return! We’ll be sure to stop at the local hot springs, take a stargazing tour, and continue to visit the surrounding small towns to get to know the area even better.