If you and your family are ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure that will awaken your inner explorer, connect with a thriving and welcoming local community, and seek the natural wonders of sand, stars, and sky, you’ve found the right place.
Your Introduction to the Beauty of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
It’s no wonder that Ramble Camp chose this region to place its flagship campground. On your way into camp, you’ll experience the expansive vistas of the San Juan Valley as you pass the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. Catch your first glimpse of the Dunes when you see a peculiar ridge of sand that provides a striking contrast to the snow-capped peaks.
Spanning over 30 square miles, these towering dunes reach heights of up to 750 feet, making them the tallest sand dunes in North America.
Ramble Camp is situated about a thirty-minute drive southwest of the Dunes, making it the perfect place to start your day as you explore the area or hop to a local town for provisions.
For detailed remarks on our unforgettable weekend trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, visit our related blog post!
Meet Ramble Camp Great Sand Dunes
We loved the completely contactless check-in system (which you can complete within one day of the start of your reservation) and headed to our campsite, following the well-marked signs.
While Ramble Camp doesn’t have a traditional “Camp Host,” we found that there was always a Ramble Camp employee on-site to answer our questions or take care of urgent matters. (If something comes up during your stay and you don’t see an employee, you can grab the QR code from your campsite or the entrance and contact someone at Ramble Camp HQ.)
We arrived just before an evening thunderstorm which announced its presence with the wind whipping the campsite canopy. We used the heck out of the outdoor cart to haul gear as we kept our two kids and friend in the car while we set up our small pop-up camper for the night.
We found the campground masterfully designed to fit in with the landscape and provide every amenity needed for our two-night stay. We splurged for a Signature Plus site, which came equipped with a barbeque grill, picnic table, and two-burner propane stove embedded into a kitchen with generous counter space, storage, and foot-pump sink. The site had five Adirondack-style chairs around a sizeable Solo campfire stove.
The site also had fun extras, including a hammock, corn hole boards with bean bags, and a horseshoe pit (with horseshoes, of course!).
We made quick work of a hot dog meal and, as the sky cleared, headed outside to take advantage of the Solo stove for our first campfire. We’ve had a Solo stove at home for two summers now, and we can’t say enough about the efficiency and heat of those things. One bundle of firewood was more than enough for an hours-long rest under the stars.
Shared Amenities at Ramble Camp Great Sand Dunes
It was clear right away that the bathrooms and showers were cleaned daily, and after spending most of our camping experience with vault toilets, the well-appointed flush toilets with sinks and complimentary hand soap were a dream.
There’s even a set of lockers with amenities for purchase, like toothpaste, sunscreen, and Ramble Camp branded t-shirts and hats. Simply tap the QR code and make your purchase online. We were grateful for the lip balm with sunscreen we purchased the next day before we spent hours under the scorching Colorado sun.
Complimentary amenities included a 9-hole disc golf course with discs to borrow, a Little Free Library, and body wash, shampoo, and conditioner in every shower.
Also available for rental at Ramble Camp Great Sand Dunes:
- Sandboards and sand sleds
- Adult bikes
- Adult fat-tire bikes
- Bikes and helmets for kids (free to use!)
We loved the private outdoor showers (two) and took advantage of the non-private outdoor shower for rinsing off the sand from our adventures. The campground also has a large trailer with private bathrooms and showers, and if you’re in the adventure camp areas, additional portable toilets for use.
Wrap-Up: Would we return to Ramble Camp at Great Sand Dunes?
In a heartbeat.
Listen. This campground has nearly ruined camping for us – in the best way. We felt the value for what we paid vs. received was top-notch, and before we even left, we checked the website to see when and where the next campground would open.
We hope to see more Ramble Camp campgrounds pop up near National Parks in the near future. (As of late 2023, sites are in progress in Buena Vista and Mesa Verde.)
Ramble Camp, we’ll definitely be back.
