By Lisa T. Bergren (with thanks to Kim Hedstrom)

If you’re in northern New Mexico or Southern Colorado, be sure to trek over to the amazing Great Sand Dunes National Park. This is really an awe-inspiring sight–with peaks of sand reaching as high as 750′ right below alpine Sangre de Cristo mountains. They’re the tallest dunes in North America and were formed over the centuries from the geological forces of an ancient, receding lake bed and opposing winds.

Creek Play

We recommend you go in May or June, before it gets too hot, and while there’s sure to be water running in Medano Creek. Our kids spent a couple hours playing in the water of the creek and building sand castles. When it’s at its highest (maybe 2′ deep), small children can even raft down a bit of it. There’s a small building for changing, showering, and bathrooms, right beside the creek/parking lot.

Hiking

If you want to climb the highest peak, know that you’ll have to dedicate several hours and bring along water bottles (and sunscreen and windproof hats!). During the day it can be very windy, but our camping friends tell us that at night, it’s calm. Also be aware that in the late afternoon, the sand temperatures soar, so plan to begin this hike early.

To hike the sand dunes, find the ridge of each and meander your way up. You can see people in a serpentine line heading up to the highest peak. It takes some effort–remember you’re walking on sand that gives way (that’s why people choose the more crusty ridges). We climbed  a small dune and let the kids roll down a few times. That was enough for us on this intro-to-the-park visit.

There is an informative, small visitor’s center and a short loop/walk that even your youngest children can manage, detailing the flora and fauna and geology of the park. You can pick up a pamphlet in the vistor’s center and do another, short hike in the woods right above it, called the Montville Trail. In 2010, our family hopes to return and do another hike just outside of the park, Zapata Falls. In late May 2009, there was still too much water flowing for us to make it with a young child in tow (water would’ve been up to his chest). But apparently, you come out underneath a waterfall, which sounds pretty cool for any kiddo (or adult) to see. Next Summer, we really want to go back and do it.

Camping

The park doesn’t accept reservations, so arrive early if you’re hoping to nab a stop (especially on weekend in early Summer). Friends were turned away on a Thursday evening, but found space at a campground just outside the park. There’s also a campground and lodging in nearby Alamosa.

Bring:

• cooler with lots of drinks
• swimsuits
• change of clothes
• sunblock
• towels
• windproof hats (it really is windy here!)
• boogie boards for the creek–or to sled down the sand dunes!
• water-friendly shoes; you have to go across the creek to get to the dunes
• beach chairs

We left mid-afternoon and drove down to San Luis and Taos, New Mexico (just an hour away). But we were sorry to leave! This is an AMAZING, dog-friendly (!) park that has lots of room for exploration–including some killer alpine trails. More in 2010!

If you don’t want to drive as far as Taos for a hotel, you might check out these recommendations in Alamosa (although pickings are pretty slim, that first Inn of the Rio Grande looks like it has a fabbo pool for the kids).

Have YOU been to the Sand Dunes? Hiked a great trail? Stayed in a hotel in Alamosa you’d recommend? Then please COMMENT below!