20 Attractions to Explore Near High Dune

Pinon Flats Campground is located in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve in southern Colorado. The huge dunes are the tallest in North America and comprise about 11 percent of an enormous sand deposit that covers more than 330 square miles. The park is perfect for kids, who love exploring the dunefield on foot or by sled. Medano Creek, at the base of the dunes, is a popular place in the summertime.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is an American national park that conserves an area of large sand dunes up to 750 feet. Its sandbox of epic proportions, the entire dune field encompasses 30 square miles and the tallest dune towers 750 feet high. Aside from the dunes, you'll find picnicking, hiking and camping opportunities, the challenging four-wheel scenic drive on Medano Pass, horseback-riding trails, the mysteriously appearing and disappearing Medano Creek.

Explore this 10.8-km out-and-back trail near Gardner, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 37 min to complete. This trail is great for camping, hiking, and trail running.

This is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages. it is one of the iconic attraction in this area and also there are so many things to see and do here.

Medano Creek is often referred to as Colorado’s Natural beach, as it forms at the foot of the Great Sand Dunes and creates an incredibly fun venue for visitors to splash around, picnic, and sometimes even float down in rafts. Since the river is fed by the surrounding mountain's snowpack, the best time to enjoy the river is typically spring and early summer.

Mosca Pass, is a mountain pass in Alamosa and Huerfano counties in the Sangre de Cristo Range in southern Colorado. The pass lies on the eastern border of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve about 40 miles west of Walsenburg, Colorado. It starts near the Great Sand Dunes National Park visitor center and is impassable to vehicles, lies on the west side of the pass, and Forest Road 580 begins and heads east from the top of the pass.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is an American national park that conserves an area of large sand dunes up to 750 feeton the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley. This park features North America's tallest dunes, rising over 750 feet high against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This geologic wonderland, containing over 30 square miles of massive dunes, became a national monument in 1932. The park contains the tallest sand dunes in North America.

Medano Creek is a tributary of the Rio Grande that flows through Saguache County, Colorado. The creek is best known for its ephemeral nature, as it only flows during times of heavy rainfall or snowmelt. However, when it does flow, Medano Creek can become a raging torrent, capable of causing severe damage to property and infrastructure. In recent years, the creek has been the site of several flash floods, which have led to the evacuation of nearby residents and the closure of roads and bridges.

Mount Herard is the highest peak in Saguache County, Colorado. The mountain is part of the Sangre de Cristo Range, which runs along the eastern edge of the county. Mount Herard rises to an elevation of 12,966 feet. The peak is located in the San Isabel National Forest and is accessible via a number of hiking trails. The summit offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Wildlife enthusiasts may spot bighorn sheep, elk, and other animals while hiking in the area.

Zapata Ranch is an authentic working cattle and bison guest ranch owned by The Nature Conservancy, covering more than 100,000 acres and bordering the Great Sand Dunes National Park. With nearly 2,000 head of free-roaming bison, the ranch specializes in multiple night stays where visitors become immersed in the Colorado ranching experience.

Medano Lake is a natural lake in Saguache County. It is located in the San Luis Valley and is fed by the Medano Creek. The lake is known for its high concentration of salt, which gives it a unique buoyancy. Visitors to the lake can experience this by floating on their backs and not sinking into the water. Medano Lake is a popular spot for bird watching, as it is home to many species of waterfowl. It is also a popular spot for fishing, as the high salt content attracts many types of fish.

Zapata Falls is a waterfall located near the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on Bureau of Land Management land adjacent to Rio Grande National Forest. The falls has a drop of 30-foot . Access to this waterfall entails a mildly steep 0.5 mi (0.80 km) hike. Viewing the falls requires fording the stream and climbing rocks. A short but adventurous hike over slippery rocks leads to a magnificent 25-foot waterfall at Zapata Falls Recreation Area.

Medano Pass is a high mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains on the Continental Divide, at an elevation of 12,933 feet. It is traversed by U.S. Highway 285 and State Highway 112. The pass provides the only year-round road access to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The pass is also popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts. In winter, the pass is used by cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. Medano Pass is one of the highest continuous paved roads in North America.

This is the 84th highest peak in Colorado, sits along the spine of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains directly north of Mt. Blanca. There are two trailheads for climbing California Peak. Access from the west is through the Zapata Ranch subdivision, and access from the east is from the Zapata Trail or Lily Lake Trail in Upper Huerfano Valley.

The Trujillo Homesteads are a historic ranch site near Mosca, Alamosa County, Colorado, not far from the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The homestead site covers about 11 acres in a remote rural setting northeast of Mosca. The site includes the archaeological site where Pedtro Trujillo built his log cabin, the surviving ranch house, and a corral area dating to the Trujillo's ownership period. The ranch house is a two-story rectangular log structure, covered by a modern metal roof.

Iron Nipple is a peak in Colorado and has an elevation of 13438 feet. Iron Nipple is situated northwest of Mount Lindsey, and east of Lily Lake. A good trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do here.

A majestic high mountain summit in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Named after the famous Colorado mountain climber, Albert Ellingwoood, Ellingwood Point is part of the Blanca massif. It is named and above 14,000 ft and is often climbed with it's more popular neighbor, Blanca Peak. Ellingwood Point is 0.5 miles northwest of Blanca and crowns the amazing northeast face above the Huerfano Valley.

Blanca Peak is the fifth highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The mountain is considered to be the eastern boundary of the Dinetah, the traditional Navajo homeland. It is associated with the color white, and is said to be covered in daylight and dawn and fastened to the ground with lightning. The summit is the highest point of both counties and the entire drainage basin of the Rio Grande

This trailhead provides access to Music Pass and the Sand Creek valley, including the two large alpine lakes, Upper Sand Creek Lake and Lower Sand Creek Lake. A great many peaks can be climbed from this trailhead, including Cleveland Peak, Tijeras Peak, Music Mountain, Milwaukee Peak, Marble Mountain, and Blueberry Peak.

Mount Lindsey is a high mountain summit on the Sierra Blanca Massif in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 14,048-foot summit and most of the southern flank of the mountain are privately held, but access to the summit is allowed. It is a good trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do.