Centered in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundras in southern Colorado lies the largest sand dunes in North America. With picturesque views and the ability to walk freely among the dunes, Great Sand Dunes is a great dog-friendly destination to explore with your pup.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Park Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Fees: $25 per vehicle when the Entrance Station is open
Pet Rules: Pets are allowed in the main use areas of the park (including Pinon Flats Campground and Dunes Overlook Trail). They are NOT allowed in the backcountry. Pets must be leashed and waste must be carried out.
THE SAND DUNES
There are no trails in the dunefield, but the most common is High Dune on First Ridge. Standing atop gives a spectacular view of the dunefields and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. We loved being able to explore the sand dunes freely. For that reason, it is probably one of the best destinations we’ve been to where reactive dogs can explore without being confined to a narrow trail with other dogs and humans.
Keep In Mind Before You Climb
THE SAND
The sand can get HOT. Up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit hot. Plan to hike the dunes in the early morning or later evening and consider bringing booties for your dog’s paws.
THE WIND
Wind on the dunes can be extreme. On our first visit, I thought our tent was going to rip in two but on our second there was no wind at all. While unpredictable, be prepared with goggles for your dog just in case. Or visit the dunes early in the morning versus at night when the winds tend to pick up.
THE SUN
There is NO shade once you are out on the dunes, unless there are clouds. Hiking uphill in the sand can take longer than you anticipate. If visiting during warmer weather, be prepared with extra water and leave plenty of time to avoid getting stuck unprepared in the blazing sun.
MEDANO CREEK
Medano Creek is a seasonal creek that forms around the edge of the sand dunes for a few months of the year. Formed from melting snow from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the “surge flow” creates waves and is a perfect place to cool off and wade with your pup. Medano Creek typically peaks in late May and early June and can get especially crowded in June and July. While it is typically dry in August, we got to experience Medano Creek during a mid-August visit, possibly due to heavy rains that occurred the days before.
TRAILS
During the warmer months, it’s best to stay off the dunes during the day. Fortunately, there are also several wooded trails within the park to safely escape the heat.
Montville Nature Trail
Distance: .5 mile loop
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail: Shady and forested trail with views of Mr. Herard, the dunes and the valley. A booklet at the trailhead provides numbered stops to learn about the 20-house late 1800s settlement that used to exist there.
Wellington Ditch Trail
Distance: 2.3 mile out-and-back
Elevation Gain: 150 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail: Foothills trail without much shade that connects the Montville Nature Trail to the southeastern end of the Pinon Flats Campground. Panoramic views of the dunes and mountains.
Lower Sand Creek Lake Trail
Distance: 6.8 miles out-and-back
Elevation Gain: 1,706 feet
Difficulty: Challenging
Trail: Short and steady climb up to Lower Sand Creek Lake and mountain views. 4×4 vehicle is strongly recommended to access the trailhead.
Keep in Mind: This is a challenging uphill trail with a large number of fallen trees to climb over. Keep this in mind when considering taking your dog.
Mosca Pass Trail
Distance: 7 miles out-and-back
Elevation Gain: 1400 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail: Winds through aspen and evergreen forests with some views of the dunes. Can get buggy and bear sightings are possible. American Indians and early settlers used this route to travel into the valley.
WHERE TO STAY
Pinon Flats Campground: Directly on the park grounds, many of the 88 sites have nice views of the dunes and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A trail leads directly to the dunes, which allowed for easy access first thing in the morning on both of our stays here. Sites can be booked online up to six months beforehand so if you have strict travel dates, I would book in advance. Because we had some flexibility in the exact days we would be in the area, I was able to book our site less than a week in advance both times. Some sites offer shade and nice privacy, while others are pretty close to neighboring sites. Check out the map and pictures of each site online when booking.
Sites: Individual ($20/night) and group ($65-$80/night) campsites are available
Hookups: No hookups
Amenities: Restrooms with sinks, flush toilets, dishwashing sink and potable water spigots
Provisions: Small camp store with firewood, ice and a small selection of other essentials
Other sites within 25 miles
Oasis Campground: Located right outside the entrance to the park. RV sites with hookups, tents and cabins (no pets in cabins). Showers, restaurant, store, and camp facilities. Call for reservations.
Zapata Falls Campground: Primitive camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. Reservations available online.
San Luis Lakes State Wildlife Area: 15 miles west of the Visitor Center. First come, first served. No shade/trees. Requires wildlife access pass or fishing/hunting license purchased in advance.
Rustic Rook Resort: 19 miles west of Visitor Center. Glamping in fully furnished canvas tents with a dog park on site. $25 per pet per stay (max 2). Extra $50 cleaning fee if pets go on furniture/bedding. Book online or by phone.
Ramble at Great Sand Dunes: 25 miles southwest of Visitor Center. Solar-powered, environmentally-focused and pet-friendly campground with smokeless fire rings, bathhouses and outdoor kitchens available. Book online or by phone.
GREAT SAND DUNES WITH A REACTIVE DOG
Disclaimer: Every dog is different, so we can only speak to our own experience. We hit threshold and become reactive when other dogs are in close proximity or other passing dogs are also reactive. Therefore, we’re able to better distract and avoid reactivity if there is distance between us and other dogs.
The Dunes: 5/5 paws. This is one of our favorite places to visit. The ability to walk freely on the dunes without needing to follow trails means you can easily avoid other dogs or humans. Not only can you spot them from a distance, but you can easily step to the side if your paths do need to cross. However, you will probably encounter others at the top of the more popular dunes.
The Trails: The short trails close to the day use area and campground tend to have more people on it and are narrow. The trail leading from the campground to the dunes is also narrow, but you can step off trail if necessary.
The Campground: Other campers are likely to have dogs and some sites are closer in proximity than others, so make sure to check the map/pictures of the site when booking. We never had close neighbors or saw dogs from our sites, but walking around the loops noticed many other campers had dogs.
Reactivity Recommendations: Visit early or late in the day. We headed onto the dunes before sunrise and only saw two other people off in the distance. It wasn’t until heading back after a couple of hours that we started seeing more dogs and people.