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Photographers looking for a unique and captivating location for their next photo shoot should consider The Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. With an elevation of 7,500 feet (2,286 m), this national park offers stunning landscapes that change throughout the year, providing a year-round opportunity for photography enthusiasts.
The Great Sand Dunes National Park contains the tallest sand dunes in North America, rising about 750 feet (230 m) from the floor of the San Luis Valley on the western base of the Sangre de Cristo Range. Covering about 19,000 acres (77 km²), these impressive sand formations are believed to be about 12,000 years old.
The park’s unique environment is shaped by the streams that flow on the perimeter of the dunes. These streams erode the edge of the dune field, and sand is carried downstream. The water disappears into the ground, depositing sand on the surface. Winds pick up the deposits of sand, and blow them up onto the dune field once again.
Interestingly, digging a few inches into the dunes even at their peaks reveals wet sand. The dunes would disappear if the streams were to dry up. This is why extra protection of the water was necessary, and part of the motivation behind turning the Monument into a National Park. The park also features alpine lakes and tundra, six peaks over 13,000 feet (3,940 m) in elevation, ancient spruce and pine forests, large stands of aspen and cottonwood, grasslands, and wetlands, all providing habitat for diverse wildlife and plant species.
One of the park’s most remarkable features is Medano Creek, which borders the east side of the dunes and is located next to the Visitor Center and Bookstore. Due to the continuous falling of fresh sand in the creek, Medano Creek never finds a permanent and stable streambed. Small underwater sand dunes that act like dams continually form and break down. So, waders in the stream see surges that look like waves of water flowing downstream at intervals of just a few seconds to a minute or more. Building sandcastles with the creek sand is a popular visitor activity.
Spring brings vibrant wildflowers and thousands of cranes and other waterfowl to the area, creating excellent opportunities for nature and wildlife photographers.
Summer is a fantastic time to visit the park for nighttime photography. With warm weather, the sky is full of stars due to the park’s “Dark Sky” status, making it an ideal time for nightscapes and astrophotography.
Fall is a favorite season among photographers, as the dunes are surrounded by golden aspen trees. The combination of the vibrant foliage and the massive sand formations creates a unique and stunning visual experience.
Winter is an equally magical time in the park, as the dunes take on a surreal appearance if there is snow on the sand. The white snow creates a beautiful contrast against the deep brown of the dunes. Winter photography enthusiasts should note that the park gets snow in the winter, making it more challenging to access the dunes.
Getting to the dunes requires walking across the wide and shallow Medano Creek, which only flows from spring to early summer. Hiking is permitted, with the warning that the sand can get hot in the summer, up to 140° Fahrenheit (60° Celsius). Visitors should also note that the park gets snow in the winter, so check road conditions before traveling to the park during the winter season.
Our Great Sand Dunes National Park Photo Tour is a must do on any photographer’s bucket list, offering unique and stunning landscapes that change throughout the year. From vibrant wildflowers to golden aspen trees to snowy dunes, this national
