Views at Great Sand Dunes National Monument and Preserve, Colorado
Nestled in southern Colorado, North America's tallest dunes rise over 750 feet high against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The wind shaped dunes glow beneath the rugged backdrop of the mountains. This g... More
Bison at Dollar Lake - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Bison drink at Dollar Lake, a permanent wetland west of the dunes.
Great Sand Dunes - National Parks Gallery
Landscape view of the dunes and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains behind the dunes.
Great Sand Dunes - National Parks Gallery
A landscape view of the dunes and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains behind them.
Great Sand Dunes - National Parks Gallery
Visitors play on the dunes Public domain photograph of a desert, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Great Sand Dunes - National Parks Gallery
Visitors on the dunes Public domain photograph of a desert, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Great Sand Dunes - National Parks Gallery
Close up photo of a footprint in the sand
Great Sand Dunes - National Parks Gallery
Landscape view of the dunes and Sangre de Cristo Mountains Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Great Sand Dunes - National Parks Gallery
Close up photo of some boot prints in the sand Public domain photograph of a desert, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Avocets and Dowitchers in Wetland West of Dunes (34443405922)
NPS/Patrick Myers The presence of fresh water in a stark dunes environment is a hopeful phenomenon that all people can relate to, because it represents life-giving renewal in the midst of the barren deserts of ... More
Avocet Mother and Chicks (47775232372)
NPS/Patrick Myers As we celebrate #MothersDay this weekend, we also see touching examples of motherhood in the diverse ecosystems of Great Sand Dunes NPP. When avocet moms and dads sense danger, they call the... More
Bull Elk West of the Dunes (51877111515)
Elk are often seen around the dunes in quieter months from fall through early spring. Watch for them along the park entrance road and County Lane 6, the southern boundary of the national park. Use binoculars o... More
Comet Neowise (50365566046)
NPS/Patrick Myers Against the dark skies of the eastern San Luis Valley, Comet Neowise was clearly visible as it passed closest to Earth.
Aspen Groves Above Dunes Turning Gold (43775304405)
NPS/Patrick Myers Aspens at higher elevations above the dunes are turning gold! Lower aspens will peak in late September/early October, and cottonwood trees around the dunes typically turn deep gold in mid-October.
Beaver Dam, Medano Creek (33321312380)
Rain and snow showers are beginning to develop ahead of a big storm expected to hit tomorrow. The dunes are forecast to receive 7 to 11 inches of snow, with much higher amounts in the mountains above. This pho... More
Female Elk Running Across Grasslands (47827265661)
NPS/Patrick Myers Many assume that elk are a mountain species, but before settlement in the American West, they primarily lived in open prairies and grasslands. Settlement and development have pushed most elk... More
Female White-Breasted Nuthatch, Great Sand Dunes NP, Colorado (3135312...
NPS/Patrick Myers Our celebration of the #YearOfTheBird wraps up with the annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 29! Birders of all skill levels will go out in groups to document our feathered frien... More
Abstract Dune Patterns (49420751786)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Gold Aspens Above Dunes (29898670852)
NPS/Patrick Myers Some gold sand was discovered in the dunes in the 1920s, creating a little gold rush. Now there is an annual "gold rush" to enjoy the aspen color at national parks throughout the Rocky Mounta... More
Gold and Red Aspens above Dune Ridges (36579712523)
NPS/Patrick Myers Today is the first day of autumn! Colors are changing quickly above the dunes, making for spectacular contrasts of fall forests and stark desert dunes. Why do most aspen trees turn yellow, but... More
Gold Aspens and Fresh Snow (44475651821)
NPS/Patrick Myers While most trees in the park and preserve are still green, snow showers dusted the Sangre de Cristo Mountains over the weekend, and the highest aspen groves are beginning to turn gold. This ph... More
Gold Aspens in Fog Above Dunes (44831257831)
NPS/Patrick Myers Fall colors continue at Great Sand Dunes, as various aspen groves turn gold at different times depending on elevation and location. Recent rain has given trees a much-needed drink of water and... More
Gold Cottonwoods Along Medano Creek (37597324451)
NPS/Patrick Myers It was a gorgeous weekend at Great Sand Dunes, with calm conditions and temperatures in the upper 60s. With the ongoing rain and snow this fall, a little flow has returned to Medano Creek. Wea... More
Gold Cottonwoods Below Curving Dune Ridges (29784494873)
NPS/Patrick Myers Even as temperatures decrease, there is a feeling of warmth in the sunset glow of fall cottonwoods and curving dune ridges.
Gold Cottonwoods Along Medano Creek (37024219123)
NPS/Patrick Myers The final colors of fall at Great Sand Dunes are happening now! Some of the trees along Medano and Sand Creek still have their golden color, but they won't last much longer. Fall seems to be a... More
Gold Cottonwoods at the Base of the Dunes (43612780840)
NPS/Patrick Myers The last fleeting gold of fall color and the tallest dunes in North America are illuminated by a warm October sun.
Conjuction of Jupiter and Saturn over a Dune (50805972561)
NPS/Patrick Myers The two largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, were closely aligned on the winter solstice December 2020. Nicknamed ‘The Christmas Star’ by astronomers for the event’s ti... More
American Pika, Alpine Tundra (42210057254)
NPS/Patrick Myers Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve protects significant areas of alpine tundra, mountaintops above timberline where plants and animals are uniquely adapted to perpetual cold. This Ame... More
April Snow on Dunes and Cleveland Peak (33864251945)
NPS/Patrick Myers While much of America is enjoying green grass and budding trees, April is the second snowiest month of the year in the Rocky Mountains!
Avalanche Slope on Dunes (46116909755)
NPS/Patrick Myers ScienceSaturday - How do dunes move? Unless it's spring or there is a weather front moving through, it's surprisingly calm here at Great Sand Dunes. When it is windy, winds are predominately ... More
Big Dipper over Dunes and Cleveland Peak (51101083521)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Marbled Godwits, Dunes and Mount Herard (49913712848)
NPS/Patrick Myers Marbled godwits stop for a few days to refuel in wetlands west of the dunes on their way to Canada.
Marbled Godwits (49914223381)
NPS/Patrick Myers Marbled godwits stop for a few days to refuel in wetlands west of the dunes on their way to Canada.
Mountain Bluebird (32351388894)
NPS/Patrick Myers In early March, the first mountain bluebirds arrive back in the valley for spring. Bluebirds are usually the first seasonal songbirds to return, even though some March days can be snowy and b... More
Mountain Bluebird (46666784835)
NPS/Patrick Myers Mountain bluebirds are the first summer songbirds to appear each year at Great Sand Dunes, arriving in early spring when conditions are often snowy and blustery. Perhaps that's why they have p... More
Mountain Bluebird (41503973032)
NPS/Patrick Myers Spring is irrepressible. After the cold 70 mph windstorm that swept through Colorado yesterday, mountain bluebirds have emerged again on this calm day, and tiny blades of green grass are appea... More
Mountain Bluebird (49652871736)
Mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
Mountain Ball Cactus in Bloom (49913683813)
NPS/Patrick Myers Even in a drought year such as this one, cacti can still produce beautiful blooms.
Burrowing Owl (37732043526)
Burrowing Owl NPS/Patrick Myers Some of the cutest creatures in the park are small owls such as the northern pygmy owl, flammulated owl, saw-whet owl, and pictured here, the burrowing owl. These small owl spe... More
Ranger Holding Mammoth Tooth (37125060224)
Many are surprised that Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve contains numerous fossils, and are even more surprised that these fossils tell us important information about the park's geologic origins! Thi... More
Ring Muhly Grass (43082970490)
NPS/Patrick Myers Why does some of the grass here grow in circles? Did aliens land here? Many visitors ask the first question, and a few ask the second. The grass pictured is ring muhly, which grows in a circle... More
Rushing Stream on North Side of Great Sand Dunes National Park (503656...
NPS/Patrick Myers Despite its historical name of unknown origin, Deadman Creek is full of life. It originates on alpine tundra, tumbling down through conifer and aspen forest before pooling into wetlands on t... More
Sliver of Light on the Dunes (51101460339)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Caterpillars on Piñon Asters (36956929840)
NPS/Patrick Myers WildlifeWednesday - Many of us have a tendency to drive on paved roads through nature, looking for big views and big wildlife. But in doing so, we miss the little things - colorful insects, b... More
Springtime Sunlight in Mosca Pass, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve ...
NPS/Patrick Myers While most areas of the United States have green grass and flowers in May, snow is still melting at higher elevations of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve.
Springtime Cottonwoods, Dunes, and Cleveland Peak (47858149771)
NPS/Patrick Myers Many have a feeling of awe at the surprising presence of massive dunes nestled in the Rocky Mountains. In May, tender new leaves appear on cottonwood and aspen trees, snowmelt extends Medano... More
Sunlight in Gold Aspens (44649849324)
NPS/Patrick Myers Aspens in lower canyons above the dunes still have gold color, bringing a feeling of warmth to a chilly fall day.
Colorful Aspen and Chokecherry Leaves, Medano Canyon (44386169945)
NPS/Patrick Myers This recent photo of colorful leaves in Medano Canyon above the dunes prompts the question: Where do autumn colors come from? There are three basic color pigments in most leaves: ⚫ Green chlo... More
Colorful Aspens above Star Dune (29569545760)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Wood Duck (40818863380)
NPS/Patrick Myers With dazzling colors and patterns, Wood Ducks' appearance seems to far exceed what is needed for basic survival in the wild. Because of their unusual beauty, Wood Duck feathers were highly pri... More
Great Blue Heron (44450066742)
NPS/Patrick Myers WildlifeWednesday - The tallest bird at Great Sand Dunes is the majestic Great Blue Heron, standing over 4 feet (121cm) tall, with a 6 foot (1.8m) wingspan. These prehistoric-looking birds ar... More
Great Blue Heron in Grasslands (24404004048)
NPS/Patrick Myers One of the most majestic and magnificent North American birds, Great Blue Herons are sometimes seen in the grasslands and wetlands of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. These tough s... More
Alpenglow on Dunes and Mount Herard (27390082818)
NPS/Patrick Myers The San Luis Valley and Great Sand Dunes have long been a place of inspiration for diverse cultural groups. Paleo people celebrated the valley’s abundant mammoths, bison, and rich plant life. ... More
Alpenglow on Snowy Star Dune and Crestone Peaks (31601451293)
NPS/Patrick Myers The Sangre de Cristo ("Blood of Christ") Mountains were named by early explorers for the crimson light that often appears on them at sunrise or sunset. This color is especially vivid when they... More
Alpenglow on Dunes and Sangre de Cristo Mountains (33885689791)
NPS/Patrick Myers Early explorers named these mountains "Sangre de Cristo" ("Blood of Christ") for the reddish glow that often occurs at sunrise or sunset. As the sun nears the horizon of this valley that is t... More
Alpenglow, Mount Herard Above Dunes (27234785489)
NPS/Patrick Myers Though it's been a dry winter season so far, the mountains have been blanketed with snow a few times. At moments like the one in this photo, the reason for the historical name of this mountain... More
Harvest Moon over Blanca Peak (29735999351)
NPS/Patrick Myers Blanca Peak, just south of Great Sand Dunes, is considered one of four sacred mountains to the Navajo. Called 'Sisnaajini' in their language ('Dawn' or 'White Shell' Mountain), many Navajo peo... More
Alpine Sunflowers (28541400297)
NPS/Patrick Myers Why do alpine sunflowers always face the same direction? Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has significant areas of alpine tundra - mountaintops above treeline where cold temperature... More
American Avocets and Dowitchers (49914544947)
NPS/Patrick Myers Long-billed dowitchers (foreground) and a pair of American avocets feed in a wetland west of the dunes. The avocets will nest here this summer, while the dowitchers will continue their migrat... More
American Dipper (39893658470)
NPS/Patrick Myers WildlifeWednesday - Though drab in color to camouflage in mountain streams, the American Dipper is one of the most charismatic birds at Great Sand Dunes. Dippers rapidly bob up and down, danc... More
Couple Walking on a Dune (47126811022)
NPS/Patrick Myers The size of the Great Sand Dunes is best shown in comparison to people. In this recent photo, look carefully for the couple walking near the top of the sunlit dune!
Dark Morph Swainson's Hawk Calling to its Mate (44476280375)
NPS/Patrick Myers WildlifeWednesday - A beautiful dark morph Swainson's hawk calls to its mate near Lane 6, which runs along the southern boundary of the national park. After nesting here during warmer months,... More
Bald Eagle Warming its Wings (33950153348)
NPS/Patrick Myers Though not common at Great Sand Dunes, bald eagles are sometimes seen in cottonwood trees and wetland areas west of the dunefield. This bald eagle was warming herself on a chilly spring morn... More
Beautiful Tiger Beetle (50365742187)
NPS/Patrick Myers While the Great Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle receives much attention, there are other species of tiger beetles living in the dunefield. The 'Beautiful Tiger Beetle', Cincidela formosa, has a jewe... More
Dune Ridges and Cleveland Peak (35307440576)
NPS/Patrick Myers “There is a delight in the hardy life of the open. There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy and its charm." Theodore Roo... More
Dune Ridges and Kit Carson Mountain (42138039091)
NPS/Patrick Myers The beautiful rising angles of the dunes and Sangre de Cristo Mountains are more than coincidence - they are the result of plate tectonics that have dropped the valley floor and lifted this st... More
Dune Ridges (48547561807)
NPS/Patrick Myers Late afternoon light this time of year not only highlights the beautiful patterns of dune ridges, it also shows that Great Sand Dunes are made up of long transverse dunes stacked upon one another!
Dunes and Cleveland Peak (30517214603)
NPS/Patrick Myers The presence of warm desert dunes below snowcapped alpine peaks brings a strong emotional response from most visitors. Massive dunes are unexpected in the Rocky Mountains, prompting people to... More
Dunes and Cleveland Peak from Foothills Woodlands (33967634542)
NPS/Patrick Myers People expect to see dunes in a barren desert...but are amazed to experience them in the Rocky Mountains! The dunefield is cradled in a curve of the alpine Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where ... More
Dune Shadow Patterns (51102285395)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Dunes and Cleveland Peak (51265736844)
The dramatic contrasts of huge desert dunes and snow-capped mountains greet visitors entering the national park. NPS/Patrick Myers
Dunes and Mount Herard Reflections (40861008123)
NPS/Patrick Myers Great Sand Dunes is a place with wetland reflections, and a place for reflection.
Dune Ridge (29749190042)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Dunes from Montville Trail (51264251122)
Aspen trees are bright green and there are patches of snow still visible above the dunes in early summer. NPS/Patrick Myers
Dune Ridges Below Kit Carson Mountain (32077842624)
NPS/Patrick Myers Opposites attract at Great Sand Dunes! Nothing in the natural world could be more contrasting than stark desert dunes and lushly forested, snow-capped alpine peaks - yet here they live in qui... More
Dune Ridges above Medano Creek (51266015330)
Majestic ridges of dunes rise above Medano Creek in early summer. NPS/Patrick Myers
Dune Shape Resembling the Profile of a Woman's Face (28391927769)
NPS/Patrick Myers What do the shapes of the dunes evoke to you as the light changes throughout each day and season? Recently, a shape that resembles the profile of a woman's face appeared at just the right ligh... More
Dune Ridges and Mount Herard (51102422000)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Dunefield and Mount Herard from the West (34397464682)
NPS/Patrick Myers One of the steepest and most rugged mountain ranges in the United States, the Sangre de Cristos rise from grasslands to over 14,000 feet (4,300m) in a very short distance. Because of their ina... More
Dunefield and Mount Herard Reflected in San Luis Lake (44095258610)
NPS/Patrick Myers This view of the dunefield and Mount Herard reflected in San Luis Lakes shows some of Great Sand Dunes’ ecological diversity, from alpine tundra to forest to wetlands. Take time on your next ... More
Dunes and Cleveland Peak, Late Winter (39993726022)
It's been an exceptionally dry winter so far in this region - hoping for more snow in late winter and spring. Fortunately, the Great Sand Dunes are beautiful in all seasons and conditions! Photo: NPS/Patrick My... More
Dunes and Cleveland Peak (37854429294)
NPS/Patrick Myers Sometimes the dunes echo the shapes of the mountains above them. In this photo, the two dune peaks echo the saddle shape of 13,414 (4,089m) Cleveland Peak.
Dunes and Crestone Peaks through Piñon Pines (41326102214)
NPS/Patrick Myers The Great Sand Dunes have been a landmark for people throughout countless generations. The tallest dune rises over 750 feet (230m) - taller than the Denver skyline - marking the way for early ... More
Dunes and Crestone Peaks (49986230737)
NPS/Patrick Myers The dramatic snowcapped 14,000 ft. Crestone Peaks stand in stark contrast to the dunes below.
Dunes and Cleveland Peak, Early Spring (51102101285)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Dunes and Mt. Herard above San Luis Lake (27734672797)
NPS/Patrick Myers Rain showers fell on the valley and fresh snow blanketed the mountains over the weekend, helping a little to alleviate the effects of this year's drought. Even though there's little flow now ... More
Dunes and Mount Herard from San Luis Lake (51101499817)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Dunes and Riparian Woodlands along Medano Creek (48499518007)
NPS/Patrick Myers Even when surrounded by a barren desert environment, the water in Medano Creek nurtures cottonwood and conifer trees, which in turn provide good habitat for many birds and mammals.
Dunes, Ponderosa Pines, and Cleveland Peak (32984282100)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Dunes, Medano Creek, and San Luis Valley (49653107497)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Big Dipper Constellation Over Dunes (38836718054)
NPS/Patrick Myers Big Dipper Constellation over Dunes NPS/Patrick Myers On a moonless night at Great Sand Dunes, you can see thousands of stars, feel soft night breezes scented with piñon pine, and listen to o... More
Bison at South Twin Lake (35466380512)
NPS/Patrick Myers On a recent ranger-guided hike, a small herd of bison approached South Twin Lake for a drink while the group watched from a small dune above the lake. Bison are currently managed within park ... More
Black Bear, Great Sand Dunes National Park (33340686190)
NPS/Patrick Myers Bears are emerging now from their winter dens, and they're hungry! Black bears spend much of their time foraging along streams in the park and preserve. They will occasionally take a deer or ... More
Blanca Peak Alpenglow (38109998236)
NPS/Patrick Myers November is #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, honoring the diverse cultures of American Indian tribes across the United States. Blanca Peak, located just south of Great Sand Dunes, is one of four ... More
Blanca Peak (Sisnaajini) (32221679993)
NPS/Patrick Myers Great Sand Dunes staff has ongoing, productive consultation with a number of area tribes, including the Navajo Nation. Just south of Great Sand Dunes is Blanca Peak, 14,345 feet (4,372m), one ... More
Blanca Peak Summit Illuminated (51265729494)
The fourth highest peak in Colorado is located just south of the dunes. It is one of four sacred mountains to the Dine' (Navajo) people, marking the northeast corner of their traditional homelands. NPS/Patrick Myers
Boy at Wetland West of Dunes (29527789690)
NPS/Patrick Myers
Brilliant Fall Sunset over Dunes (24119518598)
NPS/Patrick Myers Sometimes there are no words to add to a photo... greatsanddunes #sand #dunes #fall #sunset #sky
Brilliant Sky Over Dunes (38476017304)
NPS/Patrick Myers National parks protect our nation's unique landscapes and stories. They can be places of refreshment, restoration, and even healing. As we look back on this year, and even further into the pas... More