Great Sand Dunes Sandboarding Excursion

Experience the unique thrill of sandboarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park, where the vast sandy landscapes offer an exhilarating ride unlike any other, with a relaxing hot springs soak to finish off the day.

Last updated: Apr 2024

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Around $20 per day for sandboard rentals
More than 500 Miles from you
National Star: Exceptional experiences within the country that are must-dos for adventurers
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Description

Begin your sandboarding adventure at Great Sand Dunes National Park, where the sprawling dunes provide a perfect natural playground. This activity allows you to glide across the sand on specially designed boards, similar to snowboarding but tailored to the desert’s unique conditions. Visitors should start at the main Dunes Parking Area and be prepared for a hike to reach the best slopes. The experience is best enjoyed in the cooler morning hours to avoid the midday heat. The park offers spectacular views and an adrenaline-pumping ride down slopes that can be enjoyed by beginners and experienced boarders alike. Wrap up your day by returning your sandboard and relaxing at Sand Dunes Recreation's hot springs, a perfect way to soothe your muscles after a day on the dunes.

What's included

Perfect for

For solo

For two

For groups

Outdoorsy

Exciting

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Itinerary

Arrive early at the park to secure a parking spot and beat the heat.
Rent your sandboarding gear from Oasis Store, Kristi Mountain Sports, or Sand Dunes Recreation.
Hike to the dune field, which can be about 0.7 to 1.25 miles from the parking area.
Spend the morning sandboarding down the dunes.
Return your equipment to the rental spot. If you rented from Sand Dunes Recreation, enjoy a relaxing soak in their hot springs.
Head back after a refreshing and rejuvenating end to your day.

Location

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

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Packing List

Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Sturdy closed-toed shoes
Water bottle
Camera or smartphone for photos
Swimsuit and towel (for hot springs visit)

4.8 ● Google reviews

Without a doubt one of the coolest parks in the entire United States. The feeling of being out in the depths of the sand away from everything is a total mind warp We drove down from Denver and arrived at dusk, so decided to drive down to the park and walk a little ways at night to see what it was like, and that was a whole experience in itself! We could hear people who sounded distant but suddenly would appear immediately in front of our faces. The sand changes your ability to perceive sound, especially at night! During the day was a blast as well, but be warned that walking is incredibly difficult, takes forever, and will tire you out quickly especially moving uphill. Definitely recommend bringing water!

The Great Sand Dunes was an amazing experience for my group of friends. We brought sleds and slid down the sides of the dunes near the parking lot, ran around in the river, and I climbed to the summit of high dune during the sunset. Looking down from the summit of the dunes at twilight was a surreal experience for me, and one that I would love to have again someday. It got crazy windy here after the sun went down and sand started blowing everywhere, and it almost hurt to get pelted with the sand, so I would be mindful of the wind and plan appropriately.

If you can, you should definitely rent a boogie board and hike to the top so you can sled down. Looked like great fun. Serene and peaceful. The Dunes in the distance look like a painting.

It is an amazing location, you visit the visitor center to learn about the area and check out the gift shop, out into the sands a major hike especially if you aren't used to altitude, to the stream that pulses and even up into the nearby mountains. Also the night sky is amazing to see, though plan around the moon for the best experience.

Interesting and unique park, these huge sand dunes surrounded by mountainous terrain! Beautiful scenic drive entering into the park. Very cool to walk around the dunes, it was windy when we were there so glasses and a head cover may be helpful. The visitor and welcome center is also really nice, there’s a good view of the dunes from here, if you’re not wanting to walk out to them. Lots of staff as well.

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