Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park

Nestled against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Great Sand Dunes are the magnificent centerpiece of a natural system that includes high mountain peaks, sparkling streams, powerful winds, and billions of grains of sand. It is an awe-inspiring, wild landscape. The dunes are the tallest in North America and they cover more than 330 square miles. Rolling around the edges of the dunefield are the creeks of Medano and Sand Credk. They are swift, shallow and seasonal and are critical links in the natural system of sand recycling. They are sources of moisture in this desert valley and are the focal point for many visitors to the Great Sand Dunes.