The Drive In:

Sand Dunes National Park

I had never traveled to this part of Colorado before. I was in the San Luis Valley, which is pretty much the very southern half of Colorado near the New Mexico border. I had never seen a valley this large before, it reminded me of something I might see in Montana.

As with most of my travels, the sense of isolation and vast wide open landscapes can bring about a sense of humbleness and serentity in equal forms. This valley expanded for miles and miles in all directions. Dust and wind ruled this part of Colorado and often blinded me while driving.

I stayed in a town called Alamosa, which was about thirty minutes from the park. I drove on highway 160 to get into the park. You will see a sign indicating that the park is a right turn off this highway. It’s about a twenty minute drive down what I believe is highway 150 to the park itself.

You can experience this park in one day if you plan your trip early
Great Sand Dunes Park from highway 150

The Sand Dunes

When you first enter the park the first thing you will notice is that the sand is pretty firm. The first couple of yards are fairly flat and eventually the elevation changes as you approach the dunes themselves. It seems as though the dunes go on for miles and miles, yet I did not explore or climb any high dunes. 

The backdrop of the dunes are several high mountain peaks, which provides quite a juxtaposition of different natural wonders: sand and mountains. These two elements are not supposed to be next to each other sharing the same soil. That’s what makes The Sand Dunes National Park so different from other parks. The mind and naked eye kind of have trouble processing these two forms of nature.

People were sledding and snowboarding down the big dunes which was cool to watch. It’s the type of park where you just walk around and take everything in; the sights, sounds, rays of light bouncing off the mountains and into the sand. I could see some aspens blooming towards the entrance of the dunes. This is the type of place you want to catch the sun setting. 

History & Use of Land:

The Ice Age and changing shorelines are somewhat responsible for sand dune developement. I’m no geologist so understanding how phenominons like this exist is puzzling. My understanding is that a sand dune is simply a pile of sand that is deposited by wind over many years. A dune forms around an obstacle such as a rock or clump of grass where the wind begins to lose speed. This small dune itself becomes an obstacle and causes more sand to be deposited. 

The San Luis Valley has been home to many indigenous people. Most notable were the Ute, Cheyenne, Apache, and Pueblo tribes. These tribes lived and hunted in the area. They chased seasonal game and edible plants, while also maintaining villages. They understood how to utilize this unforgiving landscape for their own survival. 

It’s hard to imagine how anyone could survive out here. The wind is unforgiving and dust often blankets the entire  valley making visibility almost impossible. Yet, humans have this unique ability to adapt to their environments despite the conditions. It makes you appreciate all the modern comforts we take for granted: shelter, electricity, grocery stores, warmth.

Visitors Center

It’s worth visiting the main office/visitor’s venter at this park. It will do a much better job of explaining how these massive dunes form and how people lived in this harsh enivornment. 

Stepping outside towards the back of the visitors center will give you access to telescopes that let you take a closer look at the landscape. 

Camping is offered towards the end of the park if you just follow the road past the visitors center. Not a bad place to be if you have an RV. I can only imagine what the stars look like out here.

Reflection

I never in a million years thought I would be living in Colorado. The state is so vast and filled with little slices of heaven most people will never experience or know about. The isolation is sometimes hard to deal with and the landscapes just seem like they go on forever. What a unique place to call home and what a different experience living in the western states provide compared to coastal states. 

Driving back to my hotel and watching the sun set in this huge valley reminded me why I moved out here and all the goals I have yet to accomplish in life. I have experienced loss and love in this state. I have missed just about every family holiday for the past four years. Why would I move so far from home and bare all these growing pains alone? I’m not really sure, but everytime I drive out in the wilderness, great plains, mountains, and deserts of this great country I wonder what is possible in life. Who will I become if I just stay out here? What will I find? Who will I meet?

Watching The National Parks documentary on PBS makes me realize I’m not the only one to feel this way when visitng our great national parks. The saying is, “Going to our parks is going home.” We need these places to recharge the mind, body, and soul. I was never into nature or parks. I rarely went outside when living on the East Coast. It seems as though  I have become a different person. Always chasing the next natural landscape and seeing what it teaches me about life.

Few people will know what true freedom feels like. Shows like Yellowstone give a glimpse into this world, yet the problem is you are watching a TV Screen. In my opinion ultimate freedom can only be found in the great western landscapes that make you feel tiny. It’s jumping on a horse or riding in your truck while you watch the effect mother nature has had on the land over many centuries. Cities and development are necessary, yet also so harmful. Thank God some of our most sacred lands are protected by the full weight of the federal government because guys like John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt saw the importance of preserving these places.

Brandon Renbaum

Brandon Renbaum

Author of The Western Nomad

I have lived in Colorado for over four years and love exploring/writing about my experiences in this beautiful state. 

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