In mid-March I was desperate for some wilderness action, so I headed out on a backpacking trip in the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. My initial plan was to do a simple three day hike up and back the Sand Ramp Trail along the eastern side of the dunes. But on the first night I was feeling ambitious and decided to hike all the way around the dunes!
Great Sand Dunes Megaloop
March 2009 | Colorado
My counter-clockwise route around and through the Great Sand Dunes in March, camping one night on the hills above the dunes, and two nights in the dunes themselves.
I started at the Point of No Return, and basically did a counter-clockwise loop around and through the dunes, camping one night on the hills above the dunes, and two nights in the dunes themselves. On day 2 I took a big gamble, hoping that Sand Creek would be flowing, at the north end of the dunes. Fortunately it was, and stocked up on water there, which I would have to haul for the rest of the trip through the dunes.
Dunes Tree
As you hike up the Sand Ramp Trail along the eastern side of the dunes at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, it's amazing to see how the pine forest meets the desolate expanse of sand dunes.
Sand Ramp Dawn Panorama
Sunrise along the Sand Ramp Trail.
The weather was very cold at night, but the days were nice and sunny and not too hot - perfect weather for trekking through the dunes. I had all my winter camping gear with me, including my -30º synthetic sleeping bag, down jacket, balaclava, winter gloves, long underwear, and down booties, which were great for hanging around in the dunes at night. An MSR dromedary bag was great for hauling the water, as a busted plastic jug would have been disastrous. The cold nights were no problem since I was all bundled up, and the days were perfect weather for crossing the dunes – sunny with a brisk chill to the air.
Dunes Western Sunset
Sunset light illuminates the dunes along the remote western portion of the Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Star Dune Sunset
Warm sunset light shines on Star Dune, the tallest dune in the national park. Star Dune rises 750 feet above the San Luis Valley, making it the tallest dune in all of North America.
Dunes Sunset
Sunset over the San Luis Valley, as seen from in the dunes.
My last night there was incredible – a perfectly calm night with the stars blazing and my mind all wrapped up in the strange dunes magic. I almost expected a UFO to come down and pluck me out of there.
Blue Dunes
Looking west at the twilight sky over the San Luis Valley, as seen from the western part of the Great Sand Dunes.
Dunes Dusk
A calm evening deep in the Great Sand Dunes, looking north at the Sangre de Cristo mountains and the San Luis Valley.
Ocean of Sand
Mount Herard and the Sangre de Cristos rise above the Great Sand Dunes.
See all of my Great Sand Dunes photos here.
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