Great Sand Dunes National Park is easily one of the most underrated national parks in the United States. As an International Dark Sky Park, it offers unbelievable views of the stars above on clear nights. During the day, visitors can enjoy a remarkably diverse landscape with grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra.
Of course the the park’s biggest selling feature come in its sand dunes, the tallest in all of North America. The tallest dune, Star Dune, stretches 750 feet from its base to its crest, and climbing to the top of the first ridge of dunes can easily take an hour or more. But how did the dunes of Great Sand Dunes National Park get so tall? National Park Diaries answered that exact question.
“Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America. It’s this considerable height that makes them perfect for sandboarding. And its remote location means Great Sand Dunes National Park at night is an absolute treat. But how did they get that way? Why are the Great Sand Dune so tall? This video sets out to answer that question and more. Because the dune system is so complex and relies on so many factors to achieve its great height, it means more than just the dunes themselves need to be protected.“