Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO - III

SOUTHWESTERN USA
RS ROAD TRIP




August 19, 2017 (Day 12)

Alamosa, CO to Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO

Miles Today: 91 / Total Trip Miles: 2,069





Map of Today's Route

(Click on map to enlarge)

Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve was originally designated Great Sand Dunes National Monument in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover. Located in south-central Colorado, USA, the park encompasses 107,300 acres, while the preserve protects an additional 41,700 acres, for a total of 149,000 acres (233 square miles). The Great Sand Dunes are located in the high desert of the San Luis Valley, just west of the Sangre de Cristo Range. Elevations run from 7,500 feet in the valley west of the dunes to 13,600 feet at the summit of Tijeras Peak in the northern part of the preserve.

The park's sand dunes (up to 750 feet high) are the tallest in North America. The dunes cover an area of about 30 square miles and are estimated to contain over 5 billion cubic meters of sand. For tens of thousands of years, as lakes within the valley receded, sand was exposed and blown toward the Sangre de Cristos, eventually forming the dune field. To reach the dunes in spring and summer months, visitors must walk across the wide and shallow Medano Creek. The creek typically has a peak flow from late May to early June in most years. From July through April, the creek is usually no more than a few inches deep, if there is any water at all. 

A large spread between high and low temperatures is typical of high desert climates. The average high temperature here is only slightly above 80 °F in the warmest month of July. However, hikers are warned that in summer the surface temperature of the dunes can reach a scorching 150 °F. Low temperatures during winter nights can be extremely cold, with average low temperatures well below 32 °F and record low temperatures below 0 °F. Precipitation is very low on the dunes, averaging just over 11 inches of rainfall per year. 



PHOTOS
(Click on Photo for Larger Image

Great Sand Dunes National Park
Dune fields and Sangre de Cristo Mountains viewed from the state park at San Luis Lake (elevation 7,515 feet). 
{Photo on flickr}

Sand Dunes & Medano Creek
Medano Creek runs along the east side of the dune field in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, USA.
{Photo on flickr}

Clouds Over San Luis Valley 
Looking west from Great Sand Dunes National Park.
{Photo on flickr}

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Tomorrow
Drive to Gunnison, Colorado.

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Copyright
These photographs are the property of Leon Jackson, and are protected by copyright laws. Photographs may not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Leon Jackson. © 2017 Leon Jackson. All Rights Reserved.

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