Great Sand Dunes National Park

Our first stop after leaving Texas was Great Sand Dunes National Park in the south east corner of Colorado.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Sangre de Cristo mountains

The sand for the great sand dunes comes from erosion of the rocks on the west slope of the Sangre de Cristo Range and the east slope of the San Juan Mountains.  The sand accumulated at the bottom of a lake in the San Luis Valley between these ranges.  When the lake dried up, the prevailing winds pushed the sand against the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

Dune location and the San Luis Valley

Medano Creek has its headwaters on the north side of Mount Herard.  It winds around the peak on the east side before descent to the west and running south along the edge of the dunes.

Medano Creek with the south face of Mount Herard behind

 Of course I had to climb the dune.  That's me at the bottom, heading for the summit.

View from the bottom of the dune with Mount Herard behind.

 The reward for the climb to the top is a spectacular panoramic view of dunes and valleys and mountains.

View from the top of the dune with Carbonate Mountain behind.