Great Sand Dunes National Park

With elevations ranging from 8.200 to 13,604 feet above sea level, the park and preserve contain the tallest dunes in North America. Protected by the northernmost stretch of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, the dunes seem to appear out of nowhere only a few miles out from the park’s entrance. Once you arrive, their size is both formidable and awe-inspiring. The park and preserve extend beyond the dunes and contains ecosystems ranging from wetlands to forest to tundra — each with their own plants and wildlife.