Located in southeastern Colorado, Great Sand Dunes seems oddly out of place. Rising 750 feet above the San Luis Valley, some of the tallest dunes in the US are here at the base of the Sangre de Christo mountains. There is a natural replenishment of sand for the dunes as rains and snow melt bring fine sediment down to the valley. Then the prevailing winds dry it out and spread it back over the dunes. The dunes have wonderful flowing shapes and are beautifully lit morning and evening. It is also a popular recreation area so it requires a little hiking to find untrampled sand.
