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Started By
Message
Sand Dunes National Park-Colorado
Posted on 9/21/21 at 8:00 am
Posted on 9/21/21 at 8:00 am
Going up to the dunes in October and was looking for recommendations of places to stay (like should we stay closer to the park or find a surrounding town).
Going for two days and one night. Ganna be doing mostly hiking, sand sledding during the day and exploring the park but night time bar recommendations are appreciated too.
Not sure if Air BnB is the way to go or just get a lodge for the night.
Going for two days and one night. Ganna be doing mostly hiking, sand sledding during the day and exploring the park but night time bar recommendations are appreciated too.
Not sure if Air BnB is the way to go or just get a lodge for the night.
This post was edited on 9/21/21 at 12:27 pm
6
Posted on 9/21/21 at 8:57 am to Tacktheritrix
We went last year for 3-4 hours. We sledded. The visitor center was closed due to Covid, I don’t know if there was more things to do at the park, we were on a time crunch but unless there is more than sledding don’t spend 2 days there. Also wear glasses to protect your wyesand if the wind is blowing you will get sandblasted
Posted on 9/21/21 at 8:58 am to Tacktheritrix
There really isn't much close by, or even relatively close. Just to sleep and drink, you'd drive quite a bit.
I've been a few times, and if I were in your shoes I'd simply camp and pack for a fun time. It's an underrated night park, great sky views if weather allows.
I've been a few times, and if I were in your shoes I'd simply camp and pack for a fun time. It's an underrated night park, great sky views if weather allows.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 9:06 am to Tacktheritrix
Zapata Falls is close by and a fun short hike. There are also a lot of cool peaks (Blanca is the big one) you can hike up if you’re up for something more difficult.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 9:09 am to wickowick
We are getting there Friday morning and staying all day friday. Leaving plan to check out saturday morning and just go spend a few more hours there. I wouldn't say we plan on spending two days in the park it self, just the area.
When you went did you stay in the area or drove back to a bigger city. I plan on staying in Denver but it just seems silly to drive there and drive back that night. But if there aren't places to stay that might be the play.
When you went did you stay in the area or drove back to a bigger city. I plan on staying in Denver but it just seems silly to drive there and drive back that night. But if there aren't places to stay that might be the play.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 9:13 am to Tacktheritrix
Denver is way too far man. At the very least you should be able to get a decent place in Buena Vista!
Posted on 9/21/21 at 9:15 am to Tacktheritrix
When we stopped we were eastbound from Utah National parks heading for home. I didn’t pay that close attention to the lodging around the area, but I remember there not being much around. We rented the sleds a couple of miles from the front gate. Sledding was fun, but walking back up that sand dune was a kick in the arse after sledding a few times
Posted on 9/21/21 at 9:16 am to TigerSaintInDallas
Well I'm flying into Denver on Thursday. I have friends that live there and we are ganna stay with them Thursday and Saturday night.
So really just Friday night we are looking for something. Preferably with a bar or some restaurant/bar atmosphere.
Will definitely look into Buena Vista.
So really just Friday night we are looking for something. Preferably with a bar or some restaurant/bar atmosphere.
Will definitely look into Buena Vista.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 9:55 am to Tacktheritrix
Buena is an awesome town. Lots of nice little restaurants. And you get some of the best views from any town in Colorado.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 11:57 am to Tacktheritrix
We stayed here Great Sand Dunes Lodge in one of their RVs. Its about 5-10 minutes from the park gate.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 12:12 pm to Zappas Stache
I was actually just looking at this. Did you enjoy it?
Posted on 9/21/21 at 12:18 pm to Tacktheritrix
Yes, it was very quiet and isolated. There is a restaurant and store in the lodge but we cooked on the grill outside the RV. The RV was decent and overpriced ($200/night) but we were paying for location. You can also rent boards at the lodge to slide down the dunes.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 12:24 pm to Zappas Stache
Yea, pricing was 178 total for the night. But we are ganna have 4 people so it won't be bad. I did see that the couch folds out into a bed so it should sleep us all. With only being there one night I don't see it being an issue, especially since we are going to be in the park/hiking surrounding trails for the entirety of the day.
But for dinner I did see they have a little grill out there, so we will probably do the same thing and grill. Do they have any porch chairs? I didn't see any in the photo. Worried we are all ganna be standing around.
But for dinner I did see they have a little grill out there, so we will probably do the same thing and grill. Do they have any porch chairs? I didn't see any in the photo. Worried we are all ganna be standing around.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 12:28 pm to wickowick
quote:
unless there is more than sledding don’t spend 2 days there.
I did see that they have some pretty good surrounding hikes. We might venture off after a morning in the Dunes to do one or two.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 12:51 pm to Tacktheritrix
quote:
Do they have any porch chairs? I didn't see any in the photo. Worried we are all ganna be standing around.
We brought our own camping chairs but our RV did have an outdoor table and chairs but I don't recall how many chairs. And I did see the people next to us sitting outside so their RV had chairs.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 1:36 pm to TigerSaintInDallas
quote:
Buena is an awesome town
BV is awesome but a little bit far. Itd be about an hour an a half to two hours down there from BV.
Salida would cut 30 minutes off and have more lodging options. Alamosa might be worth consideration. Not a ton of stuff but its got a number of hotels on 285 and it is very close to the park.
Posted on 9/22/21 at 4:22 am to Tacktheritrix
I see you are flying in to Denver so this probably won’t work for you, but… when we went a couple of years back we took my truck. We stayed in Walsenburg the night before and came into the park via medano pass. It was a cool way to enter the park. You could presumably rent a Jeep and do that, but the first big snows are usually in October and would shut the pass down.
If you are wanting decent restaurant/bar options, your best bet is salida (which is still a ways away). Other than playing in the dunes, we didn’t get to do any hikes. Even then I would be hard pressed to spend a full day there. You might consider spending some time and driving to Black Canyon of the Gunnison if Sand Dunes isn’t all you thought it was. Highway 50 had extensive closures, but with the closures on I-70 they opened it back up when I was there in late august.
If you are wanting decent restaurant/bar options, your best bet is salida (which is still a ways away). Other than playing in the dunes, we didn’t get to do any hikes. Even then I would be hard pressed to spend a full day there. You might consider spending some time and driving to Black Canyon of the Gunnison if Sand Dunes isn’t all you thought it was. Highway 50 had extensive closures, but with the closures on I-70 they opened it back up when I was there in late august.
Posted on 9/22/21 at 6:56 am to Zappas Stache
That place looks perfect for a quiet place to stay. I bet the night sky is ridiculous.
Has anyone ever been to Crestone just up the road? I've heard it has a lot of woo woo type shite there and it kind of piqued my interest.
Has anyone ever been to Crestone just up the road? I've heard it has a lot of woo woo type shite there and it kind of piqued my interest.
Posted on 9/22/21 at 11:42 am to iwantacooler
quote:
Even then I would be hard pressed to spend a full day there
So you are the second or third person to say this. On the nation park website they say there are hiking trails that are apparently close by; is this not the case? I'm not trying to spend 18 hours in the sand dunes but I would like to be there for at least a few hours to see a few of the named peaks..etc.
I honestly figured morning of go to the dunes for the day and around lunch head out grab something from our room and head to another near by hike.
Posted on 9/22/21 at 1:25 pm to Tacktheritrix
Here is a pic I snapped of the park when I flew over a couple of weeks back. You can see how the mountains trap the sand over time and create the dunes.
As far as surrounding hikes, I’m really not sure. I know there are some trails around, just not sure how good. The wind was blowing 30mph or so the day we visited so we got our fill of the dunes quick. It was like being sandblasted and hurt.
As far as surrounding hikes, I’m really not sure. I know there are some trails around, just not sure how good. The wind was blowing 30mph or so the day we visited so we got our fill of the dunes quick. It was like being sandblasted and hurt.
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