Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Tag: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. 12-28-2022

Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond in the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. I hope everyone had a good holiday season, and it’s not over yet!

Christmas day we made a drive to the Great Sand Dunes, NP. We had a short hike across the sandy bottoms to where the dune grass grows and the climb up begins. The soft, late afternoon light was golden, highlighting the dune grass, against a backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo, (Rocky Mountains). We had a beautiful afternoon with family and drove home under twilight skies.

Dune Grass, Great sand dunes national park
Dune Grass, Great Sand Dunes National Park

I got into some abstract shots in the dune field, promising myself another trip back there soon to wander and shoot more abstracts.

Sand dunes abstract
Sand Dunes Abstract

As always, thank you for looking, and have a Happy New Year. G

White house, San Luis Valley, Colorado

White house with hay bales, San Luis Valley, Colorado. I never miss an opportunity to pull over at this location near the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, which is just discernible on the right in front of the mountains. The hay bales add an element making the place feel less abandoned, almost like someone might be home. Thanks for looking. G

White house, San Luis Valley, Colorado

Mule Deer, Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve

Mule Deer, in the brush at the Great Sand Dunes NP, Colorado. Moseying around, munching on the shrubs, doing what deer do, all the while being sweet creatures and a wonderful sight at the National Park when they pop up out of the rabbit brush as we drive by. Thanks for looking. G

Mule Deer, Great Sand Dunes NP.

Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Colorado. Spent the day here today on a photo shoot. Spring break was happening behind us with visitors from half a dozen states on sand boards and sleds. Before us, toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains was pure serenity of rice grass, sand and sky. Thanks for looking. G

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Sangre de Cristo Mountains And Great Sand Dunes

Sangre de Cristo Mountains dwarfing the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

The large, main dune-field covers approximately 30 square miles, but there are many more square miles of smaller dunes in the sand sheet surrounding the main dune-field. At the widest point, the main dune-field runs six miles and at the greatest length, eight miles. Great Sand Dunes has the tallest dunes in North America. The Star Dune rises 755 feet from its base to its crest. The “High Dune” on the first ridge rises 699 feet from its base, but because it starts on higher ground, its crest is higher above sea level that of Star Dune.”  National Park Service.

Some of the peaks in the Sangre de Cristo mountains are over 6000 feet higher reaching over 14,000 feet in height. All details aside, this stunning location across the San Luis Valley is fabulous for viewing the Sangre de Cristos in the southern Rockies and Great Sand Dunes together. Thanks for looking. G

Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Great Sand Dunes