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