National Preserves - Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Preserve

4/27/2017 After passing Spanish Peak in the Sangre de Christo range, we entered the SdC NHA, for which the GSD Park and Preserve are representative sites. The mountains were very impressive, rising very rapidly off the plains and still with plenty of snow. Heading north again we got on the approach road to the Park and Preserve. Off in the distance we saw the weirdest combination of cloud, fog and dust and then suddenly we were in a hail squall! Luckily that didn't last, and things improved as we entered the Park. Right past the VC we parked, put on warm jackets and got on the Mosca Pass Trail at the Montville Trailhead. I set a typically fast pace up the moderate climb, and very quickly we were experiencing the high altitude shortness of breath - slow down! Not far up the trail we saw a marker acknowledging we had entered the National Preserve - who-hoo, another unit! We enjoyed walking the trail, and turned onto the Montville Nature Trail for excellent views of the dunes as the sun and some blue sky broke through.

The park sign

Ken reading info ...

... about the trail

Me at the Preserve boundary

The boundary sign

Crossing a stream

Trail cactus ...

... and lichen

A nice view back to the dunes in the Park

Looking at the Preserve from the VC