"Colorado's Great Sand Dunes" Top 5 Page for this destination Great Sand Dunes National Monument by goingsolo

Southwest Colorado is known for its towering mountain ranges which sweep across the state. In the southern city of Alamosa, the mountains give way to a broad expanse of sand and another towering phenomena- the Great Sand Dunes National Monument.

The sand dunes were formed by the eroding of the San Juan Mountains over a period of thousands of years. Although there are no fourteeners in this sandy region, the dunes are impressive in height, considering that they are formed from silt and, well, sand. The tallest of the sand dunes is nearly 750 feet high and the largest, 39 square miles.

The Great Sand Dunes National Monument is located 14 miles east of Alamosa on Hwy 150. Signs along Hwy 160 direct you to this spur road and lead directly to the sand dunes.

• Pros:Unique scenery
• Cons:Remote location
• In a nutshell:A place to pass through when in southern Colorado