Great Sand Dunes Dog Policy
Great Sand Dunes National Park is Dog Friendly
The tallest sand dunes in North America, up to 750 feet (230 m) tall, were formed by deposits of the ancient Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley. Abutting a variety of grasslands, shrublands, and wetlands, the park also has alpine lakes, six 13,000-foot mountains, and old-growth forests.[1]
Great Sand Dunes National Park is a fairly dog friendly park. Dogs are allowed on several trails and dunes, and they are allowed in the front-country campgrounds. Please see the linked NPS Pet Policy details for a map of the specific areas where they're allowed. Also, please note that the sand at Great Sand Dunes can get very hot in the summer, so if you're visiting then, make sure to walk on the sand in the early morning or evening, and make sure your dog has plenty to drink.
- Website
- https://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm
- Pet Policy Details
- https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/pets.htm
- Area
- 168 mi2
- Annual Visitors
- 461,532
Trail Policy
Dogs are allowed in the Preserve and the following trails:
- Mosca Pass Trail
- Dunes Overlook Trail
- Medano Pass Primitive Road
Dogs must be kept on a 6' leash at all times. While on the Dunes Overlook Trail, they must stay on the trail. They are not allowed in the back-country of the dunefield -- they are limited to the first high ridge of dunes.
Campground Policy
Pets are allowed in the PiƱon Flats campground while on 6' leashes. Pets are not allowed in any back-country camping areas. Details on the campgrounds are below:
Campground | Dogs Allowed? | # Dog Friendly Sites | Equipment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites | No | |||
Pinon Flats Campground | Yes | 90 | Car, Caravan/Camper Van, Fifth Wheel, Pickup Camper, Pop Up, RV, Tent, Trailer | Reservations/Info |
Campground details from Recreation.gov |
Location & Map
Have a photo of your dog here?
Note: Policies can change -- please make sure to check official dog/pet policies prior to making plans or booking travel.
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Credits
[1] Overview text from the Wikipedia article List of national parks of the United States, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
All other text and images, except where noted, copyright ASR Concepts, LLC, all rights reserved.