Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve - Schedule Of Events (U.S. National Park Service)

NPS Photo by Melanie Rawlins

Visitors get more out of their visit by going on short ranger-led programs. Programs are free and open to all ages.

Scheduled Interpretive Programs

Your visit can be more rewarding when you better understand the environment around you. Ranger programs are offered most days from May through September, and on selected days from October through April. See the current schedule of programs. The list of special guest programs is below on this page. Please call the Visitor Center at 719-378-6399 for more information about programs.

Suspected Meteor Crater, North Side of Great Sand Dunes NP

NPS Photo by Patrick Myers

Rangers occasionally lead hikes to a suspected meteor crater (above) on the north side of Great Sand Dunes National Park. These and other free ranger programs are now being offered in and near the community of Crestone.

Free Ranger Programs Now Offered in the Crestone/Baca Community on Park's North Side

September 2008 Programs Near Crestone (.doc Word file, press release August 2008)

October 2008 Program Near Crestone (.doc Word file, press release September 2008)

Education Specialist with children on a school field trip

NPS Photo

Education Specialist with children near the dunes

K-12 Education Programs are available throughout the year, by reservation only. Hands-on discovery in the dunes, forest, or wetlands are available seasonally, and classroom visits are available in winter months.

NPS Photo by Patrick Myers

Bison take a drink at Dollar Lake west of the dunes. Over 1000 bison roam on Nature Conservancy lands within the national park. Bison tours are the primary way to see these majestic animals at Great Sand Dunes.

The Nature Conservancy partners with the National Park Service to protect the entire dunes system and its biodiversity. The Conservancy manages over 1000 bison on Conservancy-owned grasslands and wetlands within the national park.

Bison Tours are offered throughout the year, weather permitting, on Nature Conservancy lands. Led as a hayride, horseback ride, or 4WD vehicle tour, bison managers take you to parts of the park that few visitors get to see. Trail rides or 4WD vehicle tours are offered anytime as staffing permits, and as long as there is a minimum of 2 people. Hayrides are offered by reservation for groups of 6 or more. Please call ahead to confirm available dates and times and to reserve a tour.

The Nature Conservancy's Zapata Ranch also offers longer horsepacking trips, ranch experience stays, and lodging in their historic ranch rooms.

For more information on dates, times, and prices, please call 719-378-2356 ext. 1, or click the Bison Tours link above.

NPS Photo by Melanie Rawlinson

Junior Ranger Day is a popular day for kids to visit and learn about nature, animals, history and more!

Junior Ranger Day Each summer the park hosts a special day with numerous activities for kids, including learning about nature, primitive skills, sand sculpturing, crafts and more. June 14 was the day in 2008, with a huge turnout! Check this page in late spring 2009 for the summer 2009 date and info.

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Living history presenter "Beaver Belly the Mountain Man" is one of the special guests that often gives programs at the park.

Special Guest Speakers are scheduled each summer at the amphitheater. Topics range from living history to astronomy to geology. Check here in late spring for the summer lineup of special speakers.

NPS Photo by Scott Hansen

The Oasis store tours go in an open air vehicle along the Medano Pass Primitive Road.

Medano Pass Primitive Road Tours (NOT AVAILABLE IN SUMMER 2008) in an open-air vehicle are offered in warmer months by the Oasis store, near the main entrance of the park. The tours start at the store, following a sandy road along the eastern edge of the dunes. Adults $21, $12 for children 12-18, $5 for children under 12. Tours take place at 11:00 and 2:00 in summer months or in shoulder seasons as long as there is a minimum of 6 people. Call 719-378-2222 for reservations and information.

Photo by Erich Schwiesow, courtesy Colorado Field Institute

Colorado Field Institute sponsors in-depth programs on the natural and cultural resources of the San Luis Valley.

Colorado Field Institute is a Colorado non-profit organization whose purpose is "To expand stewardship of the natural and cultural resources of the San Luis Valley while increasing sustainable economic development in the region." CFI-sponsored programs are primarily in-depth, outdoor activities developed to complement the programs of cultural and natural resource management agencies, including Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Please click on the link above for information on CFI's current schedule of programs.