Whispers | National Parks of the American West Photographer
/Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America—an awe-inspiring centerpiece set within a stunningly diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Towering formations like Star Dune rise dramatically above the valley floor, while Medano Creek flows seasonally at the base of the dunes, creating a natural beach that draws visitors each year. Adventurers can explore the rugged Medano Pass Primitive Road, which winds through a scenic canyon into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Trails lead deep into rich ecosystems, past lush forests and wetlands to alpine gems like Medano Lake, home to trout and a variety of high-altitude wildlife.
