Return to the Sand Dunes - Spring 2023

 The Great Sand Dunes are a special place.  It's a super unique national park that is in the middle of nowhere southern Colorado.  360 Sangre de Cristo mountain views and hundreds of miles of sand with no trails.  To get to the dunes, we started at the parking area and walked across Mediano Creek, which was cold on the first day and warm on the second day based on whether or not the sun was out.  

The kids have been to the dunes before, but Kolby was only a toddler and KD didn't even remember the experience being a 3 year old.   This time, we drove down there and didn't tell our kids that our family friends were going to meet us there.  It was a fun surprise when they showed up to our camping spot the first night.  The look on their face when they saw them was priceless.  We had a great time with the Coffins as we stayed at our parents "cabin" in the Spanish Peaks area the first night and then rented a cabin near the dunes on the second night. The kids (and adults) got to play in the creek and, believe it or not, all of the older kids made it to the top of High Dune, which was not an easy task!  The wind up there was intense.

Mediano Creek

 

Sunset on the Dunes

 

 

 

5 Colorado Photography Locations You Can Drive To (No Hiking Required)

 

If you're photographing the high mountains of Colorado and don't really feel like going on a strenuous hike, you might want to look into a few locations that have easy access for your low clearance 2 wheel drive vehicle.  This might especially be true if you are visiting from near sea level.  Altitude sickness is a thing!  Here are of few of my favorite spots that you can shoot just by getting out of your car:

1.  Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park

 

Rocky Mountain National Park is a great place to visit.  If you want a true alpine experience above treeline, take the drive along trail ridge road.  Enjoy alpine wildflowers, unique rock formations and stunning views of Longs Peak and the Continental Divide.  All of this can be had from pull-offs along the road.  Keep in mind, there is a National Park fee and this place can get crowded on summer weekends.  

2. Chautauqua Park, Boulder

 

  

The city of Boulder sits along the base of the Front Range foothills a short drive from Denver. The most iconic features here are the Flatirons - huge rocky crags that shoot out from the landscape.  Great views can be seen from the entrance.  In fact, the above picture was taken standing in the parking lot!

3. Crested Butte

 

 Crested Butte is called the "Wildflower Capitol of Colorado".  A super neat town with abundant foliage and aspen groves all around it.  From here, you can literally just pick any road to drive down and see great views.  Kebler pass is a great spot in the fall.  It boasts the largest aspen grove in the country...err...world!

4. Dallas Divide

 

 

 The Sneffels Range near the historic town of Ouray is known as "Switzerland of America".  The mountains here are unique and jagged rising abruptly from the landscape below.  Taking Hwy 62 from Ridgway to Telluride goes along the Dallas Divide.  Prime country here.  You can't trespass onto this pasture land that is own by Ralph Lauren, but the best views are along the road anyway.  Once when standing here, I could hear elk bugling and cattle mooing at the same time.

5. Great Sand Dunes National Park

 

 

 Want to go to an ocean-less beach in the middle of the mountains?  The Great Sand Dunes are a true natural wonder.  The highest ones rise up to an elevation of 9,000 ft.  They are super fun to play in with kids, (or adults) but are a bit of a workout if you want to climb to the top.  No worries though, the prime photography spots are near the entrance to the park.  

Got any other easy access photography spots?  Let me know what else could be added to the list!

Family Trip - Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes from High Dune - Prints available

Family trips can be difficult, but rewarding.  It's a chore hauling two kids across the state between baby crying and traffic and the occasional "Are we there yet?"


"How many more minutes until we're at the sand dunes Daddy?"

"About 200 Sweetie."

Road to the Sangre de Cristos - Prints available

Then you get to your destination and put sunscreen on, hats, water, bottle, snacks, jackets, etc.  Did we forget anything? 

"Just stuff him in there!"

"Should we change his diaper first?"

"Too late he's already buckled in the seat.  I'm not taking him out again!"

"If he gets his pants dirty, I'm going to be upset.  Those are the only other pair we brought."

"It'll be fine.  He can just go without pants.  He's a baby!"  



Once we finally start on the sand, all is good in the world.

WARNING: EXTREME CUTENESS!

Scroll at your own risk.

 KD made it all the way to the top without complaining... much. 

He loves the sand!

This was also a photography trip.  In the evenings, I abandoned the wife and children at the hotel and went out in search of some landscape beauty.   The weather was pretty good both days with some clouds making for great shots of the mountains and dunes.

Sunset over Star Dune and the 14ers from the south - Prints available

Sunrise on the Blanca Group.  Mt. Lindsey at right - Prints available

The second evening I hiked up to the top of (9000ish ft.) High Dune for some close up shots of the mountain range.  I had done this once before, but forgot how Incredible the view is.  I would highly recommend hiking up there if you go to the park.  It's a bit of work, but well worth it.  The winds picked up as I approached the top.  Also, make sure to cover your skin (and your camera) so you don't get sandblasted.

Approaching the top

Panorama from High Dune in the late afternoon

Sunset from High Dune - Prints available

Fiery Sunset Over the Dunes - Prints available