When the destination Colorado comes up in a conversation, you may picture massive snow-covered mountains ideal for skiing, or pristine lakes surrounded by lush green forests. Probably you don’t picture anything to do with a desert. But as we’ve all come to realize, the truth is always stranger than fiction. There are deserts in Colorado, in fact.
Did you happen to know that the largest sand dunes in the country can be found in the state of Colorado? It’s true. Some of them reach as high as 750 feet! These are deserts in Colorado that you and your family won’t want to miss out on.
Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau is situated right on the four corners. Which include the states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. The region only receives about 8 inches of rain during the year. There you will find countless mesas, plateaus, mountain peaks that are littered all throughout an immense basin. Along with dried-up streambeds and valleys that dissect through the area.
Though it’s considered to be a desert region, there is still plenty of grass, shrubs, and other vegetation in the Colorado Plateau. While you’re visiting, be sure to check out several of the Colorado National Parks and Monuments that are in the area. Hiking, mountain climbing, biking, horseback riding, and primitive camping are available as well.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
All right, let’s get right down to it. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is where you will come across the largest sand dunes anywhere in the United States. They cover an area of 30 square miles, with a cluster of some of the most stunning 14,000 peaks in the backdrop. Which only add to the beauty of the park. Recent evidence has shown that these sand dunes are actually a waterbed that was formed by a large lake that dried up thousands of years ago.
Summer Temps Change Things
While it may be referred to as a desert that certainly experiences hot weather at times, summer temperatures typically average only in the high 70’s to low 80’s. And fall to the ’40s and 50’s at night. So you’ll need to plan your dress wear accordingly, especially if you plan on staying there overnight. In the springtime, it’s not uncommon for there to be high wind speeds at some point throughout the afternoon. The fall season usually has some warm days. But colder weather can also show up, sometimes even with a bit of snow and ice.
Activities and Events Galore
As far as activities and events in the park are concerned, there’s a whole bunch of them. Their Junior Ranger Day programs, Summer Concert Series, are just some of the events that they hold from May through September. Sledding or sandboarding down the dunes is a big hit with many visitors. Along with camping opportunities, hiking, wildlife viewing, and experiencing the milky way at night. These are just a few activities you won’t want to miss out on. Be sure that you bring plenty of water with you.
High Dune Trail
Do you enjoy hiking and are looking for a huge challenge? The High Dune Trail also happens to be located within the Great Sand Dunes National Park and will give you more of a taste of what it feels like to be out in the desert. It’s considered to be a difficult 3-mile there-and-back hike that features a river and can be heavily trafficked at times during the summer. Depending on when you visit, it can be quite windy as well.
The incredible surrounding views at the top of the dune are incomparable, making it totally worth the trek. There’s no stopping your feet from sinking down into the sand,. But most hikers do their best to walk in other people’s footsteps to prevent this. The best time of year to do this hike is during the spring or fall.
Star Dune Trail
While the High Dune Trail is certainly a huge accomplishment. If you were to finish it, you still wouldn’t be able to say that you hiked to the top of the tallest sand dune in the United States. If this is something that you would like to be able to cross off your bucket list, then the Star Dune Trail is what you’re looking for. It’s 750 feet in height and 8,617 feet above sea level.
There’s not necessarily a specific route that you need to take to reach the top. You’ll also notice that it’s a much more isolated area compared to the High Dune Trail. The hike up to the summit can be very tiring. The sand can get very hot, so you’ll want to set out early in the morning to make it easy on yourselves. Once you’ve had time to relish your victory and take in the amazing views at the top, save your energy by bringing something that you can slide down on.
North Fruita Desert
It just so happens that some of the best mountain biking trails in the entire state of Colorado can be found in the desert. And trust me, they’re worth looking into! The North Fruita Desert has 18 different biking trail systems that are located in the city of Fruita. These are just to the east before you reach the Utah border.
When you visit, you’ll be surprised that you’re still in the state of Colorado. You’ll notice that the terrain there is mostly dry, with the rocky hill formations and scrub brush everywhere. Even if your family doesn’t like to mountain bike, there are plenty of other recreational activities in the area. These including camping, picnicking, motorized bikes, and sand buggies in designated areas.
Each of these are unique desert experiences. They all have something special waiting for those that are up for the adventure. Which of these deserts in Colorado interests you the most? If you’ve already visited one of these desert destinations, leave a comment below telling us about it.
