Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is announcing additional modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. As of March 24, the park will delay the opening of the Pinon Flats Campground from April 1 to May 1, 2020. The opening date may be delayed further based on future conditions. Check the park website for current conditions.
The basis of the decision to delay the opening of the campground is to promote social distancing and to prevent groups of 10 or more people from forming. The current infrastructure in the campground does not allow the park to meet this guidance and would consequently place visitors and staff at greater risk.
The Visitor Center and Western National Parks Association (WNPA) store are closed. Backcountry campers can obtain backcountry permits the day of their trip by calling 719-378-6395. Visitors are reminded to not congregate in front of facilities.
The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor COVID-19. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and will provide updates on our website, www.nps.gov/grsa, and social media channels.
Outdoor spaces at Great Sand Dunes remain accessible to the public, 24 hours, 7 days a week and in accordance with the latest federal, state, and local health guidance, in addition to entry fees being waived for visitors. The following trails, parking areas, and picnic areas are open:
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Montville Nature Trail, Mosca Pass Trail, Montville Nature Trail, Dunes Overlook Trail
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The Dunes Parking Area, the main access point to the dunefield
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Mosca Creek Picnic Area and Castle Creek Picnic Area
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The Medano Pass Primitive Road is open to Castle Creek Picnic Area. The road is closed
beyond this point due to weather and road conditions.
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All outdoor interpretive signs and road pull outs
The NPS encourages people who choose to visit Great Sand Dunes during this pandemic to adhere to guidance from the CDC and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safe and healthy.
With limited visitor services, Great Sand Dunes encourages people to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore the park and preserve including:
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The park website where visitors can learn about the geologic processes that define Great Sand Dunes, https://www.nps.gov/grsa/learn/nature/sanddunes.htm
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Parents and teachers can visit, www.nps.gov/grsa/learn/education/curriculummaterials.htm to explore online curriculum for elementary, middle school and high school students. Topics include history, habitats, wildlife, endemic insects, and hydrology.
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We encourage visitors to check out our youtube channel, www.youtube.com/greatsanddunesnpp, to watch highlights of the annual Robotics Challenge, or experience 40 seconds of the refreshing sights and sounds of lower Mosca Canyon in fall. If you ever wondered what the views were like from higher elevations, virtually summit Mount Herard (13,297 feet / 4053 m) in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve or take a digital tour of the Trujillo Homesteads National Historic Landmark.
Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with individual parks for specific details about park operations.
Tags: covid-19
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
