Great Sand Dunes Self Guided National Park Audio Tour

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Great Sand Dunes Self Guided National Park Audio Tour

By Shaka Guide Apps

Free cancellation available

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Features

Free cancellation available
11h
Mobile voucher
Instant confirmation

Overview

Walk across the tallest sand dunes in North America and explore Great Sand Dunes National Park at your own pace. A friendly narrator tells you stories about how the wind and rivers shaped these giant dunes and about the people who lived here long ago.

You can start at the Visitor Centre, then climb the dunes, feel the sand in your toes, or slide down like you’re on a playground. Hike to Zapata Autumn, stroll the Montville Nature Trail under aspen trees, and follow the Dunes Overlook Trail for big views. And, if you have time, walk the Mosca Pass Trail if you have more time.

This tour works without cell service. It gives turn by turn directions, travel tips as you explore and it never expires.

Download the tour, walk in the sand, tell your friends about dunes, waterfalls, and stories of Great Sand Dunes National Park enjoy this amazing park your way.

Download the Shaka Guide app to access the purchased tours

Activity location

Blanca Wetlands, BLM
- 81101, Alamosa, Colorado, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

6978 CO-17
- 6978 Colorado 17
- 81101, Alamosa, Colorado, United States

Multiple meeting/redemption points available, see location information for full list

Check availability

Great Sand Dunes Self Guided National Park Audio Tour in English

11h
Opening hours: Sat 12:00 am-11:30 pm
English

Travellers

Language options: English

Price details

AU$14.39 x 1 TravellerAU$14.39

Total

What's included, what's not

Pause, rewind, or replay anytime
Lifetime access after purchase
Built-in turn-by-turn route guidance
Self-paced experience with no fixed start time
Storytelling based on first-hand travel and research
GPS-triggered audio with automatic playback at each stop
Offline access after download
Transport (self-guided using your own vehicle or on foot)
UFO Watchtower
Colorado Gator Reptile Park
Fort Garland Museum
San Luis Wildlife Area (per vehicle)
Board Rental
Weekly Park Pass (per vehicle)
Parking Fees
Meals & Refreshments

Know before you book

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Travellers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device
Travellers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting
No reservations, permits, or timed passes required
Best visited late spring or early fall — cooler temps and fewer crowds; avoid midday in summer as dune surfaces can reach dangerous temperatures
Rent sandboards or sleighs locally before entering the park — top activities here
Medano Creek offers a beach-like experience in spring and early summer due to seasonal surge flow
Bring sun cream, water, and closed-toed shoes

Activity itinerary

Blanca Wetlands, BLM

Take an informative detour to Blanca Wetlands, a restored oasis that offers a glimpse into the San Luis Valley's past before agricultural drainage transformed the landscape. This Bureau of Land Management project, initiated in 1965, showcases the vital role wetlands play in supporting water quality, soil health, and wildlife migration. Though closed during nesting season (February through July), this site tells an important restoration storey.

UFO Watchtower

10m
Admission ticket not included

The UFO watchtower–a place to celebrate the strange, otherworldly, and improbable occurrences which have long intrigued visitors to San Luis Valley. Believers come from all over for a chance to see interstellar beings or, at least, to meet up with other alien enthusiasts. Think you’d like to see…what’s out there? If so, stopping by will only cost you a few bucks, and our perception of our place in the universe.

Colorado Gators Reptile Park

1h
Admission ticket not included

In a surprising twist of Colorado history, what began as a tilapia farm's solution to waste management evolved into a unique wildlife refuge for alligators. After purchasing about a hundred baby gators to handle dead fish, the farm transformed into a public attraction in 1990, drawing crowds curious to see these prehistoric predators thriving in the desert environment. Today, the Colorado Gator Farm has expanded beyond its scaly beginnings to become a sanctuary for various rescued exotic animals, including tortoises, snakes, and even sharks all finding an unlikely home in the San Luis Valley.

Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center

1h
Admission ticket not included

Fort Garland Museum, located in Colorado's San Luis Valley, preserves an 1858 military fort that once protected settlers and served as a base for the legendary Buffalo Soldiers. The adobe fort complex includes original buildings with exhibits on frontier military life, the Buffalo Soldiers, and the history of the San Luis Valley.

Zapata Falls

This hidden waterfall is tucked away inside a cave at the end of a short but adventurous hike less than a mile return. Getting to the 25 foot falls means splashing through water and scrambling over rocks, so if you have waterproof shoes, you’ll want to break ‘em out for this one.

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Begin your visit at the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Centre, where you can explore exhibits about the park's unique geology, diverse ecosystems, and rich cultural history. Pick up maps, watch an engaging orientation film, and get tips from rangers on the best trails or activities for your visit. This is the perfect starting point to plan your adventure in the towering dunes and beyond.

Montville Nature Trail

Montville Nature Trail is the shortest and easiest forest hike in the park, traversing through the former Montville townsite. It’s a quick half mile through shady Aspen forests. At about three quarters of the way in, you’ll break out to the highpoint, which offers a sweeping view of the dunes from above the trees. If you decide to do one trail in the park, I’d recommend this one.

Mosca Pass Trail (Pass by)

Mosca Pass is a moderately difficult 7 mile long trail that continues from Montville Nature Trail, taking you to a pass in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. It’s nice and shady, but not necessarily one of my favourites, so I’d recommend saving it for the if-you-have-time category.

Wellington Ditch Trail

The Wellington Ditch Trail is just under 2 miles of a relatively flat hike through pinon and juniper trees, ending at the Pinon Flats Campground. The trail follows an old hand-dug irrigation ditch dug by the Wellington family in 1927, and offers a few vantage points overlooking the dunes. Just keep in mind, this hike is one way.

Medano Pass Primitive Road

Medano Pass Primitive Road offers a rugged 22 mile backcountry adventure through stunning landscapes, including sandy creek crossings and lush meadows. Along the route, stop at Castle Creek Picnic Area for breathtaking views of the dunes and mountains, and look out for wildlife like deer and elk. Most notably, this is where the seasonal floods of Medano Creek create a temporary beach, complete with surging waves. High clearance 4x4 vehicles are required, making this bumpy, sandy ride an exciting way to explore the park’s remote beauty.

Sand Ramp Trail

The Sand Ramp Trail is a moderate 11 mile (one way) trek that winds along the base of the dunes, offering sweeping views of the sand and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. For the first few miles, it follows along the Medano Pass Primitive Road. While the views are not a notable as some other trails, it does provide a quiet, peaceful

San Luis State Wildlife Area

1h
Admission ticket not included

The San Luis Wildlife Area is a lesser known but ecologically rich area in southern Colorado, near the San Luis Valley. Managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, it consists of a mix of wetlands, grasslands, and riparian areas that provide essential habitat for migratory birds, waterfowl, and other wildlife.

Location

Activity location

Blanca Wetlands, BLM
- 81101, Alamosa, Colorado, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

6978 CO-17
- 6978 Colorado 17
- 81101, Alamosa, Colorado, United States
Moffat
- Moffat, Colorado, United States
Fort Garland
- Fort Garland, Colorado, United States

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