Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center

The Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center, on State Highway 150 near Mosca, is the starting point for a visit to the tallest dunes in North America. Hands-on exhibits explain the park’s ecosystems, and interactive models show how the dunes formed and keep moving. A short film about the dunes plays here, and the Western National Parks store sells books, maps, and souvenirs. It is also where you can get a backcountry permit if you plan to hike into the dune field. The visitor center is about a mile south of Piñon Flats Campground, a short drive from the dunes parking area, so it is easy to combine with a dune hike.