On summer weekend days, an average of 1,200 vehicles visit Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park, typically containing more than one guest. Not only can this bog down the sole point-of-entry into the destination, it can also crowd parking areas and terrain. This crowding trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down either – when the national park designation was bestowed upon the spot in 2004, annual visitation was 267,204 guests. By 2023, the annual number had nearly doubled to 512,219.

With many of the amenities at the park kept roughly the same amid recent growth, the National Park Service is looking to give the destination an overhaul – and they’re asking the public for feedback on their ideas.

After digging deeper into the situation, officials found that key pain points result in safety risks in crowded parking areas, illegal parking that damage natural resources, and frustrating queues to enter the park. These are the key concerns that proposed improvements will hopefully address. And with roughly 85 percent of traffic at the park heading straight to the Medano Creek area and the Dunes, improving this portion of the park is a priority.

Key improvements being considered include adding additional parking (potentially an entirely new lot), the creation of more established pull-off areas, and the installation of new entrance kiosks, along with other development expected to improve the entry experience. Additionally, a new multi-use paved trail could be added, making it easier to get around the park without having to walk through parking lots or on a road. Nature trails may also be constructed to help disperse crowds looking for good views.

A ‘public comment’ period for these changes is currently underway, set to remain open through March 29. The plan will then be refined and go through several more steps before any implementations take place.

Find the full breakdown of the situation and proposed changes here and and find the homepage for this proposal here.