Tag: Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve
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Mark your calendar for free day at Colorado’s national parks
The opportunity comes around only so often to visit America’s national parks free of charge. Take advantage Friday. That’s the National Park Service’s next free entrance day, including for Colorado’s four national parks: Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde. If you’re eyeing Rocky Mountain, be advised timed entry…
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Reimagined drive-in movie theater the latest intrigue in Colorado’s ‘magical’ valley
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save In 2016, near the heart of Colorado’s San Luis Valley, the Falcone family came to a curious, dusty slice of Americana where the possibilities seemed as endless as the open fields all around. The old silver screen, neon sign and snack stand remained of the…
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Rocky roads: Brutal, beautiful drives in Colorado mountains
For the miners who sought to tame Colorado’s mountains, the road wasn’t easy. As is evident from some of the wicked paths blazed in those days, riddled with boulders, creek crossings, narrow passages and steep drop-offs. These are the hair-raising, bone-rattling trails attempted today by brave souls in Jeeps and ATVs. Alpine Loop A Jeep…
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Your bucket list for Colorado outdoor fun in 2023
No list should determine satisfaction in Colorado’s outdoors. That should be more so determined by spontaneity, by those unexpected moments around the turn of any trail we might take. But goals are good, along with ideas. Consider these for your new year: Grand escape Grand Lake gets lots of love in the summer; it’s a…
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Record spending reported at Colorado’s national parks in 2021
Visitors spent more money than ever at Colorado’s national parks in 2021, according to a government report. The annual report determined 7.8 million parkgoers collectively spent an estimated $560 million, with most of that going toward lodging, eating and filling up the gas tank. Those expenses and more supported 7,570 jobs in and around Colorado’s…
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These campgrounds are worth a reservation around Colorado
The old saying “know before you go” is taking on a new, heightened meaning in Colorado’s outdoors. Before we go camping, we need to know about fire restrictions, for one. Those are becoming more widespread amid this megadrought and amid waves of newcomers. The pandemic marked a period of bigger crowds across the mountains —…
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Happy Trails: Zapata Falls a cool escape in Colorado’s San Luis Valley
Southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley is known for a wide range of surprises, from sand dunes, to geothermal springs, to a campground dedicated to aliens, to a park dedicated to alligators. The valley is also known for heat. On those days, another surprise comes in handy. That’s Zapata Falls, in easy reach of one of…
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Don’t expect big flows at Colorado’s sand dunes this summer
An always-anticipated, short-lived outdoor experience in Colorado could be different this summer — and not for the better. At the end of April, Medano Creek began its seasonal flow to the base parking lot of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. From the mountain snowmelt, the water showed itself as a trickle, measuring in…
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Catching a wave: Sandboarding is booming at Colorado’s legendary dunes
MOSCA — About five years ago, Amy Raney came home from her 9-to-5 in Albuquerque and asked her husband a question. “Do you ever feel like you’re not living the life you’re supposed to live?” In a matter of months, the house in the city was sold and the couple moved into a tiny home in…
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Stargazing at Colorado’s otherworldly dunes, and the plight of dark skies beyond
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save MOSCA • The campground opened for the season this month, and of course it was full. Of course people from near and far came for this certain spring awakening in Colorado’s most mystical realm. “A delight,” one camper called the celestial show over Great Sand…