National Park Service · Great Sand Dunes Wilderness Area · CO

Backpacking Campsites in the Dunes or Forest

Backpacking in the DunesPhoto · Kevin Winget
Not publishedStatus
ReservableAccess
27Sites

The place

The most popular and unique backpacking option is camping in the 30-square-mile dunefield, beyond the major dune ridgeline (about 1.5 mile hike minimum over dunes). Enjoy wide open views of the starry sky or a bright moonlit night. Designated sites are also available in the trees of the foothills, or camping is available in higher forests of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. Reserve national park backpacking permits for the dunes or foothills through recreation.gov

SRC · National Park Service API · 2026-08-24

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

Fees

Backpacking Permit Fee$6.00
SRC · National Park Service API · 2026-08-24

Your representative

This campground sits in CO-03. This member’s public-lands record →

SRC · U.S. Census TIGER · MTJP Scorecard