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Colorado Sand Dunes Camping! – Weekend Warrior
The Drive Out
The Colorado Sand Dunes is one of those spots that just doesn’t seem to fit with the surrounding area, and that’s what makes it so awesome. It didn’t take much to persuade my friend, Ben, that we should go check it out. Desert camping and sandboarding in Colorado was always something on the list to do, and we were going to make it happen. With cheap flights purchased, we summoned our buddies out in Denver to join in. The open invite was a big time success, so thanks to all who showed up!
Check out the recap! All credit to Mr. Ramon Jimenez.
Once Ben and I landed, our buddy Ramon picked us up and we headed to the local Walmart. Other than our plane tickets, we had zero supplies for camping, so the pit stop was required. This was definitely another minimalist backpacking trip being initiated with a tight budget. With a tent, sleeping bags and food, we set off on the 4 hour drive to the Colorado Sand Dunes.
The Sleeping Mat
Always, I repeat, always purchase a sleeping mat. The consequences are no bueno if one decides to forgo.
Zapata Falls
Once we arrived at the park entrance, our initial plan was to head straight out into the dunes. However, we decided to stay at a spot closer to the surrounding mountains the first night to check out a popular recommended waterfall – Zapata Falls. We drove up this righteously rocky road to get to the entrance spot for the hike. Car suspension gone.
The hike itself took about 20 minutes and ended at the base of a stream covered from the sun by the forest. There were a few other groups here, too, and the falls were right up ahead. The cool part about Zapata Falls is the entrance. In order to see the falls, you must walk upstream into a crevice in the side of the mountain. Let me be the first to say, as soon as your feet hit this water, they will go insta-numb. I couldn’t even imagine attempting to swim here.
Nevertheless, the show must go on. We all hid the pain, and made it inside the cave to get some good shots. The mist from the falls moved swiftly through the crevice and the falls were illuminated by the sun breaching through the top of the rocks. It was definitely a worthwhile experience simply due to the challenge of facing the elements.
First Night Camping
Back at the campground, this is where the lack of planning caught up to us a little bit. The sun was setting over the frontier behind the clouds, and we could see a storm rolling in over the dunes. It was a very peaceful, relaxing evening, considering. We expected the night to be fairly cold, but nothing we couldn’t handle. We were wrong. Ramon literally looked like a sushi roll in his sleeping bag. It’s safe to say not having firewood was a rookie mistake. Though, we did have our emergency ration packs and one biofuel in case all hell broke loose!
The main issue was forgetting the sleeping mat. The area which we set up camp was great, except it was on rocks. I don’t think my back has ever been more jacked up than on this weekend trip. Still worth it.
Purchase Supplies
We found out in the morning that basically everything we needed was at the Oasis shop right up the road. We didn’t know, but now you do!
Fortunately, the storm never made it to the campsite. However, the wind did. It was a pretty rough night attempting to sleep through gale force winds battering your tent. This was honestly some straight Bear Grylls survival activity – gotta remind yourself it’s for the greater good.
Shredding the Dunes
Some time during the night, the rest of the crew showed up and we all had our communal tribal gathering (or lack of) in the morning before heading out to those epic Colorado Sand Dunes. We picked up a permit at the park entrance and began the 2 hour hike.
The trek took about 2 hours to reach the higher dunes, but the scene is absolutely incredible. The blending of mountains and desert makes for such a picturesque landscape. It’s even better when combined with the hydration factor of ICE. Activación. Kudos to Ramon for capturing most of the photos on this post! I’ll have his page linked below.
But I digress. I’ll let the photos do the talking…
Now, the main event out in the dunes was none other than sandboarding. The Oasis shop provided us the essentials, including some wax for the bottom of the boards. We’ve seen the videos. Now, how is it in reality? Well, it’s not too difficult, especially if you wakeboard, snowboard or longboard. The only issue is once you get going, you are going. It’s kind of like the movie Speed – braking is not an option. Carving is also not easily managed, so be prepared for some epic dune tumbling.
Wax or wipeout
Ensure the board is waxed and then buffed. Failing to do so results in the board sticking in the sand and performing gnarly flips down the dune. Either way will get you to the bottom.
Desert Camping
I didn’t think spending the day sandboarding could be topped, but camping in a desert is something I won’t forget anytime soon. The entire experience really puts things into perspective. Here we are, in a desert, with nothing but sand for miles. It is chill time in the ultimate form.
Sleep was still not happening tonight without the mat, but there was no reason to sleep. The start were vibrant, even with an almost full moon. Shooting stars were fairly frequent, too. Ramon was able to get some epic night shots with a long exposure. Desktop background anyone?
When morning did finally come around, we packed up and hiked out of Tatooine. The surreal weekend trip was coming to a close. Once again, I thank all those who showed up, and for keeping me hydrated. The weekend warrior trip was a success! There will definitely be more trips like this in the future.
The Budget
Overall, we spent around $300 per person, all inclusive, taking no more than a backpack with us.
Recap of Places
- Ramon’s Page – Awesome photography. Check it out!
- Zapata Falls – A cave waterfall worth visiting on the way to the Colorado Sand Dunes
- Zapata Falls Campground – First camp ground
- The Oasis Shop – for all your supplies!
- Great Sand Dunes National Park – info page for learning more
Michael Lakus
IT professional, athlete, musician, ponderer of many things... Born and raised in Florida, I began traveling internationally after college. I created this site primarily to remind myself of where I've been and to share my experiences on traveling with a quirky, stress-free, travel attitude.
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