HOW TO USE: This is a rough guideline for your trip. Be sure to fill in the blanks and send to your loved ones. Remember, the wilderness is wild, plan accordingly.
ITINERARY
Sand Box Trip, Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO
Mosca, CO, Backpack Overnight _____ 20___
TBD (_) Trailmaster
On ______, ______is hiking into and camping on the sand of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, 25 miles north of Blanca, CO near Alamosa, CO. The trip is of easy difficulty due to walking on the steep sand. The two day one night trip total mileage is whatever you make of it as there are no established trails or campgrounds in the sand.The parking lot elevation is around8,200'.Sand is a bummer in high winds so BE PREPARED.
There is no water at camp so carry enough for the afternoon, dinner, breakfast and the hike out; 3 to 4 quarts should do it under normal conditions. Also, the climb into the sand starts late after the sand has cooled down and the return trip will be done before the hottest part of the day: don't get stranded by hot sand.
Trailhead Directions - From Denver drive south on I-25 to State Highway 160 at Walsenburg which is past Pueblo. Continue west on 160 through the beautiful Spanish Peaks, to the west end of Blanca, Colorado where you pick up State Highway 150 north. Continue approximately 19 miles to the Park HQ and check in to get your backcountry permit. From there continue to their main parking lot which will serve as a trailhead into the Sand Dunes. (TOP TIP: Use your GPS to mark your car's waypoint to make sure you come out of the sand at the right spot!)
SCHEDULE
SaturdayDay 1,
3:00 pmarrive Trailhead and judge the temperature of the sand for walking.
4:00begin hike into the sand, up and over the main ridge (apx 1+ miles)
6:00 make camp/dinner, jump off sand dunes and stuff
10:00 prepare for amazing stars/sleep.
SundayDay 2,
6:00 AM up and about, breakfast, stow camp
7:30 Head out and climb some of the surrounding high dunes
9:00ishHead off the dunes to the cars before the sand gets too hot.
10:00 Cars and Head home and talk about how amazing the stars were and just how cool you are.
WEATHER (expected)
Likely to be anything, it's high Colorado. Be prepared for 100+ degrees to 20 degrees and snow, it is never summer in the mountains. Oh yeah, these peaks are often windy so be prepared for sandstorms. Be prepared.
WHAT TO TAKE,see the gear list
REMEMBER, backpacking teaches you to take care of yourself in a wilderness setting and to enjoy it.
If your mother packed your pack, you have way, way too much stuff. Light is right.
The outdoor Code, the 4 c’s; CLEAN IN YOUR OUTDOOR MANNERS, CAREFUL WITH FIRE, CONSIDERATE IN THE OUTDOORS, CONSERVATION MINDED.
COSTS
Gas
Personal food
Park fee
WHO's Going
Fill this in with names and cell phone.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Arapaho National Forest 970-295-6600
ATTACHED
8.5"x11" Topo