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Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve There are no maintained trails on the sand dunes, as this is a very dynamic landscape, but all 30 square miles of the dunefield are open to walking: Have an adventure and walk where and as far as you want… walking up and down in soft sand is very tiring, so set your sights on a reasonable hike. Many hikers start from the parking lot just beyond the visitor center and walk to the 700-foot summit of High Dune, where there are fine views of the dunefield. It took us about 3 hours for this challenging round-trip walk... Star Dune, at 750 feet, is the highest and is about a mile and a half beyond High Dune… Note that zigzagging (traversing) up the sand slopes is less tiring than walking straight up the steep slope, and walking along the ridgetops of the dunes is easier than frequently ascending and descending them. Camping among the dunes is allowed and offers an unusual experience steeped in solitude, quiet, and exceptional night skies a permit
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