Title: High Dune in Mosca - Tours and Activities | Expedia.ca [High Dune Hotels](https://expedia.ca/High-Dune-Hotels.0-l553248635922900893-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels)[Flights to Mosca](https://expedia.ca/Cheap-Flights-To-Mosca.d135330.Travel-Guide-Flights)[High Dune Car Rentals](https://expedia.ca/Car-Rentals-In-High-Dune.d553248635922900893.Car-Rental-Guide)[Mosca Vacation Packages](https://expedia.ca/Mosca.d135330.Destination-Travel-Guides) # High Dune Tours and Activities ![Great Sand Dunes National Park featuring landscape views and desert views as well as a couple](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635922900893/aa6c7136-1c7f-4a0c-9ab9-2f879739ef60.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![Great Sand Dunes National Park featuring landscape views and desert views as well as a couple](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635922900893/aa6c7136-1c7f-4a0c-9ab9-2f879739ef60.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![South Central Colorado showing desert views and landscape views](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635922900893/e555f98c-6c95-48cf-ba35-4f3c67715302.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![High Dune](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635922900893/8ca794f6-7e00-4f26-aced-f94ad2e572e8.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![High Dune which includes landscape views and desert views as well as a small group of people](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635922900893/9b1fc4b4-bc33-4e1a-b8b2-5deacb3b9feb.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ## Visit High Dune Activities [Mosca travel guide](https://expedia.ca/Mosca.dx135330) --- --- #### Climb to the peak of this imposing and popular summit within Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, a surprising sandy deposit far from any ocean. While not the highest in elevation in the park, the High Dune on First Ridge in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve is the one most people visit. It appears tall and imposing from the parking lot and is among the most accessible dunes here. Join hikers of all levels for access to 360-degree views of an otherworldly landscape and the tallest sand dunes in North America. The High Dune Trail keeps you within eyesight of the visitor center, ensuring you keep your bearings the whole time. Start by hiking across Medano Creek behind the visitor center and sand dune parking lot and picnic area to the base of the dune ridgeline. Look for the paths through the brush along the edge of the parking lot then once you have High Dune in site, make your way toward it across the open sands. From there, make switchbacks on your way up to the summit. Plan on at least 2 hours to cover the 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) round-trip hike, depending on how acclimated you are to the higher altitude. Do not rely on hiking apps to show a formal trail map. Because it’s a shifting sand dune, the trail is what you make it as you zigzag up the ridgelines to the top. Once you’re at the summit, you’ve reached about 699 feet (198 meters) and will be treated to vast views of the dune field, with Star Dune to the west and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east. Avoid hiking during the highest temperatures of midday. Aim for sunrise or sunset and bring plenty of water, protective clothing and sunscreen. As you hike, look for hollow fulgurites, tubes of sand that have been welded together by lightning. The tube’s outside is coated in sand grains and the inside is a surface of glass. Admire them and then leave them behind to comply with the park’s “Leave No Trace” guidelines. Find High Dune within Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley. Pay the park’s weekly or annual entrance fee to access the sandy dunes. ### Popular places to visit ![Great Sand Dunes National Park featuring a sunset and desert views as well as a couple](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6089659/aac736c8-42ae-4243-b176-0190d8983be8.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Great Sand Dunes National Park Landscapes collide with mesmerizing effect as rugged mountains and some of the largest sand dunes in North America converge. [](https://expedia.ca/Great-Sand-Dunes-National-Park-Colorado.d6089659.Vacation-Attraction) ![Alamosa showing forests](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635153837598/c538e81c-e3d4-4bd5-b266-35a5b9f23303.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Mosca Pass Wildflowers, aspen forests and rich history make this hiking trail one of the most beautiful in Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park. [](https://expedia.ca/Mosca-Pass-Colorado.d553248635153837598.Vacation-Attraction) ![Zapata Falls showing a cascade](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6329213/618043ae-d676-42f9-b9f5-6da6a0da2272.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Zapata Falls Enjoy the cooling mist that sprays from these spectacular falls during summer and marvel at the frozen cascade during the colder winter months. [](https://expedia.ca/Zapata-Falls-Mosca.d6329213.Vacation-Attraction) ![Scenic view of Cottonwood lake taken from a kayak.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/879644868868448256/e92824c2-b657-4e8e-bc22-eb9175407417.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Cottonwood Lake Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Cottonwood Lake during your travels in Crestone. Discover the area's mountain views and temples. [](https://expedia.ca/Cottonwood-Lake-Crestone.d879644868868448256.Vacation-Attraction) ![Mountains Above Great Sand Dunes](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248621532658488/f6560282-8f74-49e4-8516-0a637bc44ceb.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point during your travels in Crestone. Discover the area's mountain views and temples. [](https://expedia.ca/Kit-Carson-Peak-And-Challenger-Point-Crestone.d553248621532658488.Vacation-Attraction) ![Trees reflect off a lake at the foot of Revenue Mountain in the Upper Geneva Creek near Grant, Colorado.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635976196433/7858edb3-b4a9-4adc-9f75-22f4b4b4ab2a.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### San Isabel Lake Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at San Isabel Lake during your travels in Crestone. Amble around the area's forest or visit its temples. [](https://expedia.ca/San-Isabel-Lake-Crestone.d553248635976196433.Vacation-Attraction) --- ## Best Lodging Options Near High Dune ## Check availability on hotels close to High Dune [Tonight ](https://expedia.ca/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.Package&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=553248635922900893&startDate=2026-03-01&endDate=2026-03-02)[Mar 1 - Mar 2](https://expedia.ca/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.Package&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=553248635922900893&startDate=2026-03-01&endDate=2026-03-02) [Tomorrow night ](https://expedia.ca/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.Package&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=553248635922900893&startDate=2026-03-02&endDate=2026-03-03)[Mar 2 - Mar 3](https://expedia.ca/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.Package&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=553248635922900893&startDate=2026-03-02&endDate=2026-03-03) [Next weekend ](https://expedia.ca/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.Package&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=553248635922900893&startDate=06%2F03%2F2026&endDate=08%2F03%2F2026)[Mar 6 - Mar 8](https://expedia.ca/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.Package&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=553248635922900893&startDate=06%2F03%2F2026&endDate=08%2F03%2F2026) ![Great Sand Dunes Lodge](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/36000000/35820000/35814400/35814380/f77c1185_y.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=340&ch=150) ### Great Sand Dunes Lodge 7900 CO-150 Mosca CO [](https://expedia.ca/Alamosa-Hotels-Great-Sand-Dunes-Lodge.h35814380.Hotel-Information) ![Dunes Rest](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/102000000/101420000/101419800/101419736/52d3f7de_y.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=340&ch=150) ### Dunes Rest Mosca CO [](https://expedia.ca/Mosca-Hotels-Dunes-Rest.h101419736.Hotel-Information) ![Minutes from the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Stunning views.](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/84000000/83930000/83926600/83926595/6e014dde_y.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=340&ch=150) ### Minutes from the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Stunning views. Mosca CO [](https://expedia.ca/Mosca-Hotels-Minutes-From-The-Great-Sand-Dunes-National-Park-Stunning-Views.h83926595.Hotel-Information) ![Trails End Getaway · Modern Cabin w/ Hot Tub near Sand Dunes Nat'l Park](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/92000000/91270000/91261300/91261275/3ce61417_y.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=340&ch=150) ### Trails End Getaway · Modern Cabin w/ Hot Tub near Sand Dunes Nat'l Park Mosca CO [](https://expedia.ca/Mosca-Hotels-Trails-End-Getaway-Modern-Cabin-W-Hot-Tub-Near-Sand-Dunes-Natl-Park.h91261275.Hotel-Information) ![Getaway at the Dunes](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/101000000/100800000/100799800/100799752/bc1e4e13_y.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=340&ch=150) ### Getaway at the Dunes Alamosa County CO [](https://expedia.ca/Mosca-Hotels-Getaway-At-The-Dunes.h100799752.Hotel-Information) ![Crestone Basecamp - With Hot Tub!](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/122000000/121880000/121873800/121873757/3a444ceb_y.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=340&ch=150) ### Crestone Basecamp - With Hot Tub! 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