08/31/2026
“Sandy Summit”
Climbing beaches in the mountains, stretching high into the sky.
Without another soul in sight, you stick tightly by my side.
As we summit sandy hikes… the ground moves beneath our strides,
making adventures twice as long, twice as far, twice as nice.
- Dre Harmony
If you’ve never been to Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado, you absolutely MUST! Not only is it famous because I’VE graced it with my presence, but also because it’s the tallest sand dune in North America. 🏜️
At 750 feet, the dunes appear to tower over the nearby, snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains, instilling a larger than life sensation. It also makes hikers at the base look like ants. 🐜
Tips & Tricks for hiking Great Sand Dunes National Park:
1. Bring Snacks (and water) - hiking up sand burns WAY more calories than watching somebody else do it on the internet, so pack a nutrient-dense snack and some high-quality h2o. 🚰
2. Wear Proper Footwear - I hiked barefoot… don’t make the same mistake as I did. Feet cut through loose sand like a warm knife through butter, instead, opt for a completely closed sneaker or hiking boot, trail runners being the optimal choice. Sure, we all love sand between our toes, but maybe not shards of river rock or 1st degree burns. Plus, open toed (or backed) shoes act as shovels in sand.
3. Hike the Ridgelines - We showed up late, and to save time, hiked straight up the face, which was more like vertical quicksand. Don’t be like us! 😅
4. Bring Protective Eyewear - The wind at the summit is unrelenting, and with it comes sand at the same speed… pelting your skin and eyeballs like tiny rockets. Bring sunglasses, bring goggles, bring whatever you own to protect your eyes so you can actually open them and see what you’re taking a photo of. 😎
5. Bring a Board - What goes up must come down. Why walk when you can ride? Bring a skateboard (sans trucks), a sled, or anything else you can ride down a mountain. Worst case?… run/roll down the dunes. 🛹
Optional Additions:
- Trekking poles (with ‘baskets’)
adventureduo