Hiking the Sand Sheet Loop Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park
Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 km
The Sand Sheet Loop Trail is one of the best quick and easy day hikes for first-time visitors to Great Sand Dunes National Park.
I believe this because visiting the park for the first time often comes with a lot of questions, such as: Why did the sand dunes form here, or where did the sand come from?
Questions like these and many more are exactly why I recommend hiking the short 0.4-mile (0.6 km) Sand Sheet Interpretive Trail, as the signs along the trail guide you through a basic understanding of the entire landscape, explaining how both the landscape and ecosystem come together from the high alpine summits of the nearby Blanca Peak to the sand dunes themselves at the bottom of the San Luis Valley.
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Sand Sheet Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Sand Sheet Loop Trail is located at the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center, making it a great stop to both learn about the park from the staff inside, while hiking this short trail before venturing out into the dune field.
Google Maps Directions: Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center
Hiking Checklist - Great Sand Dunes
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Sand Sheet Loop Trail
The Sand Sheet Loop Trail can either begin here, on the left side of the visitor center, or by walking through the visitor center to the far side, where this article ends.
Sand Sheet Loop Trail
After less than 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the trail splits into the short 0.3-mile (0.5 km) Sand Sheet Nature Loop, which both begins and ends here at the visitor center.
Personally, I chose to go left at this split, but I don’t think it makes much of a difference in terms of enjoying the trail, whichever way you decide to go.
This short walk through the Pinyon Pines is the only place to find a little shade on the Sand Sheet Loop Trail, which is why I recommend traveling to Great Sand Dunes with a hooded sun shirt, as it can be useful for this and countless other adventures in the park.
This is the far end of the Sand Sheet Loop, where the trail makes a sharp turn back toward the visitor center.
Sand Sheet Loop-Dunes Access Junction
Just before the Sand Sheet Loop returns to the visitor center, the trail splits with a short access trail that leads down to the Medano Creek Trailhead, where the High Dune Trail begins.
However, hiking from the visitor center to the sand dunes is by far the less popular option compared to simply driving to the dunes access down the road, as it is a much closer hike to go sledding, among a number of other adventures!
In any case, go right here to return to the visitor center.
This split to the right is nothing more than a gradual path to the Sand Sheet Loop, compared to the stairs in the photo above.
That being said, go left to return to the beginning, with the parking area just on the other side of the visitor center.
Sand Sheet Loop Junction
Finally, the Sand Sheet Loop Trail returns to the beginning, with the main entrance and parking area just to the left of this initial loop split.
More Great Sand Dune Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Great Sand Dunes National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Almost all of the safety factors that the National Park Service focuses on are centered around the weather.
By this, I mean that the National Park Service reports extremes, such as the surface temperature of the sand dunes reaching up to 150˚F (65.6˚C) in the summer, while in the winter, the park, including the dunes, can be completely covered in snow.
For this reason, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is best visited in strategic ways, meaning that certain adventures are best for some seasons, while others are best for different times of the year.
For example, to explore the Dune Field in July, the National Park Service recommends early morning or late evening hikes only. However, this can be one of the better times of the year to head to some of the upper-elevations trails, such as Mt. Herald.
That said, Black bears are known to be found in the hills and mountains surrounding the Great Sand Dunes dune field, and while hiking in black bear territory usually presents less danger compared to grizzlies, hiking with bear spray is never a bad idea. However, it’s really up to your own discretion and comfort level.
Finally, afternoon thunderstorms in high mountain west areas, such as this, are a serious concern, especially in the dune field! For this reason, I highly recommend checking Mountain Forecast before hiking in the summer monsoon season, as this is one of the best and most reliable resources for upper elevation weather around the world.
I say this because I unfortunately got caught in a lightning storm in a remote part of the Star Dune Trail, and it was one of the scarier lightning experiences I’ve ever had, as there is quite literally nothing taller or more conductive than yourself when surrounded by nothing but sand.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Great Sand Dunes National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
Noah Lang Photography LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion, judgement, and seek professional advice where it is appropriate.
Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
All said, the content on this blog is for the sole use of Noah Lang Photography LLC, and unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited.
Disclosure
This post is not sponsored.
However, some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission if a purchase is made through one of those links. This commission comes at no additional cost to you, and I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support, which enables me to continue creating more!
To read the full privacy policy, click here.
About This Blog
Noah Lang Photography, also known as @noahawaii, is 100% reader-supported!
I do not accept guest articles or sponsored content of any kind on my blog, which is why, if you enjoy the outdoor and travel content I create, please consider buying me a coffee!
I appreciate your support, which helps me continue to keep this blog alive!
