Colorado / Alamosa County / Great Sand Dunes National Park

Pinon Flats Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground operates April through October. Reservations for the 2026 season can be made up to 3 months in advance through Recreation.gov.

About

Pinon Flats Campground is the only developed campground within Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, offering 91 sites set among pinon pines and sagebrush at the base of the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Built during the Mission 66 era, the campground provides stunning views of snow-covered peaks and serves as the perfect base camp for exploring the tallest dunes in North America. The campground features individual and group sites, all available by reservation only through Recreation.gov. Sites accommodate tents and RVs up to 33 feet in select locations, with trailers up to 20 feet. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grate. Accessible sites are available with hardened surfaces and access to accessible restrooms. The campground operates as an unstaffed facility with seasonal campground hosts available for assistance. Great Sand Dunes offers diverse recreation opportunities from the campground, including dunefield exploration on foot or by sled, splashing in Medano Creek during summer flows, and hiking trails leading through forests to alpine terrain. Mule deer are commonly seen in the campground area, and black bears may visit, requiring use of provided food storage boxes. The campground's high desert location at 8,175 feet elevation provides cool summer nights and spectacular stargazing, with daytime temperatures averaging 75-80 degrees in summer, though sand surface temperatures can reach 150 degrees on sunny afternoons.

Directions

From Highway 160, turn north on Highway 150 and follow for 16 miles to the entrance of Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. Continue 5 miles north on the park's main road to reach the campground entrance. From Highway 285, turn south onto CO-17 and follow for 36 miles. Turn east onto Lane 6 and follow for 16 miles to Highway 150. Turn north onto Highway 150 and follow for 2.6 miles to the park entrance. Continue 5 miles north on the park's main road to reach the campground.

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