Last updated: May 2, 2023
Article
Enjoy the View Like Lisa Devore
How do you enjoy the view?
The Enjoy the View Like Us series invites National Park Service employees to share their stories about their favorite park views. The ways to enjoy the view are as unique as parks and their visitors. We hope these stories inspire you to enjoy the view! Learn more about scenic views in national parks.
Photo by Lisa Devore
Photo by Lisa Devore
“Pinyon pine trees are scattered here and there. Sunflowers and Rocky Mountain beeplants abound among the tall grasses. In the mid distance, large undulating hills of sand appear like small mountains backed up against taller granite peaks flecked with green aspen and pine forests. The sun is bright on the horizon in the background, shining orange and yellow, with clouds that appear different shades of pink, white, and gray.”
This is the way Air Quality Specialist, Lisa Devore, describes her favorite view at Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.
Lisa grew up in Colorado and developed a deep love for open lands. Lisa has spent almost 15 years working to protect air quality across the mountain west. She loves that she can combine her personal and professional ethics to enjoy and protect views like the one at Great Sand Dunes.
What makes this view so special?
Lisa says, "The Great Sand Dunes are particularly special to me because it's one of the first National Parks I can remember visiting as a kid. The amazing view that unfolds on the drive into the park is spectacular in the eyes of a child - the dunes appeared fairy-tale enormous and impossible to scale. I loved frolicking in Medano Creek and taking breaks to dash up the dunes with my family and Girl Scout troop, and later with my college friends. Now as an adult, the dunes still hold a magical place in my heart. I enjoy the dunes solo in efforts to climb them as fast as possible or run the trails across from the Dunes (Wellington Ditch, Montville Nature Loop, Mosca Pass) or with my family to play and enjoy. The dunes are especially ethereal at dusk as the colors of the setting sun make the dunes sparkle in the distance as the wildflowers sway in the summer."
Photo by Lisa Devore
What should visitors know?
This view is easy to access. As you drive into the park, there are multiple overlooks and pull-offs to view the dunes. There are also several paths that lead directly to the dunes that are ADA accessible. The only view that requires moderate hiking is the one with me at the top of Star Dune, the highest point in the park. Visit Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve's website to learn more about visiting the dunes.