News Release

Great Sand Dunes Announces Public Programs and Events during Great Sand Dunes Appreciation Month in April

News Release Date: March 22, 2021

Contact: Kathy Faz, 7193786341

MOSCA, CO – The month of April has been proclaimed by the City of Alamosa as the Great Sand Dunes Appreciation Month, celebrating Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Each year in April since 1991, National Parks across the country celebrate National Park Week with special programs, events, social media themes, and fee-free days. This year, National Park Week is April 17-25, which makes April the perfect time to celebrate and honor the national park’s dedication to conserving world-class resources while also showing appreciation to the community that promotes and supports their national park.

Great Sand Dunes is planning events, social media posts and programs to align with Visit Alamosa’s campaign, “We Love Our National Park.” Visit Alamosa, a Destination Marketing Organization, is dedicated to promoting Alamosa and the surrounding area to travelers across the nation and world. Through marketing strategies, Visit Alamosa promotes the many lodging options, businesses, and outdoor recreation opportunities throughout our community. Visit Alamosa will feature posters and flags displayed downtown and offer digital promotions and stickers for visitors who visit Alamosa during April 2021. The month’s long celebration will kick-off with a ceremony at the Alamosa Welcome Center at 10:30 a.m. on April 3. Mayor Ty Coleman will present Park Superintendent Pamela Rice with the official proclamation devoting the month of April as “Great Sand Dunes Appreciation Month.” Following the ceremony, park rangers will be available at the Welcome Center to promote the month’s events and programs, offer trip planning advice, and share about the park’s Junior Ranger Program.

“Great Sand Dunes is honored to be a part of a community that appreciates their national park to a degree that they would designate an entire month towards celebrating it,” says Park Superintendent Pamela Rice. “The community of Alamosa has shown support since before the establishment of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument and continues to promote and value the positive benefits it can bring to a community through efforts such as Visit Alamosa. We look forward to celebrating during April and look forward to welcoming visitors to their national park this year.”  

The park has a variety of free programs and events planned during the month including ranger guided hikes at the park and in Alamosa, information tables and kids’ activities at the park visitor center and the Alamosa Welcome Center, and ranger talks at the park’s outdoor amphitheater. To kick off National Park Week, April 17-25, 2021, entrance fees will be waived on Saturday, April 17. The park will also have daily programs and events planned throughout National Park Week. Follow the park’s Facebook and Instagram pages to participate virtually throughout the month.

Hikes, ranger talks, and kid’s activities require pre-registration by calling the visitor center at 719-378-6395 during business hours, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The park will begin taking reservations on Monday, March 29^th. Visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/grsa/ for a schedule of events and follow Visit Alamosa and Great Sand Dunes on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed.

April is the perfect time of the year to enjoy a picnic at the Mosca Creek picnic area, splash in Medano creek, spend the night in Pinon Flats Campground, or rent a sand sled or sand board and experience the dunes in a fun and exciting way. Check the park’s website for updated conditions.

For more information about visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, including camping, hiking, Medano Creek conditions, Medano Pass Primitive Road conditions, visitor center hours, and other park news, visit www.nps.gov/grsa.