News Release

Great Sand Dunes Announces Free Programs and Events during “We Love Our National Park” Celebration in April

News Release Date: March 23, 2022

Contact: Kathy Faz, 719-378-6341

MOSCA, CO – To honor the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and to celebrate being the Gateway Community, Visit Alamosa will launch the second annual, month-long ‘We Love Our National Park Celebration’ on April 1, 2022. Each year in April since 1991, National Parks across the country celebrate National Park Week with special programs, events, and fee-free days. This year, National Park Week is April 16-24, 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 and programs to align with Visit Alamosa’s campaign, “We Love Our National Park.” Visit Alamosa will feature posters and flags displayed downtown and offer digital promotions and stickers for visitors to Alamosa during the month of April. The month’s long celebration will kick-off on April 1 with live music, a local food vendor, solar scope viewings, and information tables staffed by the Sangre de Cristo Heritage Area, and Great Sand Dunes rangers, all at the Alamosa Welcome Center from 10am to 2pm. Park rangers will also be available during Alamosa’s First Friday event to hand out park information from 5pm to 7pm and offer two free ranger talks at the local San Luis Valley Museum at 5:30pm and 7pm.  

“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 City 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. We look forward to celebrating during April and look forward to welcoming visitors to their national park this year.”  

Throughout the month, free ranger programs will be offered at the park visitor center at 10:30am on most weekends. Rangers will lead a guided BARK Ranger hike at the Blanca Vista Park in Alamosa on Saturday, April 23 from 1-2pm. Daily programs at the park visitor center are planned during National Park Week, April 16 – April 24. To kick off National Park Week, entrance fees will be waived on Saturday, April 16.  

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. For a full schedule of events during the month of April and more information on 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.