News Release

Piñon Flats Campground Changes at Great Sand Dunes

News Release Date: August 1, 2020

Contact: Kathy Faz, 719-378-6341

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve re-opened Piñon Flats Campground on Wednesday, June 17, as part of phase 2 of their reopening plan to further increase recreational access following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities.  

Upon reopening the campground, the park accepted only online payments and requested visitors to make reservations through www.recreation.gov. This business practice ensured the safety of visitors and staff when interacting at the campground. For the remainder of the campground season, the park will continue to request online reservations through the month of October 2020.  

Reservations can be made through www.recreation.gov.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be
paramount. At Great Sand Dunes, our operational approach is to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public facilities and staff workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.  

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.  

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website, www.nps.gov/grsa, and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.