32 Underrated National Parks Perfect for Avoiding Summer Crowds

24. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado: Where Mountains Meet Sahara

In southern Colorado, an unexpected world of towering dunes rises against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Great Sand Dunes National Park offers an almost surreal experience—hiking barefoot across silky peaks, sandboarding down sun-warmed slopes, and listening to the hush of wind-carved ridges. Unlike crowded mountain parks, the dunes offer vast space to explore without bumping elbows. Medano Creek creates a seasonal beach at the base, perfect for cooling off in summer. As night falls, the stars stretch endlessly across the sky, completing the magic of this vast, otherworldly sanctuary.