A friend proposed a road trip, a long day’s drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado. Rather than zip along the interstate highway, we took the scenic route over Guanella Pass and Kenosha Pass into South Park and down through the San Luis Valley. She was a kindred soul; we readily agreed to pull over for interesting sights along the way.
When we went early this week, the fall colors were just beginning. The aspens were yellowing in only a few places, and would need another week or so to don their golden brilliance. The snow peaks were gone, having melted in late summer; no early snows dusting the high mountains yet. And the wildflowers were mostly spent. But there were plenty of spots that caught our eyes along the route.
Shadows from intermittent clouds created dark shapes moving among the green hills. A stream, Geneva Creek, on its way to join the North Fork of the South Platte River, gurgled by.
A yard full of old trucks. And some highlights in tiny towns.
As the wide San Luis Valley opened up, the desert landscape painted yellow across the valley floor. The pale shapes of the sand dunes rose up against the eastern mountain range. The dunes were formed by sediment from the surrounding mountains that settled in the valley. Southwestern winds blew the sand up against the Sangre de Cristo range over thousands of years. The peaks and valleys of the dunes are always shifting with the seasons and the winds.
I exchanged my sandals for the sneakers I brought along, while my friend put on moccasins which quickly filled with sand as we headed out over the dry creek bottom and onto deep beach-like sands. She took them off, delighting in the feel of the sand on her bare feet. I was tempted to do the same, but it’s hard to manipulate a camera while holding shoes. It was mid-afternoon and contrasts in light and dark sculpted the dunes, the shadows of hikers stretched longer than their silhouettes. A few hardy plants took root here and there. We sat down on the side of a hill ribbed with lines from wind. In the breeze, a thin spray of sand slid over the surface, footprints slowly disappearing. Quiet and peaceful, enjoying nature in this seeming unnatural place.
Shadows deepened as we left.
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Ruth Rosenfeld 
Beautiful photos! I moved to Colorado a year ago and the Great Sand Dunes are on my list! There’s so much to see here 😊
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Thank you, Laura. It’s a diverse and beautiful state. Welcome to your new home!
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Beautiful pictures. I had no idea the sand dunes would be so large. You’ve captured the light and shadows perfectly. Maggie
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They are quite awe-inspiring. Thanks for your kind comment, Maggie.
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Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures!
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My pleasure! Thanks for visiting.
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It’s hard to say which are more beautiful – your words or your photos. They create a splendid journey through nature.
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I always appreciate your comments, Esther.
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Stunning photos! Making me miss Colorado.
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Thank you! So much to see in Colorado, come back again.
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The sublime natural landscape of Colorado is boundless. I only had a brief stint in the US state a few years ago, but based on your photos, there’s so much more that needs to be seen. Thank you for sharing!
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There are so many varied landscapes and climates in Colorado. Thanks for coming along!
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I visited Great Sand Dune NP about 25 years ago when the family was on a ski trip to Wolf Creek in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Your outstanding photos rekindled memories. It was weird to see those huge sand dunes and no water anywhere around.
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I’ve been there a few times and it’s never ceased to amaze me. The creek that runs through it is dry this time of year, I remember sloshing through it. Thanks.
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Wow, fabulous photos of stunning dunescapes. Beautifully sculpted by the winds.
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Thank you, it’s a awe-provoking place.
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These photos inspire my wanderlust. The location is literally next door to my home state of Nebraska. The Old West and its culture tempt the soul.
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It’s a bit of a drive from Nebraska, but worth the exploration. The Colorado mountains don’t disappoint.
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I have friends in the Denver area, so the next time I visit them, I’ll allow some extra days for a side trip.
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Always enjoy your photos Ruth but your writing is an even greater treasure.
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Thanks so much, Bonnie, so glad to have you as a reader and visitor.
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Love the silhouette photos, Ruth, especially the one framed with trees and the hikers in the second to last. Also, I have to admit the first photo had me thinking the Sahara instead of the Great Sand Dunes right here in my (our) backyard!
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There was something alluring about the dark and light, and the silhouettes emphasized that. Thanks, Dave, Colorado does have some wonders, doesn’t it?!
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Wow those sand dunes are jut beautiful. I find the varying landscapes in Colorado amazing, we just don’t have anything like it in England 🙂
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Ah, but you have those charming villages, so great to explore, and lots of dramatic coastline. ☺
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This is a random question, but have you ever written a book? You write such good descriptions. I feel like you could have a best selling novel!
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Funny you should ask! I have written a travel memoir of my eight years living abroad and travel in those countries. Trying to get an agent to pick it up and go with traditional publishing; I really don’t want to self-publish. Please click the About link on my page to find out more. Unfortunately, my brain doesn’t go into fictional stories, wish it could. I really appreciate this comment, Beth!!
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Greatly enjoyed this road trip Ruth. Colorado is quite literally the stuff of dreams for Sladja and I and this piece has only fuelled that wanderlust further. Love the different shades of light on the sides of the hills and mountains. If we were doing this trip, I fear we would be greatly sidetracked by the prospect of fresh fudge at the diner. And obviously the dunes themselves are just stunning.
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We didn’t go in for the fudge, a little too rich for me. The murals were on the side of that building. Colorado is a state of very diverse landscapes. Hope you get here sometime.
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Such an amazing place to see
.those Sand Dunes are so beautiful.
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Thanks for coming along!
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We have fond memories of our visit to the Great Sand Dunes. Thanks for the reminder, because it was many years ago.
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You’re welcome!
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What an amazing geological region, Ruth. Eerie and beautiful. I had to read up on the park after seeing your photos. How interesting that the grass seems to grow to the foothills of the dunes.
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It is so unusual. Glad to know this post has sparked your interest, Tracy! I often look up places on maps or otherwise look for more information as a result of blogs I’ve read.
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It is one of the great things about being part of the blogging world.
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Beautiful captures. The Great Sand Dunes look incredible. I especially loved the shot of the footprints in the sand. I’ve always wanted to visit Colorado.
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Colorado is a place of diverse landscapes. Hope you get here some day. Thanks
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What a wonderful selection of beautiful photos, including the vibrant murals and mountain views. I’ve never been to the Great Sand Dunes, but I can easily imagine that anyone seeing the tallest sand dunes in person must be in awe of the spectacular array of the country’s most unique geographic formations. It makes me wonder what a desert is like after dark? Thanks for sharing and have a lovely day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Thank you, Aiva! The desert can get very cold at night, surprisingly, and it’s when all the creatures that live there come out – coyote, rodents, lizards.
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Beautiful pictures!
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Thanks for visiting, Jyothi!
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Wow, what a beautiful (green) road trip to get to this amazing desert landscape! I was thinking of ice-cream scoops while looking at the formations of the sand dunes ☺️. Lovely images Ruth!
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Thanks so much! Colorado has such a varied landscape. I too thought of different shapes looking at the dunes. 🙂
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Such fabulous photos! Especially of the dunes. What a great day out!
Alison
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Thanks for coming along, Alison!
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Enjoyed, Ruth, and enjoyed the photos, too.
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Thank you, Dave.
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Sand dunes are a grandiose spectacle. They communicate to me the idea of the immensity in which to find refuge, I find that consoling.
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The Dunes are otherworldly – perfect timing for the new Dune movie to be released. If I look very hard, I can see giant worms…😀 Everything looked wonderful – a great short distance travel destination for us. Thank you for the inspiration!
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I hadn’t thought about the Dune movie… yes, I can imagine worms under the surface, as well as other shapes in the dunescape. Thanks, Kerry!
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I am glad we are on the same page – or you might have wondered what worms I was referring to!!
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😄
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Stunning photography Ruth. You have evoked my wanderlust. 🙏🙂
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Thanks for your visit and comment, AP2. My wanderlust is in check right now, but trips around the country are possible.
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