Dunes

About Dunes

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  Sledding at the Roadrunner Picnic Area

  White Sands National Park

  The Roadrunner Picnic area provides an incredible place to go sledding with your friends and family. 40 feet dunes rise out of the parking lot with incredibe views of the San Andres and Sacramento mountains and white dunes running for miles. A twenty minute drive from the visitor center, this picnic area is very large and has plenty of parking available. The size of this picnic area easily accomodates groups traveling by RV or pulling a trailer. Accessible covered picnic areas and two vault toilets makes this place one of the best sledding areas with access to facilities and shade. White sand dunes surround the entire picnic area providing plenty of space to go sledding even on the busiest days. Both large and smaller dunes are present giving you whatever sledding experience you are looking for. Sledding at White Sands still requires you to be prepared. Make sure you bring plenty of water (1 gallon per person is suggested) and sun protection.The visitor center is the only place in the park that has water available. Adult supervision of children is advised. Children ages 5 to 9 are most susceptible to injury. Parents of young children should not let them sled alone. Older children should be coached on how to check for hazards such as vegetation and other visitors on the dunes. Visitors can rent or purchase sleds at the White Sands Trading Post gift shop. They can also bring in their own sleds. For questions about sledding, please call (575) 479-6124.

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  1966 Hiking Challenge

  Indiana Dunes National Park

  Looking to explore more of the national park and really see what makes Indiana Dunes so special? If so, here is the adventure for you. The 1966 Hiking Challenge is comprised of 19 hikes that cover 66 miles of trail in the park, celebrating the park’s founding in 1966. We will offer 19 weekly ranger led hikes every Saturday at 8:00 am starting late April through August. The hikes will range in length from 1 to 7 miles and take place in every area of the national park. Those that complete the series will earn a free 1966 Hiking Challenge sticker. Don’t worry if you cannot make all 19 ranger-led hikes. A check-off sheet will be available at the Visitor Center , or the the Paul H. Douglas Center , to complete the hikes on your own. NPS app users: For specific dates and trail locations, visit the Indiana Dunes National Park website .

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  Splash in Medano Creek

  Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

  Medano Creek is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages. On this page you'll learn what to expect month-by-month in an average year, and how the rare phenomon 'surge flow' works. You can also link to current and forecast creek conditions, and a video about the creek showing surge flow waves. Medano Creek Month-by-Month in an Average Year April is the second snowiest month of the year at Great Sand Dunes, but there are also some sunny days with highs in the 60s. Spring is the windy season throughout the southwestern United States, especially afternoons, though mornings are usually calm. The creek begins to trickle down as the snow on the Sangre de Cristo Mountains melts. By late April the creek may be a few inches deep. Cottonwood trees and willows along the creek are not yet leafed out. Late May is near the peak of Medano Creek's annual flow. While it is still springtime and winds may arise, especially in the afternoon, May temperatures are generally moderate, with highs in the 60s-70s F. However, snow is still possible at this elevation in May! Trees and bushes along the creek leaf out. There may be some "no-see-ums" (tiny biting gnats), but mosquitoes are rarely out in May. Late May and early June are the best opportunity to experience "surge flow", where waves up to about 20 inches (50 cm) high flow down across the sand. In wet years with good peak runoff, children can float down the waves on flat inflatable toys. Water comes out of the mountains cold, but warms up significantly when the sun shines on it for a few hours as it spreads across the sand. Because of the creek's popularity, late May and early June weekends are extremely crowded, with long lines of traffic, overflowing parking lots, a crowded beach, and full campgrounds. If possible, plan your visit on a weekday this time of year. June brings warmer temperatures for water play and generally pleasant conditions the first week of June. But as the creek becomes much lower and warmer around the second week of June, mosquitoes emerge in large numbers. Move away from vegetation, to the far side of the creek to avoid the worst of the mosquitoes: they don't like open sand, but prefer to be near shady bushes and trees. By late June, the water level will be fairly low, only 1 or 2 inches (1-5cm). Because of the creek's popularity, late May and early June weekends are extremely crowded, with long lin…

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  ParkPuzzler

  Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

  Explore Sleeping Bear Dunes in a new way! No matter where you are in the Lakeshore, you can solve puzzles using your phone, web browser, and the NPS app. Expected time to complete is approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour, but you can take as long as you like. There are five puzzles for you to solve. All puzzles can be solved from your phone, however if you want to explore the park three of the puzzles have physical locations, one of the locations is hidden in the puzzle (#4). Keep track of your answers on a note or a piece of paper, you will need them later. Still not sure how to play? A. How do I play? 🧩 In the Park: This is a game with a series of puzzles, available to be played while in the park. If unable to visit the location or visit the park, there is an online-only option. Puzzles will take you to locations either around the park or virtually within the NPS App. In-Park clues will help direct you to the answer’s location. You might need to use your GPS, search within the NPS app within Sleeping Bear Dunes’ park page, visit a website, or search something on the web. You never know where an answer might be hidden! Online-only clues will direct you to search within the NPS app, visit a website, or search something on the web. B. Will I need to use my phone? 📳 Regardless of where you are playing the ParkPuzzler, yes! Both the puzzles and some of the answers to the puzzles will be within the NPS App. For those in the park, some areas will not have much cell coverage. It would be best to download Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for offline use. To do so, select the cloud button when you open the park’s page. No account is needed to solve the puzzles. C. How long does it take to play? ⏰ Gameplay typically lasts about 30 minutes! However, the ParkPuzzler is not timed, and you can take as long as you need. It does not matter the order of the puzzles, so you can read through them D. What if I need help? 🤔 Below each puzzle there are two hints, click on them to reveal them should you need it. If participating in the online-only, your clues are also found below the In-park clue. E. What if I will not be going to the location the puzzle is leading me? Puzzles with a location in the park have an online-only clue available below the question. So you can still solve the puzzle! F. Do I need to complete the puzzles in order? No, there are no puzzles that are c…

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