8Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
The best time to see North America’s tallest sand dunes is in May. If you visit earlier, there could be an afternoon storm, the winds are higher and it might still snow. In the summer, the temperature of the sand can soar to a sizzling 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
In May this park doesn’t get hotter than 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Mind you, this place is actually a great location for stargazing and hiking. It’s also home to a surprisingly diverse landscape.
So after you go sand-sledding or sandboarding, explore the forests, grasslands, wetlands, and alpine lakes. (Note that if you’re only planning on visiting the alpine lakes, summer, though more crowded is better weather-wise.) Visit in late May and you can enjoy Medano Creek’s “surge flow” and float down the waves on flat inflatables. Be aware though that the end of May and the start of June are the most popular times to do this so at least avoid the weekend!
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