Posted by Ron Leraaen on June 14, 2006 at 10:35 AM
I'm heading down to the sand dunes Thursday and Friday, and I'm not familiar with the park. Does anyone have recommendations for sunrise and sunset shooting locations? Also, I'll be camping in the back of my truck. Are there any close locations for pull off the road and crawl in the back of the truck type camping?
Ron, first of all, check out Darren's great write up on the Dunes. MyColorado.org Dunes
Should be lots of great info for you there, and hopefully he'll chime in here too.
As far as car camping, there is always the park campground, but I almost guarantee it will be close to full. Kinda loud too! Try taking the road towards Medano Pass, the turn is just before the campground. Check with the visitors center first for road conditions, as it will most likely be very sandy! There is an air compressor right there at the start of that road so you can air up when back on the pavement.
Anyways, back on that road a few miles, and you will enter the Sand Dunes Preserve I believe its called, and there are a number of pull off, dispersed camping spots. They are numbered, but free. Great place to car camp.
Hope this helps, and have fun!! Post pics when you get back!!
Posted by Les Barstow on June 15, 2006 at 12:52 AM
Ron,
You can sleep in a little longer than normal; the Sun rises over the Sangre de Christo mountains... In the morning, the best shots are probably those taken from the pulloffs just before the visitor center, IMHO - the vegetation is rich enough to catch nice morning light. Mendano Creek - if it's flowing - and its banks are also decent morning targets.
In the evening, my preference is to get an early start and head out towards the dunes. Either hike up into the dune field a bit, or hike West away from the mountains and along the dune edges; either way you can leave the footprints behind if you walk far enough. All morning targets are also good for sunsets.
Careful about the sand - it's often windy around the dunes, and the sand can get into your camera and lenses. I'm sorry I can't provide much in the way of car camping recommendations - there aren't a lot of other places in the immediate vicinity that spring to mind. If you wind up looking for campground space and the GSDNP&P campground is full, you might also try the State Park campground off NW of Mendano-Zapata Ranch, though it might be full, too. The reservoir there provides nice distant views of the dune field and mountains, BTW. You might also check out the regulations for the Zapata Falls road; there is a lower parking lot that's to be used for overnight hikers, but I'm not sure about car campers...
Posted by Ron Leraaen on June 15, 2006 at 10:41 AM
Thanks Brent and Les. Darren's write up looks like it will be a great help also.
Discussion
3 repliesThanks,
Ron
Should be lots of great info for you there, and hopefully he'll chime in here too.
As far as car camping, there is always the park campground, but I almost guarantee it will be close to full. Kinda loud too!
Anyways, back on that road a few miles, and you will enter the Sand Dunes Preserve I believe its called, and there are a number of pull off, dispersed camping spots. They are numbered, but free. Great place to car camp.
Hope this helps, and have fun!! Post pics when you get back!!
You can sleep in a little longer than normal; the Sun rises over the Sangre de Christo mountains... In the morning, the best shots are probably those taken from the pulloffs just before the visitor center, IMHO - the vegetation is rich enough to catch nice morning light. Mendano Creek - if it's flowing - and its banks are also decent morning targets.
In the evening, my preference is to get an early start and head out towards the dunes. Either hike up into the dune field a bit, or hike West away from the mountains and along the dune edges; either way you can leave the footprints behind if you walk far enough. All morning targets are also good for sunsets.
Careful about the sand - it's often windy around the dunes, and the sand can get into your camera and lenses. I'm sorry I can't provide much in the way of car camping recommendations - there aren't a lot of other places in the immediate vicinity that spring to mind. If you wind up looking for campground space and the GSDNP&P campground is full, you might also try the State Park campground off NW of Mendano-Zapata Ranch, though it might be full, too. The reservoir there provides nice distant views of the dune field and mountains, BTW. You might also check out the regulations for the Zapata Falls road; there is a lower parking lot that's to be used for overnight hikers, but I'm not sure about car campers...