You’ll Want To Add This Marvelous National Park To Your Colorado Bucket List

Here in Colorful Colorado, every time is the perfect time to get outside and take in all of the glory and majesty that is our incredibly amazing state. Before you start making your must-see list, though, you will want to check out this iconic National Park that combines equal parts sand, scenery, and surprises. It's pure Colorado. Check it out!

Welcome to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve; a southwest Colorado treasure that was originally created as the Great Sand Dunes National Monument in 1932 and changed (by Congress) in 2004 to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Believe it or not, the National Park section of the area is comprised of an unprecedented 44,246 acres of sand while the Preserve houses another whopping 41,686 acres, totaling an estimated 5 billion cubic meters within only 30 square miles. Crazy, right? While you're picking your jaw up off the floor, listen to this: underneath much of the sand is actually water, which is why the area was designated a National Park (to keep the precious resource protected). Keep that in mind the next time you walk along the 140-degree sand during the dead of summer. Oof.

What else makes this area a must-visit? To give a few examples:

The black sand that you may come across while hiking the dunes is made up of magnetite deposits.

Don't let the desert-like atmosphere fool you; in addition to all the sand and sun, the park is home to several other habitats including wetlands and grasslands.

When you visit the Great Sand Dunes, keep your eyes peeled; the area is home to multiple species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and even fish.

Did we mention the hundreds of different plant species?

According to the National Park Service, the Sand Dunes is actually the quietest national park in the country.

We hear you loud and clear!

Seasonal temperatures vary greatly with average summer temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees and winter lows dropping below zero.

Uncover even more unique Colorado outings by checking out 10 Once-In-A-Lifetime Adventures You Can Only Have In Colorado! What's your favorite National Park in Colorado? Tell us your picks in the comments!