The Great Sand Dunes were designated as a National Monument in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover.
In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed an Act designating the area as a National Park and Preserve.
As a child I had visited here with my family on summer vacation. Who knew, some 40 years later, I would be back with my own children. Or that my son would be attending college in the area.
The dunes sit to the west of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and are the tallest in North America, rising about 750 feet above the floor of the San Luis Valley.
The perimeter of the dunes is surrounded by Medano Creek which only flows during the spring and summer months. (The dark area below is the water line.)
You actually have to cross the creek to get to the dunes which I found so interesting. When I think of dunes, I think of desert where water is scarce.
It would have taken forever to even try to get to the top, so we only walked up a couple of dunes. Definitely a work out. Going back down was the easy part.
As we were leaving I found this.
"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart."
(Confucius)
Have a blessed day.
17 comments:
beautiful area, I grew up in northern Indiana and there we had the dunes along lake michigan-the sand always shifting-your post brought back good memories of childhood days for me
What a wonderful set of photos, Tammy and to find a heart shaped rock makes a perfect ending.
Xo
Dearest Tammy,
Very interesting area and for you indeed to go back now with your own children is incredible. Living in a dessert area, a flowing creek to you must be very special!
Enjoy your new week.
Hugs,
Mariette
I have never been to the dunes in Colorado, but in upper Michigan there is The Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, and they are amazing.
Hugs,
Meredith
Looks like a neat place to see! I've just added it to my list of places to see! That's interesting how there's a river/creek running through it.
LOVE this - I haven't been back since I was a child either, but may have to drop in on them, next time home! Happy Saturday, Tammy - it snowed on Pikes Peak yesterday!!!
It is a beautiful area. We took our children there about 25 years ago. It is an amazing sight and one I'm so glad you were able to revisit with your family.
Blessings,
Betsy
I've learned something today, I didn't know there were dunes in usa.
The heart stone was clearly meant just for you as you have such a big heart Tammy.
Hugs
Briony
x
Hello Dear Tammy...Have driven by dunes many times (when we lived in Arizona and drove to CA).
I can only imagine your mother's heart when you had to say goodbye to your boy, again. Soooo hard.
Hope your weekend is going well. Has school started there yet? Susan
A beautiful place and I'm so glad it has become a reserve to protect it.
You visited some amazing places on your trip Tammy and we are lucky you shared your photos - they're wonderful!
I visited some amazing dunes in France on my first visit 15 years ago - I've got a postcard but I wasn't big into photography back then... sadly!
Enjoy your weekend!
Hugs
Shane
I'm so glad you had such a great time visiting your son in the US Tammy. I've never visited the dunes there, but I loved visiting them through your photos.
It must be hard having your son so far from home T. I hope you get to visit him often and that he is able to come home often when you are busy with the school year.
Have a wonderful week.
sending hugs...
How uniquely beautiful these sand dunes are, Tammy. "Love" that rock!
"...go with all your heart." So often the quotes you post resonate with me, Tammy. I think we must be kindred spirits :)
Looks like you had a wonderful visit. I hope you enjoy your last week before work/school begins. Thank you for your kind comments on my blog Tammy. Hugs, Heather
As I mentioned before, I had never heard of these dunes, but I've never been to Colorado. Dunes for me are the Michigan Dunes which involve lots of water, it just seems natural to me and I never think of desert. So, I've learned something new from you and those dunes look incredible. Glad you got to experience them with your now grown children. : )
Kindest regards,
Linda
I am quite familiar with dunes as I am from from Michigan where the Sleeping Bear dunes are located. Used to climb them but I know that would just be in my dreams today. Nice that you got to travel so much while you were here. --- barbara
terrific post, love all the pictures!
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