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Visit sand and snow at Great Sand Dunes National Park |
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Sunday, December 25, 2011 17:31 |
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Sand and snow? Yep, you can visit both in the same day at Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park, which is a special world during winter.
You can hike the dunes without the crowds of summer, and when it snows you can sled, board or ski. Or slide straight down the sand. Check the park’s website for the latest weather forecast.
A dunes-accessible wheelchair is available for free checkout to those unable to walk in the sand; call the Visitor Center to reserve an adult or child-sized dunes wheelchair.
Watch for elk, deer, and pronghorn, especially at dawn or dusk, golden eagles, hawks, woodpeckers and other birds. And, rangers say, bobcats and mountain lions.
The annual Christmas Bird Count is Dec. 31; birders of all levels are invited. Learn more about the Christmas Bird Count, and download a checklist and map.
After visiting the dunes, stop at nearby Zapata Falls for a spectacular view of the San Luis Valley. Though the road to Zapata Falls trailhead is not plowed, passenger vehicles usually continue to access the trailhead throughout the winter, packing down the snow on the road. After enjoying the view of the valley and dunes at the trailhead, hike ½ mile to South Zapata Creek, then walk across the ice into the narrow gorge to view the frozen waterfall.
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