Leaving Moab, Utah came too soon but we still had a lot of ground to cover on our road trip. We packed up and headed East into Colorado with our eyes set on one of the newer national parks in the system and our campground in Blanca, Colorado. Sand dunes and the Colorado beach awaited!

COLORADO BOUND

Getting into Colorado didn’t take long and the mountains got closer and closer. We passed through several neat towns along the way with the most unique being Pagosa Springs. The downtown area was very inviting and appeared to have many areas to relax and enjoy a day. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to stop and explore but we did add it to our list for next time!

From Pagosa Springs we continued East on U.S. 160 to Wolf Creek Pass. This pass reaches an elevation of 10,857′ and lies on the Continental Divide. The road here holds many switchbacks and was a challenge to my tow vehicle even though I’m some 2,000ish pounds under my tow weight. Performance didn’t diminish but I did start to mildly overheat as I was reaching the summit. I say this to be a note of caution for others pulling campers because I consistently see people posting on social media about pulling almost 100% of their capacity.

At the summit we were greeted with a nice pull-off on the side of the road where we could stop for lunch. The temperatures were much cooler and a vast majority of the area was still covered in snow……in JUNE!!!!!

GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK

Just outside Blanca, Colorado sits the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. This park is one of the newer parks in the system (2004) and is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America. We were fortunate that we were able to visit during the snow melt which sends Medano Creek flowing through the park giving Colorado a beach for a few weeks each year!

The other major activity in the park is sand boarding. You can bring your own or rent one from one of the area shops. We rented a board and a sled from SpinDrift Sandboards in Blanca for $20 each per day. The owner here was extremely energetic and took time to educate the kids on what to do and how to have a blast on the dunes. I would highly recommend this shop if you’re in town!

If the water and boarding aren’t your thing then you’ll fall into my realm! I enjoyed sitting back watching the kids play but I also had to hike up some of the dunes. The dune field is approximately 30 square miles and can be a challenge to even the most experienced hikers. Keep water and sunscreen handy and know that the sand can be WAY hotter than the rest of the area.

The other great thing is the ever-changing views. This is the area where the deer and antelope actually DO play and the sun provides breathtaking views. Our first night in the area was filled with pictures of the sunsets and dunes from every angle paired with the snow capped mountains all around!

THE NOT SO GOOD

This is the part I don’t enjoy writing but I am committed to providing the best information possible about our adventures. I rave about a lot of places but I feel and blogger should give the whole picture and not just the bright side.

Our planning is usually based on reviews and word of mouth and this trip was no different. Our campground, Blanca RV Park, had decent reviews but starting with the check-in quickly disappointed. The clerk was extremely rude and unhelpful during the entire process. We were also placed in spots with shared utilities for neighboring sites with parking issues. It became quickly obvious that a majority of the park were long term tenants and the feeling of security was nonexistent. This was compounded by the fact that there were people walking around smoking marijuana without consideration for children being present.

After driving all day and setting up camp we didn’t feel like cooking so we decided to grab food in town. Lu’s Main Street Cafe was right around the corner so we chose to grab food there. From the start this was a mistake! The first thing the server asked was “Do you know what you want?” We explained we didn’t have menus and were told “she hasn’t printed them so you’ll have to go to the front door.” This was the only menu in the building and was posted on the wall at the front door. What made matters worse here is that to view the menu meant we had to block the entry door for others. After deciding on our meals we ordered and began to wait…..and wait…….AND WAIT!!!!! Finally the food started coming out in pieces with most of it wrong or burned meaning we had to send it back to the kitchen. During this time we also saw another couple walk out unserved while another table was also complaining about food issues.

Overall I would totally recommend the area with the exception of the meal and campground. The views are exceptional and the climate was near perfect. Remember to stay hydrated and enjoy! Until next time……..