Great Sand Dunes - Sandboard/sled rental? (Denver: activities, horse)

[Pequeño_Bonsai]

Hi Everyone... I will be heading down to the Great Sand Dunes NP soon and would appreciate any suggestions on where to rent sandboards/sleds.

Thank you!

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Go to the Sand Dunes NP website, look under Plan Your Visit, then Outdoor Activities, then Sandboarding and Sand Skiing. There's a complete how-to article, plus suggestions for where to rent equipment.

[bartonizer]

GSDNP is my favorite national park. And from my experience on the dunes, it's a PITA to walk up them- imagine 2 steps up, 1 step back. So....carrying something awkward is a burden, and the dunes are huge. I see people on the dunes with snowboards, but we have a ton of fun without them. So if you can't find one to rent, take heart: You can still slide down just fine on your backside, or -as we prefer- take big hops and leaps from the top and it feels like you're taking steps on the moon!

[Pequeño_Bonsai]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

Go to the Sand Dunes NP website, look under Plan Your Visit, then Outdoor Activities, then Sandboarding and Sand Skiing. There's a complete how-to article, plus suggestions for where to rent equipment.

Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!

[Pequeño_Bonsai]

Originally Posted by bartonizer

GSDNP is my favorite national park. And from my experience on the dunes, it's a PITA to walk up them- imagine 2 steps up, 1 step back. So....carrying something awkward is a burden, and the dunes are huge. I see people on the dunes with snowboards, but we have a ton of fun without them. So if you can't find one to rent, take heart: You can still slide down just fine on your backside, or -as we prefer- take big hops and leaps from the top and it feels like you're taking steps on the moon!

Appreciate your input. We're very fit and would love to take on the challenge!

[otterprods]

Here is a video about sand-sliding in GSDNP in case you missed it…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLtf...ature=youtu.be

You should keep in mind that great Sand Dunes is in one of the windiest, most desolate parts of the state, which is why so much sand has naturally piled up there over the centuries. One of the most miserable trips of my life was getting sandblasted and flea-bitten over memorial day weekend just south of the park a few years back. I'm not saying you shouldn't go, you should, but have a backup plan in case the weather doesn't co-operate. The Rio Grande and Cumbres-Toltec railroads, Zapata Falls, as well many pretty spots in the surrounding mountains are all good options.

I also agree that glissading can be just as fun and a lot more practical than renting and hauling extra equipment up there, especially if you hope to cover any distance at the same time.

[Pequeño_Bonsai]

Thanks for the information, everyone.

We had a wonderful time at the dunes! Rented sandboards from Kristi Mountain Sports and spent several hours at the national park. (They provided us with wax for the boards which was appreciated.)

We brought plenty of food, water, and sunscreen along with being in very good physical shape so had an enjoyable time with plenty of runs even in the 90-something degree heat. My only lesson learned was to bring socks next time as it prevents the straps from rubbing on your feet and other folks told me it helps with the hot sand.

Highly recommend the park to others who are thinking about making the trek.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Thanks for the follow-up. Glad you had a good time!

[otterprods]

Originally Posted by Pequeño_Bonsai

along with being in very good physical shape

And you mentioned that twice, just so we know.
Thanks for following up anyways, it's always nice to see where threads lead to.

[dude1984]

Originally Posted by Pequeño_Bonsai

Thanks for the information, everyone.

We had a wonderful time at the dunes! Rented sandboards from Kristi Mountain Sports and spent several hours at the national park. (They provided us with wax for the boards which was appreciated.)

We brought plenty of food, water, and sunscreen along with being in very good physical shape so had an enjoyable time with plenty of runs even in the 90-something degree heat. My only lesson learned was to bring socks next time as it prevents the straps from rubbing on your feet and other folks told me it helps with the hot sand.

Highly recommend the park to others who are thinking about making the trek.

Place is out of this world. I spent three days there in early June after I signed a lease in Denver. I hiked the perimeter and High Dune. High Dune was a crazy hike with great views at the top when I wasn't being sand blasted. Hiking up Medano Creek to Horse Canyon it got crazy. Burnt the top of my feet. I can barely wait to return when the creek is dried up so I can follow it beyond Horse Canyon where it began to get knee deep and swift. I am around 215 pounds and it almost knocked me over. Best day was hiking all the down the sand sheet and up part of the western dunes.

Sand Sheet: https://www.flickr.com/photos/massey...7645010939082/ (All I did with the photos was auto correct)...