The San Luis Valley: The Long Approach To The Great Sand Dunes

The San Luis Valley: The "Long Approach" To The Great Sand Dunes

	Let me say this: I absolutely love visiting the Great Sand Dunes! While traveling relatively long distances to scenic Colorado places is the norm, there is just something about the drive through the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado that "gets to me" so to speak. In short, I am usually stunned by the desolation of the San Luis Valley, and that takes a lot for me to say living in a small town in Colorado. (Adjacent photo: The wide open San Luis Valley, looking west just outside of the park entrance.)
	Driving through the San Luis Valley is definitely an experience. It's largely a flat and high plateau of 8,000 feet above sea level with hardly any trees. In almost all directions, tall Rocky Mountains stand way out in the background, and one can easily have the temptation to really step on the gas pedal to get past this area. It's this feeling of "Oh my goodness! We are way out here in the middle of nowhere!" that seems to be the precursor (sp?) to arriving at the Great Sand Dunes. (Adjacent photo: From Highway 150, looking north towards the park.)
	Here is one last photo of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range, east of the town of Mosca. The isolated San Luis Valley with wide open spaces and a southwestern / New Mexico feel ... the Great Sand Dunes wouldn't be the same without it! :)

These pictures were submitted by Steve Garufi in Buena Vista, Colorado. His web site is ColoradoGuy.com.