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Great Sand Dunes/Pinon Flats
Overview
Pinon Flats Campground serves as the primary gateway for those looking to stay overnight within the boundaries of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Situated in Mosca, Colorado, this seasonal facility offers an immersive natural experience beneath some of the tallest dunes in North America. The park is renowned for its stark desert landscapes framed by the rugged peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, providing a dramatic backdrop for RVers seeking a connection with the outdoors rather than a luxury resort setting.
Location & Surroundings
Located roughly 25 miles from the small community of Mosca, CO, the campground sits at an elevation of approximately 8,200 feet. This high-altitude environment requires travelers to prepare for variable weather conditions, even during the summer months. The surrounding San Luis Valley is a vast, open expanse, ensuring that the air remains crisp and the vistas stay unobstructed. Visitors are positioned just a short walk or drive from the Medano Creek area, which provides a unique seasonal beach experience in the middle of the high desert.
Amenities & Park Features
Pinon Flats is designed for a rustic experience, focusing on dry camping without individual hookups for electricity, water, or sewer. The park features two main loops that accommodate RVs up to a maximum length of 35 feet, though some sites are significantly smaller. Essential facilities include shared restrooms with flush toilets and sinks, along with community potable water stations. Each site is equipped with a fire ring and a picnic table, allowing guests to enjoy traditional campfire evenings while taking in the incredible mountain and dune views.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw is the dune field itself, where visitors can engage in sand sledding and sandboarding. For those interested in hiking, the trails leading to High Dune or Star Dune offer challenging climbs with rewarding perspectives of the valley. Being a certified International Dark Sky Park, the campground is a premier destination for stargazing and astrophotography. Just a short drive outside the park entrance, travelers can also explore Zapata Falls for a scenic hike to a secluded waterfall tucked into a rocky canyon.
Who This Park Is Best For
This campground is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and families who prioritize location and natural beauty over modern conveniences. It is a perfect fit for dry campers and owners of smaller RVs or campervans who want to wake up steps away from the dunes. Photographers and stargazers will find the environment particularly rewarding due to the lack of light pollution. However, those requiring full hookups or resort-style amenities may prefer staying in nearby private parks and visiting the dunes during the day.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Sonja Richardson
Clean, comfortable, good views. The bear lockers worked great. You will definitely want to check individual site pictures before booking a pad as some pads could barely hold an 8x8 tent and others could hold two easily. They also say two car limit but the parking spaces by pads varied just as much for if they could comfortably hold 1-2 cars. The campground store was open but hours were a little weird with the shutdown affecting them. There was still a site host/ranger who checked in to make sure the people at sites had the correct reservations and a ranger who did rounds for trash daily.
James C
This is a very nice campground with clean restrooms and you can walk right out to the dunes. The only reason I docked it a star is because the sites are fairly close together and sadly there were a lot of people playing loud music on Bluetooth speakers late into the night and fairly early in the morning. I was impressed though that the second night park rangers actually drove through the campground multiple times enforcing rules related to trash and dogs being off leash.
Katrina Luna Martin
Beautiful easy to access campground. Well laid out with space for small trailers or campers. Clearly defined camping spots with table and fire pit. Plenty of bear safe lockers and trash cans. Bathrooms are super well maintained. Rangers we're incredibly helpful. Online reservation system highly recommended and easy to use. Clear directions and an on site small store. Easy access to the dunes and several other nearby sites and cities for necessities.
Mary Roche
Loved the beauty and remoteness of this campground! The view of the sand dunes and mountain range from the campsite was spectacular!Although there were no showers, the bathrooms seemed brand new and were immaculate! Hiking trails were very accessible and host/hostess were responsive and helpful. We will definitely return to this beautiful place!
Dana Linnes
Piñon Flats was a fabulous place to stay on our most recent visit to Sand Dunes. The campground was clean and well-managed and the park rangers were all very helpful. We even had deer stop by, which our dog was thrilled by! Even the bathrooms and trash receptacles were clean. Ten out of ten for viewing stars and proximity to the park. Highly recommend!