Colorado is home to one of the largest suspension bridges in America, the Highest Auto Tunnel in America, the Longest Continuous Street in America, and Largest Flat-Top Mountain in America, and the Largest Natural Hot Springs pool in America. It's safe to say we like it big.

Read More: Discover These Colorado National Parks for Free in 2025

It seems fitting that a state used to doing big things would also have the largest dunes anywhere in North America too, right? Keep reading to find out more about just how large the dunes are at Great Sand Dunes National Park and why you need to see them in person.

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Great Sand Dunes National Park: Star Dune

America's tallest sand dune
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  • Name: Star Dune
  • Height: 750 feet
  • Details: The tallest dune to be found inside Great Sand Dunes National Park is shaped by winds that come from multiple directions which push the sand into the shape of a star. With a 7-mile out-and-back hike making it one of the hardest peaks to reach inside the park, those who make it are rewarded with an amazing view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Read More: Try Sand Surfing at Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park: High Dune

America's second tallest sand dune
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  • Name: High Dune
  • Height: 699 feet
  • Details: Don’t be embarrassed if you mistake High Dune for Star Dune, lots of people do. When you arrive in the parking lot at the Great Sand Dunes it is High Dune that seems most prominent and thus mistaken as Star Dune. The hike to the top is a 3-mile round trip with about 600 feet of gain. Once at the top, you can see a panoramic view of the dune field and the valley.

Read More: Colorado’s National Parks Are Larger Than These Countries

Great Sand Dunes National Park: Hidden Dune

Find hidden dune at Great Sand Dunes National Park
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  • Name: Hidden Dune
  • Height: 741 feet
  • Details: Finding Hidden Dune at Great Sand Dunes National Park requires a 7-mile hike that could take most of the day to complete, but you'll be able to say you climbed to the top of the second-highest dune in the park. Found deeper in the park, those looking for a secluded walk and don’t mind trekking deep into the dune field can walk out with this unique summit completed.

LOOK: The History Behind All 63 National Parks in the US

The National Parks System manages 63 national parks. Stacker analyzed NPS info to compile the history and features of each. 

Gallery Credit: Stacker

MORE: Stunning Vintage Photos Capture the Beauty of America's National Parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.

Gallery Credit: Alexander Raeburn

UP NEXT: Colorado + Utah Parks Among Top 10 Most Dangerous National Parks

Check out the most dangerous National Parks located in Colorado and Utah. Find out the number of fatalities that have occurred in each park, and see which ones made the top 10. Have you been to any of these dangerous National Parks? Tell us about your experience with the chat feature on our station app.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

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