Pinon Flats Campground, near [Great Sand Dunes National Park](https://thedyrt.com/camping/colorado/near/great-sand-dunes-national-park-and-preserve), is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying some stunning views. With sites nestled among piñon trees, you’ll find a peaceful atmosphere that’s perfect for camping.

This campground is a hit for its proximity to the majestic sand dunes, making it easy to hike right from your site. Visitors rave about the clean facilities, including well-maintained restrooms, and appreciate the camp store stocked with essentials like firewood. As one camper noted, “The camp store was also well-stocked,” which is a nice touch when you need to grab something last minute.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the nearby trails offer quick access to the dunes and the creek, allowing for plenty of exploration. Many campers recommend taking a stroll into the dunes after dark for a breathtaking view of the night sky. Just be prepared for the mosquitoes, especially in the warmer months, and bring some bug spray along.

While some sites can feel a bit close together, the overall vibe is friendly and respectful. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Pinon Flats Campground provides a unique experience that combines the beauty of the dunes with the tranquility of the surrounding nature.

## Overview

 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is in the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado at an elevation of 8,175 feet. The dunes lie on the eastern edge of the valley at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The dunefield is part of the nearly 150,000 total acres of the park and preserve that also protects alpine lakes, tundra, six peaks over 13,000 feet, ancient spruce and pine forests, large stands of aspen and cottonwood, grasslands, and wetlands. The park is part of a fragile, dynamic system that influences and sustains the tallest dunes in North America. President Herbert Hoover established the park unit as a national monument by presidential proclamation on March 17, 1932 through the Antiquities Act. The Works Progress Administration constructed the Superintendents Residence, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But otherwise, GRSA did not see a great deal of development during the New Deal. Park development did not occur in earnest until Mission 66. During this period, the NPS was able to construct a Visitor Center, the Pinon Flat Campground (88 sites), a picnic area, five comfort stations, six single family residences and a triplex, while also building or improving roads and trails through the park. The Visitor Center shows the motivation of the Western Office of Design and Construction to configure designs to corresponding regions using principles of regional modernism. Built in the Pueblo Revival style, the Visitor Center mimics adobe construction through modern materials and forms blended with traditional materials and forms seen during the CCC-era in Cecil Dotys work. Following Mission 66, Congress designated nearly 91% of the monument as wilderness in 1976, which certainly limited the parks ability to further develop visitor and administrative facilities. GRSA became a national park and preserve in 2000, which also included a transfer of land from the Rio Grande National Forest.The dunes have long stood as a landmark for travelers from ancient North Americans to Southern Ute, Jicarilla Apaches, Navajos, early explorers, gold miners, homesteaders, ranchers, farmers and migrant field workers, to you - today's park visitor. 
## Recreation

 Great Sand Dunes' wide range of natural features provides endless outdoor recreational activities. The park is perfect for kids, who love exploring the dunefield on foot or by sled. Medano Creek, at the base of the dunes, is a popular place in the summertime. Kids and adults alike love to splash in the cool water. Many kid-friendly, ranger-led activities and a junior ranger program are available. Many miles of hiking and backpacking trails lead through the park's forests and alpine terrain, including the Mosca Pass Trail, Dunes Overlook/Sand Ramp Trail and Indian Grove Trail.
## Facilities

 Reservations are required to stay in Pinon Flats campground. The campground offers 88 campsites. The park recommends making a reservation in advance, especially for peak summer months from May through September. Private first-come, first-served camping is also available just outside the park boundary. For more information about camping, visit www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/camping.htm. Due to the historic design, the campground may not be able to accommodate all large, modern size vehicles. Most sites are small and unlevel, review photos and measurements carefully when choosing a site.During visitor center operating hours, you can see a park film, experience interactive exhibits, speak with a helpful ranger and visit the Western National Parks Association store. Kids of all ages can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet or participate in the Junior Ranger Explorer program.
## Natural Features

 Great Sand Dunes are the magnificent centerpiece of a natural system that includes high mountain peaks, sparkling streams, vast grasslands and lush forests. The campground is situated among pinon pines and sagebrush beneath the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Most sites have beautiful views of the snow-covered peaks. A wide variety of grasses and wildflowers can be found throughout the area, and mule deer are commonly seen in and around the campground. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Zapata Falls is just south of the national park off Highway 150. A short but slippery 1/2-mile hike leads to a 25-foot high cascade. Simply driving to the trailhead provides an excellent view of the entire dunefield and San Luis Valley, especially at sunrise or sunset. San Luis State Wildlife Area is located at the western edge of Great Sand Dunes National Park. It features a large natural lake popular for boating, water skiing, sailing, windsurfing and fishing.
## Charges & Cancellations

 This is not a staffed facility. Campground hosts may be available for assistance. Visitors are responsible for knowing their site number and proceeding to the correct site after 2:00 PM. Early check in is not available. A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at the campground during their reservation, and does not cancel their reservation. Because this is an unstaffed location, the site will be held for the duration of the reservation and the visitor will not receive a refund for time not spent in the site. Due to the limited number of sites in Pinon Flats Campground, please cancel or change your reservation if you can not use it, so other campers have an opportunity to stay. [Rules and Reservation Policies][1]

[1]: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies

Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park

Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Gardner, CO is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Gardner is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Gardner, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Gardner

The Best Camping Near Gardner, Colorado

Campground is always packed, try to make reservations if you can. Some sites are walkup. Amazing views and definitely a place you need to visit. A creek runs through the area and is a great place to play in. Cool place to sand board as well. 

Busy but surreal experience

This campsite was a pleasant surprise with some tree cover and a good deal of privacy, but smaller sites- typical national park campground I guess is the best way to explain it.  The park itself is unique and a fun place to explore as well.

great trip

This campground was a pleasant surprise.  Nice sites with some amazing views.  My friend and I got to the campground very late the first night and found my reserved spot had been taken by someone else.  Luckily enough I found a different one not that far away.  It was well after midnight by the time we got setup.  Then the group next to us (all of whom were very drunk) were being very loud and acting like idiots.  So my friend went over to their area and told time to please keep it down it is after quiet hours.  They eventually quieted down.  The next morning we woke up to the most spectacular view I have ever seen.  The sand dunes and all there glory were lit up by the morning sun.  It was fantastic!  The camp manager stopped by later and we told him what had happened.  He proceeded to tell us that we could have come and gotten him and he would have happily kicked the noisy people out and moved the people in our spot.  We told him it was fine and went to find another site in the non reservation area.  We found a very nice (but very sunny) spot.  And spent the rest of the day wandering around the park and playing in the creek.  Overall it was a good time and I would highly recommend the sites, just be warned that it does get louder than most other areas I have been to.  A lot of people use it for quick excursions or overnights so lot of turnaround.

I would advise bringing some shade (umbrella or other) and lots of cool things to drink.  Also definitely rent a sled from the nearby shop.  We didn't and wish we had.  It looked really really fun.  Overall it was a very nice park and worth the frustration the first night.  Lesson learned on finding (and befriending) the camp manager who is usually more than willing to help you out and give you tips about the part.

Good Campground With Spectacular Views

Campsite was decent as were the bathrooms.  I have camped here a few times.  The best time to go is in the late Spring while the creek has a decent amount of water.  Bring a smooth, flat bottom sled and have fun sledding down the dunes!  

Lots of fun!

This campground was very nice and convenient to getting to the sand dunes. However we went during peak mosquito season so there was a lot of them. I would definitely return even though a lot of mosquitos! 

Nice campground but tons of mosquitos

Piñon Flats is a campground within Great Sand Dunes National Park. It's a biologically diverse area in Southern Colorado, where high winds that blow through the Rockies deposit sand at the Southernmost tip . We made camping reservations about six months in advance. The campgrounds are tidy, with trees, bbq pits and space between camp spots ( loop 2 is best!). There are walking trails all around, and a river to splash in, depending on rain levels. You can trek the sand dunes, and even snowboard down the dunes, but sand gets hot and it's best during the cooler hours of the day ( and it's great exercise!) I would highly reccomend it for kids, and a big bonus is that it's dog friendly . Pack a good stash of food and drink because the campground is far away from a grocery store. There are hot springs you can swim in, located just west of the park. Don't miss the night show in the amphitheater with the singing/ guitar playing ranger who tells stories about the critters that inhabit the park! It was delightful. We got to touch and hold rocks from the moon and rocks from Mars . If you are an avid stargazer, this place is the Mac-daddy location , in one of the most remote locations in the US far from city lights. We saw some Persiod meteor showers. The American Indians worshipped this place as sacred, and it's easy to understand why.

Big sky and best star gazing

I won't lie, having never visited the Sand Dunes before I was skeptical about the campground.  I assumed it would be crowded with little shade or privacy.  

I was so very wrong regarding Pinyon Flats!  As I drove through the loop, I was impressed by the beauty of the sites and surroundings, the amount of shade, the active wildlife and the spacing privacy available in most sites.

The campsites and facilities were all very well maintained.  We are tent campers, so appreciated the level tent pad, picnic table and fire pit.  I unzipped my tent to find some local deer preparing to nibble the rain fly  - it was a wonderful experience to see wildlife throughout the campground.  There we lovely birds as well.

I give the Pinyon Flats campground an A+.  For a popular, full campground it was remarkably quiet and peaceful, and just lovely.

You can reserve space at Pinyon Flats through the Recreation.gov website.  It is best to reserve several months in advance of your stay, particularly if you are visiting in peak season for the Park. 

Excellent camping at Pinyon Flats

Restrooms Available

Get out there on a clear night and you can see a great deal of the galaxy. Had the perfect sight, right off a trail to the sand dunes. The mountains were the backdrop. Going into the fall season is my favorite, the sand is not so hot and summer is crowded. You can rent a "sled" to ride down the dunes. Beautiful weather when I have gone, but you can still see some mountains with a cloudy storm overhead. Sites are not overly close to one another.

Sand Dunes and Mountains

Pinon Flats Campground is a National Park Service campground nestled in the grass of the high plains at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, Great Sand Dunes and along the Medano Creek. 

Nearly every site is a good one. There are 88 regular tent/RV sites divided evently between the first two lower loops and 3 group sites in the upper loop. Check out the National Park Service's webiste: https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/pinonflatscampground.htm  
for more complete information.

If you are not reserving a site, get there early...and early or mid-week serves up better selections. Weekends are packed during the summer.

There is plenty to occupy your time if you are a hiker,  brought your MTB, or your snow saucer. Hiking to the top of the Dunes is invigorating, but taxing. I highly recommend utilizing trekking poles and bring plenty of water. Mid-summer, I would also encourage you not to wear open toe sandals, as the sand gets blistering hot. Reported summer temps are between 80-140 degrees. Evenings were cool and we bundled up.

The views from the campsite are breathtaking, wildlife abundant, and stargazing is, well... stellar! In mid-summer the mosquito's were thick but with topical agents, we were fine at dusk.

The panoramic view from atop the Dunes were fantastic! Give yourself an hour to make the climb, especially if you have some little ones. Tote that snow saucer for a wild ride down the Dune, beware that speeds can get frighteningly fast...but hey, its sand.

Storms rolled in over the Dunes unannounce each day but blew in, over and out quite rapidly. Sunsets were captivating and colorful. Medano creek was shallow but refreshing by mid-July...but is a wild playground in May and June with snowmelt runoff from what we heard.

While camping there, hike the trails, hike the Dunes, visit the Visitor's Center...and definitely make time to drive up and hike into Zapata Falls, which is about eight miles  outside of the GSDNP&P. There is a small sign along the road coming in, drive a dusty  3+ mile gravel road up to the parking area and hike the remaining half mile.  Pack your sandals or water shoes. The waterfall is secreted inside a mountain crevase and you must walk the frigid mountain water in. Yes, your feet will go numb...but it is worth it...a 30ft cascade at 9400 foot elevation.

This trip was a highlight and we anticipate a longer return stay...a definite must do!

Wonderful views from nearly every site!

We made our way up to GSDNP on a whim during the first week that the campsites were open. During this time of the year (April-May) all sites other than group sites are first come-first serve. We arrived around 3pm and got the second to last site available, so, as with all National Parks, arrive early or make a reservation if you can! We stayed on loop 2, which is the upper-most of the non-group sites, requiring a bit further of a walk to the dunes. Out site was well leveled, clean, and well kept, with a bear bin, table, and fire ring. The site host was very friendly and helpful, and the site store is a short walk away--it carries the typical assortment of goodies and firewood, as well as sunscreen and the like if you forget an essential. We had excellent views of the dunes as well as the neighboring Sangre de Cristo mountains. 
The campground was a short walk from the visitor center along a beautiful trail that offers access into the wilderness area that shares a boundary with the park. The sites are also a 

Great campsite with easy dune access

I arrived on a Sunday around 3pm. Loop 2 had a few sites available, but only for one or two nights. Loop 1 had around three or four sites available. Be sure to make reservations if you can! I got lucky and was able to snag site 18 for two nights. It is in a curve of Loop 1, with the mountains to the back and the dunes to the side. Not too far from the bathroom or the trail. The bathrooms have specified dish washing sinks, which was very convenient. Bring your own soap of course, for the dishes and the bathroom. The bear proof lockers were plenty large enough to fit coolers and dishes. It snowed on me while I was there and was very windy!

The Oasis right outside the park was a nice place to stop and eat or grab some last minute supplies. The short drive to Zapata falls is also worth it!

I was camping in a SylvanSport GO which handled the snow like a champ. Some of my water spilled in the front storage of the GO, but they had already thought about that and put in a drain plug! You can even use that front storage as a cooler in a pinch! Check them out at [https://www.sylvansport.com/](https://www.sylvansport.com/)

Views for Days

Arrived here in august it was definitely a different place. We were surprised at how little people were here in august. The place was pretty basic.. bathrooms and thats about it. Not really much wood to gather so planning on finding wood outside the park and bringing it in might be a good plan, Buying it is just ridiculous. The sand dunes were outer worldly and the view from our site was epic.

Great! Cheaper National Park Camping

This site isn’t really big enough for an RV of any size. It didn't affect us, as we were tent camping, but we saw our neighbors really struggling for like an hour trying to get into their site. That said, the view of the dunes and mountains from #25 is spectacular. It backs up to the restroom (flush toilets), which was only a minor nuisance due to extra foot traffic around our site. There is a camp store in the campground with firewood and water and whatever else you may have forgotten (like jiffy pop and s’mores sticks)! All of the sites have their own bear boxes, too.

Amazing view

Great Sand Dunes National Park is a unique experience that is worth the stop. The camping is nice though admittedly lacking shade in a lot of sites. Some sites can be small so pay attention if reserving for a mid to large size RV. The dunes are fun (try renting a sand board for a little adventure) but if you've done the sand and have more time Mosca Pass is a great trail with lots of trees and just outside the park is Zapata Falls, which is a hiking must! It is a short (.25 mile) hike to a beautiful campground. The ride up can be bumpy but worth it.

Worth the stop

We were only there for 1 night in April during a wind and hail storm. Our site had good protection from the elements,and views of the dunes and mountains. The bathrooms were clean and nice. There is a small camp store near the camp site that sells firewood and other necessities. Outside the park entrance there is another store with more items and rents sleds for the dunes.

Beautiful spot

This camp is in the sand dunes park. Has quite a bit of amenities. You will see and hear neighbors but there was enough space to be comfortable. Great site for everything you need

Great campsite for sand dunes visit

I met an IG friend here for a couple days hiking in the park. Campground was clean and set up well with 3 loops that packed the sites pretty close, but each was separated by trees so it did not feel like you were too close. Frequent patrols by rangers kept things quiet. The trails into the mountains and out to the dunes were close and easy to access. Bathrooms were also clean and close. I will go back.

Very nice for 1st time camper

Aways a spot even when it says full. Trees for ur hammock. Workout sand hiking

Amazing veiws

This campground is really close to so many easy hikes as well as the sand dunes. It is a perfect campsite to go to when visiting the national park. The stars were beautiful at night time and overall had a wonderful experience at this campsite.

Great view of the dunes

We enjoyed our stay at Pinon Flats Campground.  I think staying on site for your visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park is ideal because you get much more out of the cool mornings and evenings.   The site is quite at night from City/road noises but it is frequently windy at night.  Our tent was moving enough I was afraid it was going to collapse.  The wind may have been less noticeable if we had stayed at a site further up into the trees.  All of the sites have tent pads where you are required to place your tent. I found that the meausements online were not accurate, at least for our site.  There are bear boxes at each site for reauired use. The campground has a trail running off it that leads to the dunes.  It is a good 10-15 minute walk until you reach the sand with no shade.

Site 34- Amazing views!  This site is back towards the dunes, with views of the mountains  as well.  Being on the outer portion of the campground did result in a decreased amount of shade with the tent pad/picnic table exposed throughout most of the day.  There was a small grouping of trees to the side which we were able to rest under for shade. This site has close proximity to the bathroom, and is located next to the trail that leads to the dunes. It's proximity to the trail does bring increased foot traffic next to the site. The tent pad was listed online as being 6x6 but we were able to fit our 9'x7' tent on it without hanging over.  

Beutiful, but busy

Must pay $20 entrance fee for carload before entering park unless you have the yearly parks pass.

Once inside the visitor center has a lot of helpful information. If you have kids they have a cute Jr. Ranger program that the kids really enjoyed where they get a cool badge from Great Sand Dunes National Park. The camping area was clean and had a perfect view of the dunes and mountains. The bear boxes provided were nice and gave us peace of mind. The restrooms were nearby but no soap or a way to dry hands were provided. No biggie though, just good to know.

There was shade at most camping sites. Our had a nice shade tree. The fire ring was nice although we didn’t use it because it was too windy.

Very nice campground with awesome views and education for all who are interested.

Great view of the Dunes and Mountains 

Piñon Flats is located one mile north of the Visitor Center. Any sites not reserved become available as first-come, first-served. Check out the National Park website for more details on this process.

This camping area has restrooms with sinks, toilets, dishwashing sink, and water spigots are available in all three loops. There is a fire grate and picnic table at each individual site, with multiple grates and tables at group sites. Some sites have trees for shade, while others are more out in the open.

**Attractions:** When you’re not sand boarding or sledding at the park, I recommend checking out nearby hiking or off roading. Zapata Falls, San Luis Wildlife Area, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Montville Nature Trail, and the Medano Creek Lakes are all great places to check out!

**Tip:** When the Medano Creek is flowing in May and early June, expect all campsites to be reserved in advanced. This is a very popular time to visit so expect long lines, overflowing parking lots, and most campgrounds within 20 miles to be full. Plan in advance for this time of year or for a better experience, visit on weekdays.

Beautiful views of the Dunes

I loved that campground is located right on the path to get to the Dunes! Be prepared to be exhausted -- hardest 3 mile hike ever!

I hated that the dish sink wasn't working and the toilets had no soap.

Wow! The Sand Dunes!

Surprisingly epic

This site takes reservations, but we had great luck with finding a campsite same-day. The sites are very well-maintained, accessible, and perfect for car camping or RV camping. They also have running water in the bathrooms, a dishwashing station, and a drinking water spout. Such luxury! From the campsite, it was only a short saunter into the Dune field (15 min), so this gave us plenty of time to explore the Dunes and preserve. The sites seemed very family-friendly and had ADA compliant sites.

Sand Dunes’ Glamping Paradise

First off the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado, i feel are underappreciated. It is amazing to see a desert that sits right behind the Rockies that still have snow on them. Anyway, the campground inside the park are the Pinyon Flats. This is a standard campsite for a park, most spots are of similar size and offer picnic tables and metal fire rings. There are a lot of spots, almost 100\. Choose a spot wisely here as it can get very hot, some spots do not have tree cover. In the busy summer you should always try to reserve here as it attracts a lot of visitor.

There is a fee to camp in these spots as well as a fee to enter the park. If you enter the park after hours you can avoid that entry fee but will still need to pay the campsite. If not you will end up paying both fees which i think is crazy. We only ended up staying in these spots for one night and them moved on to the Zapata Falls campground which is outside the park (i will review that at another time)

The spots are located a stones throw from the dunes which makes exploring very easy an accessible. For a unique experience, head over to the nearby town of Alamosa to rent a sand board. Take a hike anywhere on the dunes and ride them down! Its a lot of fun. Overall this is a great spot, you cant go wrong.

Close to the action

We stayed here one night after arriving late to the dunes. Just a short drive from the dunes to this site is convenient. They have first come first serve spots as well as reservations. You have to register each day of your stay. They have bathrooms with flush toilets and running water. Camp spots have a place for tent, fire ring and bear box. You just pull your car right up. Great spot for only $20 a night. Worth it to be so close to the dunes. 

Great Campground Near Dunes 

Like others have said, find a shaded spot. I was there in early September and the days were still warm and sunny. I didn’t need to reserve as the campground was only a little more than half full. Proximity to the dunes was great. If you want the creek experience then you must go in Spring...completely dry in the Fall. There was a lot of deer around and the site was plenty roomy and level. Mosca Pass hiking trail next to the campground and the trailhead is within the Great Sand Dunes National Park. It’s a nice moderate trail. 

Nice Fall Excursion 

We stayed here mid summer. We picked a perfect time because it rained in the afternoons which cooled things down nicely and kept the sand firm in the morning while we hiked. By the time we got to the top it was dried out enough to board or sled down which was a blast. The falls are really cool as well as beautiful scenery in all directions 

Campground

We just got back from our trip to the dunes. It was a fun experience and we will be returning in the the fall once the mosquito horde has died. 

The sites:
1. Choose wisely not every site has a view of the dunes. I did my research and was rewarded with a site on the outer portion of the camp ground. Our site had decent shade but many are exposed, bring a tarp or canopy.  

2. July was mosquito madness. Honestly I am from the country and can deal with bugs, but being dived bombed by 30 mosquitos (not exagerrating) is intense. Be ready for battle. Bring a arsenal or bug spray etc. if you come during their prime months. Persobally I will only return in fall or spring prior to these months from now in as it can be tough to relax. They are everywhere except they do thin out the higher you go in the dunes. Just be ready mentally to combat those suckers, they are relentless and thick. 

4. Very close to the creek and dunes. We hiked the dune overlook trail and it was really nice-1 mile long and gave a different perspective of the dunes. There are a few hikes we wanted to try there but the mosquitos were just so thick we stuck to the dunes mainly this time. 

5. No showers. Which can be a bummer in the heat and sand combo so bring shower wipes. 



Dunes adventure

Note: In July, expect to battle plentiful and aggressive mosquitos. I cannot understate this. Walking back from the dunes I could not swing my arms without hitting several out of the swarm of 20+ around me. They are the worst the couple hours following sunrise and the hour before and after sunset. 

  

Ok, now that I got that out of the way, I can focus on the rest of the campground.

Staying in a national park is always a special experience that is hard to find in a commercial facility. Being close to the hiking trails and visitor center, watching nightly programs at the amphitheater, and just the general ambiance that people are there to enjoy the outdoors, is wonderful. If you stayed at Jumbo Rocks campground in Joshua Tree, the layout of the campground is similar. Sites are a mix of back-in and parallel and widely vary in length and width (be sure to check the reservation site closely to be sure you will fit). There are no hook-ups and the comfort stations do not have showers. They do have running water and dishwashing stations, however, which is nice. If you need to wash the sweat and sand off, stop by the dunes parking lot and go for a dip in the Medosa creek (or use the rinsing off showers they have there) but be warned, the water is cold! Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am, generation hours were from 8 am to 8 pm, and both are enforced by active camp hosts. 

  

There is a camp store in between the 1st and 2nd loops, but it was never open when we were there. For basics, you can visit the Oasis store just outside the park. Beyond that, you need to drive into Alamosa, which is about 30-40 minutes away. 

  

Things to do: Drive the primitive road to Medosa Pass or take the dirt road to hike Zapata Falls (be warned, you will want 4 wheel drive for these). Hike the dunes (give yourself a good hour to make it to the top of the first ridge. It is only 600 feet elevation gain but for every step up you slide back a half a step; it is tiring.) Play in the creek (besides the dunes, this is the main attraction. Note that you have to cross the creek to reach the dunes, there is no bridge). 

  

I would love to come back again but I will not be doing so in July. This is the height of the mosquito season.

A simple National Park campground a short walk from the Dunes

A great site that’s well kept and clean. Very easy access to dunes. Can’t wait to go back!

Excellent spot!

This campground was good, solid, the sites were roomy with picnic tables and bear boxes. There were plenty of toilets which had self flushing features and running water for sinks. Also there was a dish washing area, which we love! 
The mosquitos were awful, swarming like I have never seen, so be prepared. Storms are normal, while we were there we had severe thunderstorms and sat it out in our tent listening to our Midway weather radio, it was scary!
There is a camp store, but they have very limited hours, we never got there when they were open.
The park itself is unique, lots of fun. 
Cell service was limited for us, but I think Verizon has coverage. 
No showers, but this was a great find, the rec center in Alamosa charged 2.00 and 1.00 for each additional person. The showers and bathrooms were clean, lots of hot water with good pressure.

Piñon flats campground at great sand dunes, July, 2019

This campground has three loops, the first two have sites for RVs, and the last loop is for tents only.  There are hiking paths from the campgrounds out to the dunes, and it's only a three minutes drive to the dunes parking area.  There are bear boxes and all trash containers are bear proof, they do see bear here so use the boxes properly.  It's $20 a night, or $10 if you have an Access pass, and you can stay 14 nights every 30 days.  You will need to make reservations if you want to stay the full 14 days, as the walk up sites are few and far between and you'll have to move every couple of days if you don't have reservations.  The Point of no Return 4wheel only road is at the beginning of the campground and has camping down it, but that's another campground and another review.  There are plenty of trails to hike, both up the surrounding mountains, and to the dunes.  The weather I'm August is beautiful, it can get hot so pack plenty of water with you.  There is a free RV dump and fill station right before you get into the campground, great even if you don't stay at the park.  The camp store is rarely open and limited on items, so prepare before you head here.  The visitor center is not far and that's where you get your permits for overnight backpacking, parking, camping in the park.  This place is like being on another world, views are truly breathtaking. If you only stop one place in the San Luis Valley make it the Great Sand Dunes National Park, you won't regret it.

Great NPS campground

What a great experience! The front of the campground has views on the sand dunes and if you go at beginning of summer there is a river running through the National Park.

Fun in the sand!

I really enjoy staying at Pinyon Flats, of all the park service campgrounds this is on the top of my list. If you get the right sight you will have amazing views of the dunes and surrounding mountains. The sites have plenty of room for the tent camping folks, things can get tight for RVs. Some of the site are pretty close to each other, but spacing for most is quiet nice. The restrooms were very clean with flush toilets, and dish washing facilities outside. Each site has a picnic table, metal fire rings, and bear proof food lockers. Be sure to watch the dunes in the evening as the low setting sun cast shadows over the sand dunes. Get hiking opportunities in the park, but one of the best is hiking through the dunes. Campground roads and parking pads are paved. Campground takes reservations so it can get difficult during the summer months to find a spot if you don't have a reservation. This last visit in the beginning of October we found plenty of open sites for the night. Campground has 88 sites at$20 a night.

Camp with views of the Dunes right out your tent door

My First Boondocking Experience!😝

A busy campground, it's very difficult to get a spot without a reservation, and people start roaming and asking if your leaving before 6AM. Some sites are definitely better than others, but beggars can't be choosers. Be bear aware.  Always a good amphitheater chat from the rangers. Our favorite time to go is near Memorial day or early June when the river is flowing. A favorite memory.

Hard to get a spot

The location of this campground is fantastic, and we were able to reserve a spot in mid-June, but it was the worst wind ever. It kept us up all night and even pulled the rain fly right off of our tent. We ended up sleeping in the car because it was too much. Check the weather ahead of time and don’t camp if it’s going to be crazy windy.

Windiest night of my life

We were driving up to Crested Butte and managed to snag a spot at Pinion Flats one night on the way up. It did not disappoint. There was a trail straight to the dunes from the campsite. The dunes were visible from the campsite and it was amazing. There were mountains behind the site and dunes in the front view. So beautiful. The campsite itself had plenty of space for me and my 4 friends and my dog. There was a grill ring and bench and also a bear box for food. Will say I got bit 2 times by fire ants at the site. Other than that, great location! We were at campsite 49. 

Breathtaking View of the Sand Dunes

We were on site 34. Great views of the dunes. We could walk about 1/2 mile and get to the dunes with easy access to trails right by our site. We enjoyed sledding on the dunes and took the primitive road to Castle Creek picnic area which was pretty cool to walk in the creek. 

Bucket list item checked off

Overall, we had a great trip. Our site didn’t have the best sight of the Dunes, but there were many around us that did. We had good shade though, which we were thankful for. The creek was dry, but we a fairly easy walk up the dunes with our 4 and 5 year old. I would suggest buckets and shovels for the young kids. There were a lot of no-see-um bugs which chewed our ankles to shreds at our campsite. Also, please follow the campsite rules to a T! We got written a ticket because we didn’t put our trash in the bear box when we went on a little hike. The rangers are sticklers! 

In all, I highly recommend this campsite. I noted that when we come back, I am going to look for openings in sites 65, 67, 69, 86 and 22 (best views!!)

Beautiful, Quiet Campground

The Sand Dunes are pretty cool and my dog loved playing in the water. Some of the campsites seem close together, our campsite was an “end unit” and so it had more separation and privacy from the other campsites. Bear bins are provided in each campsite.

If you’re interested in National Parks be sure to visit this unique area.

This campsite is located in the Great Sand Dunes National Park. 
A well maintained campground with asphalt roads throughout, including the campsite parking area. Each campsite includes a level dirt area delineated with a low rock wall, a large metal bear proof food storage locker, a metal fire ring with grate and an aluminum picnic table. 
There is no  water, sewage or electric at any of the sites, although at only $20 a night that is quite acceptable. 
Plan to pick and reserve your site about 6 months in advance as this national park is very popular. 

Awesome Scenery 

The campground it’s beautiful and it has its own trail to the dunes. The amount of spots is limited considering the amount of people that visit the park. They have an air station, first time I see this in a park. The dump station and potable water is outside the campground. 

Needs more spots

A wonderful campground where you can walk directly to the Sand Dunes. Beautiful views from camp. Bathrooms are nice and there are dishwashing stations available.

Camp in the shadow of the dunes

Nice campground with a trail from the campground to the dunes. We visited August 2020. Visitor Center was closed inside due to social distancing but you could order through a window to get what you needed. Road and parking are nice and paved with sites big enough for a tent or two. There’s bear bins at each site along with fire rings and picnic tables. Plenty of trees to offer shade. Bathrooms were clean but no showers. Cell service was limited. Some sites were ADA accessible which was nice. The campsites didn’t offer a lot of privacy but you aren’t out in the open either. It was a blast being so close to the dunes and exploring. Just make sure you fill up your gas tank before driving to the park

Within Walking Distance To The Dunes

My oldest has insisted that we return every year now! We love the sand dunes! So many adventures and memories to be had! And the campsite is so clean and quiet. Zapata Falls is a must too! No water this time of year on the Dunes but still a great time! 

Best place for the Dunes

This camp site is a mile or so from the base of the Dunes and river. It’s a nice enough location but the camp sites feel pretty close together. There’s not many trees and such to make it feel like there’s much privacy. 

The campsites are super sandy (obviously lol) and watch out for lots of prickly cactus. A portion of the sites are paved for RVs. It’s super tight to maneuver in and out with a camper. 

Views are pretty amazing! But some sights have (a lot) better views of the Dunes than others. Besides birds we haven’t seen much while life but there are bear boxes at the camp sites 

Great Spot with Lots of Neighborhoods

Obviously being in the park is fantastic and gorgeous. The campsites are close together, we could hear other sites chatting til 2AM. Our site was specifically great because of trees (no wind). Bathrooms are clean but no hand soap. The store has weird hours, doesn’t open til 2PM. If you want to rent a sand board you’ll have to exit the park and go to the Great Sand Dunes lodge, they sell out by noon. Lastly please drive the speed limit, I got a huggge ticket and they were constantly pulling people over in the park. But overall I’d camp there again! Happy camping!!

Fantastic! But Drive the Speed Limit

Started to get kind of crowded towards the end of the week but it’s a beautiful spot with stellar views and access to the dunes. 

gorg!

In peak season (here on a Wednesday) it is busy here and online reservations are really recommended.  This is a common campground set up (drive loop with sites patched along the way). The website was great for seeing reviews/ratings of specific sites. Booked 24 hrs in advance and got lucky with "prime" site, which was the last available site for my date. A little noisy with so many families in a full campground. But I would definitely return. Great mountain and dune hikes with trails easy to access from the campgrounds. Bear lockers, tent pads, picnic tables, fire rings at each site. Deer just feet from my site and mosquitos are there but manageable. 

NOTE: campsite fee does not include park entrance fee ($25/car)

Amazing views and quick access to trails

We had a first class view of the dunes from our campsite and it was stunning. Wouldn’t want to stay anywhere else while enjoying this park. It was windy and there were a lot of mosquitoes but the views and nearby trail access to the dunes made it all worth it. Very kid friendly spot! Bathrooms were clean and close by.

A+ location up against the dunes

Inside Great Sand Dunes National Park you will find this typical NP campground. Lots of somewhat confusing loops, but the higher you go the better the views. Sites are nicely laid out, clean, and there is some privacy thanks to low shrubs and trees. There is even a little camp store staffed by park rangers, stop by, they really like to talk! Water spigots seem to be spaced well(not as far apart as in other campgrounds), and the vault toilets were clean, if in need of servicing. There are some great hikes close by as well as easy access to the dunes. You do have to go outside the park to rent sand boards/sleds.

NPS camping at Great Sand Dunes 

Beautiful location! My favorite part about this site was that their were tons of great hiking trail surrounding the campsites. My least favorite part were the bugs, if you stay here don’t forget your bug spray. 

The Great Sand Dunes 

Absolutely wonderful spot to be at the Sand Dunes.  One frustration I had was the number of sites reserved that were empty.  (This campground is pretty much fully booked 6 months out)  We stayed Thurs- Sun and the Thurs night I bet there were 40% of the sites around us reserved starting as early as Tuesday with no one in them.  They all showed up on Friday.  I asked the park ranger and he said once you pay for it, it's yours so you can choose which nights you stay, if any.  

Pro's - 1/2 mile walk to the river at the base of the dunes, further from the main parking area so you get a more secluded experience of the dunes.  BEAUTIFUL.  Super clean bathrooms.  Close to Colorado Gators and Zapata Falls, both 100% worth doing while down there.

Con's - there is a huge difference in each site's size.  Our tent site said max 8 people but there was not room for more than a 4 person tent on the tent pad and there was a foot drop off around 2 sides of it and a fire pit on one side.  Our 8 person tent we folded in 3 feet on one side and the other side was 6 inches from the fire pit.  :-(  Many other sites had enough room for 2 tents for 8 people, they were literally 2 to 3 times the size of our site.  (site 30).  So be aware.  Also - Bug spray the heck out of yourself, I didn't bug spray my legs that I had leggings on and I was eaten alive (like 100+ bites) the first 24 hours there.  Lesson learned, mosquitos bite through clothes.

Beautiful - huge variance between sites though

Overall a wonderful experience! We would definitely stay here again. Bathrooms were clean, water was near the site, and the Dunes are so much fun! Two reasons for the 4 stars instead of 5. 1) the sites are so close to each other. The site next to us had about 8 people at it and they were so loud the entire time. 2) the bear boxes really need to be sprayed for spiders. We had 4 spiders (that we saw) and 2 spider egg nests in our bear box. Idk why they think I’d put my food in there 🤢. 

Overall, a lot of fun

Awesome views and nice spacious site. Quiet until the families unloaded their RVs with children and the white girls partied till 1am. Decent little camp store too. 

Beautiful site 

Went to the Sand Dunes on 8/28-8/29. Reserved a campsite in the recreation.gov app a few days prior after watching for a while. 
We got site 29. Big enough for an rv but we only have a tent. The bear box was literally right next to the tent pad lol.
There's restrooms with sinks for dishwashing.
I didn't visit the camp store but I guess you can buy firewood there. No gathering wood from the ground.
The park rangers patrol the area regularly. One got out and gave me a friendly reminder to register the plates on my vehicle. 
Nearby campers were quiet for the most part. People stood up kinda late but it really calmed down around 11.
Overall, the campsite is in perfect proximity to the dunes. The sunset was amazing to watch. Our site had some obstruction from trees but a 100 foot walk and the view of the sunset was perfect.

Cozy camping

 We stayed here one night. Sites were not as crammed as some NP campgrounds we have been to. Bathrooms were clean. There is a dish washing station but it was closed due to time of year - the water spigots were still functional though. On Verizon I got 2 bars and was able to use my hotspot to work on my laptop. There’s a trail to the dunes from the campsites and a small camp store that is open 4-7pm that sells firewood, snacks and essentials. No showers here but there are wash off stations at the dunes. Also, you can pay $6 for a hot shower at the Sand Dunes Lodge about 10 minutes away. Some campsites actually have views of the dunes and mountains. We enjoyed our stay very much! 

Nice Campground

We had site 68 and 70.  Site 70 had trees that made it hard for RV .  I would recommend this campsite for people who tent camp. RV sites are challenging to get into and some sites have no room for tow vehicle.  Campsites are close to each other.  Nice to be close to Sand Dunes.

Great for tent camping not rvs

Amenities in good condition, spots were ample in size and grills/fire pits in each. Our table was a little wobbly but fine. View of the Dunes National Park was incredible and trail led straight to them about 15 min walk from our spot. Cold at night in October, pack layers accordingly. 

Excellent view and distance to Dunes


Bear boxes at each site, lots of handicap accessible sites, loop 2 is not the most level for trailers, you will most likely need a leveling kit. Men’s and women’s toilets, sinks are closed. Access to dunes trails, and off road track. Dump station nearby visitor center with free air station. T-Mobile available at most sites, but good by the visitor center and primitive road access. Must make reservation via recreation.gov or by phone as the fee tube no longer exists. 

Sand Dunes and Off-roading

Our spot was large enough for 2 tents, but we only had one. The view was amazing, we could see both mountains and sand dunes. The bathroom was super close, but there was no soap or paper towels. 

Beautiful 

One of my favorite campsites. Looks over the sand dunes, relaxing and just amazing



Great little site

Piñon Flats was an awesome place to camp! It has restrooms as well as easy access to hiking trails, each spot has a fire pit and a big enough dirt pad to stake down a tent or awning. Quiet hours are also nice so you won’t be hearing generators at night. 

Piñon Flats Camping 

I have camped here a few times and it is a really good camping area with a lot of access to the dunes and other recreation.  Do not miss Zapa Falls

Really Great Overall

Can be a packed place to camp. They’re right the stars are awesome! The wind was brutal, made me wake up often to make sure I wasn’t being abducted by aliens. They have nice photos of the campgrounds on the NPS website. ALTHOUGH, they do not show you your campgrounds’ surroundings. I bought a campsite in front of the bathrooms….yay….BUT the lights were on ALL NIGHT. :( it’s supposed to be a national lights off zone, national site seeing star zone and for some reason their bathroom lights are not motion detected (or at the particular bathroom it’s not). Turn off the lights at night time or make it motion detected. sand dunes NP practice what you preach :( clean bathrooms but no hand soap :P

National park campground

Agree with another reviewer who complained about night lighting for the bathrooms--- don't sign up for a site opposite the bathroom or your site will be under the spotlights all night.

For example, in Loop # 1-- be careful about booking sites 6, 7, 15, 16 which face toward the bathrooms---Bathrooms are clean--- but don't allow for cleaning one's hands. This is another national park property that eschews hand dryers, paper towels, and soap. Bathrooms have flushing toilets. No showers. Nightime illumination is not a problem on the back side of the bathrooms...i.e sites 25, 27, 33 remain dark.

Services and side trips are very limited in this park--- not much to do except that there is a very nice shaded picnic area near the dunes parking lot. The rangers seem to be not engaged. Instead, they placed a bright red neon sign near the entrance to the campground-- it seemed to be on and visible all night--- a jarring &amp; annoying interruption to the fine night sky.

The campsites here are very uneven in quality and in allocated space. That said, I have tried to make some notes about loop # 1 which has the best views:

Best views are on the outside edge of loop # 1 from site #39 to site # 18. I had site 23 which had good views as well as shade and is much larger than site # 24 which is cramped. Site # 31 was very small. Site # 19 also offered excellent views and had lots of space but fewer trees. Site # 32 was very open, fine views. 

Note that sites 23 &amp; 24 each have 3 stone steps to access the site from parking….very steep steps. Sites # 22 &amp; 21 require a scramble down hill with plenty of rock obstacles in the way from parking. They should be designated as walk-in sites. Sites # 34 &amp; 39 are very good sites. Huge trees are a nice asset for sites 25, 26, 27, 28. Campsite 39 has a good layout and nice trees but one side snugs directly up to site #40.

Tent pads have been shown no maintenance.

Better arrive with a full tank of gas….

One night is plenty here….

High Winds Here with lots of dust- Typical April?

The facilities were clean which was nice. But…You had to drive to get to dumpsters which is annoying. Also many of the trailer spaces were very small. We had a pull through spot and the camp side was on the wrong side of the camper. The roads are 1 way loops and our pull through site was on the left side of road. This meant that our trailer door was facing the road instead of camp site. Didn’t like the spot. There were some nicer spots but I recommend doing your homework first. Great location to the sand dunes. We had a good time at the sand dunes but now that we have experienced it we probably won’t go back. Cell service was very limited, 1-bar. Potable water was available and they had a small
Camping shop with basic supplies. 

Clean but small spaces for trailers

Campsites are compact and overlook the Dunes - we parallell parked at our site. Short hike to Medano creek and the dunes. Sites have bear boxes for food storage, picnic table, and tent pads. Not ideal for large travel trailers but great in tents, vans, or smaller trailers.  Site 7 is behind a pit toilet and the breeze blows the stink at you perfectly.  Most other sites seem ok.

Mountain beach adventure

Not a terrible price for front row seats of the sand dunes, plus bathrooms and such. Cancellations appear on the website, so even if you show up and they say they're full, check the website because there may be a last-minute opening you can snag like I did.

  

Dog friendly, many families were walking theirs around the loop and nearby trails. Very pleasant site

Perfect for Dogs and Family Stay

Campsite 71 has a great view of the sand dunes and the snow cap mountains.

The view

Lovely campsite not far from the dunes. Ours is where the Dune trail was started and it was a bit busy when folks would walk by. The campsite was a bit lower than the parking area, so not the most easily accessible if you have some disabilities. Washrooms and washing stations were very close by.

Nice clean campsite

It’s dry camping, but you can’t beat the location and views. We saw tons of deer and enjoyed the park - even got to witness a thunderstorm from our spot

Spectacular views, wildlife

Quiet campground with trees and a great view of the dunes. Clean bathrooms and cell service on Verizon fluctuated from one to three bars. I wish I was staying two nights. 

Hidden Gem

Reservations ONLY online and in advance. $11 plus fee of $8. We showed up, saw the sign, lots of empty spots, no host. 

Great views

This place is SPECTACULAR!
Basic facilities, but nice and clean. And THE VIEWS! Especially at sunset! We just van camped, so could squeeze in any spot. But there are different size lots, so make sure to reserve the type/size you need!  Our site itself didn’t have the best view, but just a short walk fixed that!!

Second night we stayed again, but got a better site. 27 is a short walk from other restrooms, but feels more private 👍🏻

Beautiful!

Pretty much standard equipment. No showers, only cold water. Immediate access to dunes. Just to close together for me.

Close quarters

Would be perfect if sites were further apart. Neighbors complained during the day because our dogs barked a bit. They weren't loud and it wasn't for long. Either than that right next to dunes and very pretty

Perfect except close 

 We were heading to the Flagstaff/GC NP area from a friends house in Arkansas and randomly found Pinion Flats/ The Dunes on a google search. We booked a tent site 1 day in advance  for $20ish. When we arrived we just loved everything about this place! What a view! Loop A has great Dunes views. The sites are pretty close together and the restrooms were under construction(outhouses only), but our view was worth it! Check out the map to select a site with a view:)  And don’t forget to rent a sled and spend a day on the dunes!

A unique stay!

Excellent campground with perfect access to the dunes, and a great primer for desert camping overall. The site we stayed at (019) has absolutely no shade so make sure you plan activities away from the campground during the day. The place was also Mosquito Central (at least during our July visit) so bug spray or (better yet) a screened pavilion are highly recommended. The bathrooms are newly remodeled - would be nice to have soap and hand dryers available.

Sand, sun, scratching

This is a beautiful campground. Our site overlooked the Sand Dunes, with a trail out into the dunes for hiking every morning. 
Afternoon was hot out in the sand.
No hook ups so this is dry camping.
Lots of mosquitoes!

Beautiful campground - mosquitoes 

We absolutely loved this campground. Although some spots are tight, the quiet, peaceful beauty and ability to hike (4 trails)  right from the campground made all the difference. We were in #63 and had a view of the dunes as well as open space behind us. Renovated restrooms were super clean, and had heat and lights with 3 stalls in each. The new handwashing sink station was great too. We were there during a full moon which was amazing, but did limit our view of the dark sky stars. People were friendly and respectful. We were there the last week of the season and the camp store was closed. Glad we brought firewood and had enough to share with neighbors.  Our two pups loved the dunes as well and we hope to return!

Quietly Perfect

This is a beautiful campground. It is set just beyond the sand dunes with several trails connecting the two. You MUST take a walk down into the dunes after dark… simply breathtaking. Bring a flashlight, though! Some sites provide shade and some do not, so be prepared. They have a small camp store where you can purchase goods like firewood (when there aren’t any fire bans). 

For the Stargazers

Great campsite with great views of Crestone Peaks and the Sand Dunes. Nice sites tucked between piñon trees and fairly quiet.

Recommendation for improvement: bathrooms, while they have running water and power, could benefit from soap dispensers and hand dryers. Not critical but a pretty important "nice to have".

Awesome campsite - small improvements 

Busy campground with clean toilets. We'll maintained and clean camping spots. The camp store was also well-stocked. I was lucky to get a spot on short notice through dyrt premium feature where it tells you if someone cancels. In July, there were a ton of mosquitoes everywhere except over the sand. From the campground you can easily hike up to the creek and the east face of the dunes within 15-30 minutes. From there, you can climb the dunes as far up as you want to. 

Oh and you'll only get shade in the late afternoon at this site, that too like 70-80%. 

A very convenient location if you're planning to conquer the sand dunes 

Beautiful views of the dunes and the mountains! Bathrooms were super clean and convenient. Highly recommend!

Great spot!

Close proximity to the dunes, allows you to access at night and throughout the day to experience the range of landscapes the park provides. 

The camp site has flushing toilets and drinking water. 

Would highly recommend if you can snag a site. 

Perfect spot for exploring the dunes

Great little campground in Great Sand Dunes NP. Very nice and clean flushing toilets. Campsites are a little small but the views and incredible. No showers. 

Great campground 

Two-loop campground with a small store that sells firewood etc. I lucked into site #67 after changing plans due to inclement weather. The sites in the 60's are on the west end of the loop and have fantastic views of the dunes with all the color variations as the sun moves.  There are two flush bathrooms on the loop, with no showers. There is a wash sink outside the bathroom. 

  

Some sites are only tent-friendly with parking parallel to the sight and then walking up to a tent area. Other spots work for smaller vans, trailers, etc. and most are short in depth but double-wide drives to position the vehicle beside the trailer. The Visitor Center is a couple miles away as is the picnic area and trail to the dunes.  There is a trailhead that leaves directly from the upper loop of the campground that leads to an overlook or backcountry camping.

Small rig and tent friendly with superb views

Not a quiet respite, but very close to the dunes (walkable/hikeable) and campsites were clean, with fire pits and picnic tables, well marked, and with a small camp store. Intermittent shade (my site didn’t have much) and a mix of sites that work better or worse for overlanders. Really look at the picture of your site before you book it. I brought a teardrop and it felt like I was kind of camping in the road (site 80.) This site would have been great for either tent campers or someone with a very large RV but I had hoped for a site I could back into that was a little more intimate. Families were loud, but I suppose that’s kind of to be expected. (I’m a single person and generally prefer disbursed camping.)

In any case, a rare treat to stay inside a national park. Overall it was great. I’d recommend renting a sand board before you enter the park (it was $20 at the oasis just before the park entrance) so you only have to wait in the line once. 

Nice campsites, lots of kids 

Easy to access and staff was friendly and park rangers patrolled and did a great job of maintaining the park. Had great views of the dunes and visited zapata falls down the road when it got too hot

Photos of Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park

Real photos from real campers