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28%
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4.5

out of 5

54 Reviews

Reviewed May. 16, 2022

Lots of space and long views outside Great Sand Dunes NP

A lot of area for dispersed camping on the side of the mountain. Roads get progressively more technical as you ascend. Some roads marked on the map have washed out making them impassible. The sites at the bottom are pretty flat, but the ones farther up the mountain become pretty steep, 8% grades if the inclinometer in my truck is right. There is fresh water fill and a dump station at the NP - free with entry fee (or real free if you have a pass), a small store with gas priced competitively and restaurant. The nearest cell tower is in Blanca a few miles away. Verizon signal is pretty good.

SiteWay up the mountain.
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Mar. 27, 2022

Great views!

Within 20 minutes of great sand dunes and the closet Restaurants/ Groceries/Gas stations. Great cell reception there is a cell tower in the nearest city. Amazing views throughout the day. Entry way has a small drop off be careful if in a low car.

Site2nd road on the left first site
Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Colton T. A., March 27, 2022
Reviewed Mar. 20, 2022

Great campsite, very flat

We and my buddies came here after being turned down from the Mosca campsite. The sites here are huge and are equipped with a fire pit. Our one main problem was that because the site was so flat, the wind could get pretty rough. Still able to build a solid fire with the help of a stone barrier. Definitely recommend for free camping

Site3rd on the left
Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Joshua W., March 20, 2022
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Joshua W., March 20, 2022
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Joshua W., March 20, 2022
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  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Joshua W., March 20, 2022
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Joshua W., March 20, 2022
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Joshua W., March 20, 2022
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Joshua W., March 20, 2022
Reviewed Mar. 5, 2022

Super easy BLM

Super easy to find + stay. We stayed right off the road in the circle. No one else came around. Would stay here again!

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by hannah P., March 5, 2022
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  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by hannah P., March 5, 2022
Reviewed Feb. 17, 2022

beautiful views

Awesome views and a trail up the mountain with an even better view of down below. Fire pits available as well

Siteno numbers
Month of VisitFebruary
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  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by abigail , February 17, 2022
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by abigail , February 17, 2022
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Reviewed Jan. 14, 2022

Wide open country

Dirt road with wide views. If you like dispersed camping this is for you.

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Dave B., January 14, 2022
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Dave B., January 14, 2022
Reviewed Nov. 18, 2021

Good off grid spot for a couple of days

We were sort of passing through and wanted to do the Sand Dunes, so we pulled the camper up the hill a bit. No frills of course, but honestly not bad at all. Plenty of room and privacy.

Site5?
Month of VisitNovember
Reviewed Oct. 6, 2021

Perfect Spot for quiet camping

We have been camping here 4 times now, and never tire of the beauty of this special place. Lots of room to find a private place, and no fees.

SiteNo numbered sites.
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Harry N., October 6, 2021
Reviewed Sep. 28, 2021

Great overnight spot

I have big desire for wide open space with lots of room and no road noises. This fits the bill great. Recommend and would give 5 but save that for really special spots. This is a great hotel. :)

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Casey C., September 28, 2021
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2021

So coll

2 night stop for our 17 day South Carolina to California trip. Absolutely gorgeous and the weather was awesome. Little bit crowded but didn’t struggle to get a spot

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jul. 8, 2021

We loved this spot.

Very private, beautiful scenery. Tons of spots available but hardly anyone was there. We stayed two nights. No wild life except a lizard my kids found. Saved for future reference.

Siteunknown
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by hannah , July 8, 2021
Reviewed Jun. 9, 2021

Great for overnight, crowded

We love the place, some people took up a lot of space and blocked areas. Verizon was good 2-3 bars with LTE. Some gnats, had to go up a mile or so, to get a spot...1

Site15ish
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Greg R., June 9, 2021
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Greg R., June 9, 2021
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Greg R., June 9, 2021
Reviewed May. 23, 2021

Crowded and cramped

If you're jammed up for a place (Sand Dunes CG fills fast), decent overnight. But nothing else to recommend. A mile up the hill has nice views but is rocky and difficult to find a level spot. Would not return unless I had to.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed May. 22, 2021

Beautiful free spot

Entrance located between mile marker 3 & 4. The road is, I think, actually a really nice dirt road for about the first 1-2 miles in. After that the road turns into bigger rocks, I was definitely not taking my 2wd van up. Beautiful spot, the weekend was busy but it wasn't a problem for me and it was still quiet at night! Highly recommend this spot! I stayed for 6 days and at 3 different campsites.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by maria R., May 22, 2021
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by maria R., May 22, 2021
Reviewed May. 8, 2021

Great spots, but watch out for sand!

The campground itself is very nice. Most pullouts had fire pits and it got fairly busy on the Friday night we stayed. However, there was a sand storm when we were setting up the tent around 2pm. We had to hide under the tarp for about an hour to protect ourselves. Highly recommend checking the wind forecast a couple days before visiting.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed May. 4, 2021

Beautiful and FREE

We stopped in here for the night after driving across the country and easily found a spot. For reference, It was around midnight on a Thursday night when we arrived. There are no facilities as this is BLM land, however don’t let that deter you from staying here if you’re on the way to great sand dunes.

Sitedispersed
Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2020

Sandy desert like

We stayed in the first pull out to the left of the road. Watch the entry off CO 150 as it is very narrow. No hookups but no fee. All was well until the wind came up suddenly and we were in a brief windstorm with sand all in our trailer.

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by David W., September 30, 2020
Reviewed Sep. 19, 2020

BLM Dispersed road

Smooth dirt road with large spots and smaller spots right off the road. Perfect for when all the other nearby campgrounds are full, but make sure you get there before sunset because it will fill up. We stayed on a busy Friday and didn't go up the road too far; it looked like it gets steeper and rocky.

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2020

Awesome!

We stayed about 10 minutes up the road after the turn off. there are plenty of places to pull off but the further up you go the more likely it is that you’ll need a 4WD. It rained a lot but the ground dried fast and the creek bed that runs along the campsites never filled up.

we rarely heard our neighbors and there was plenty of space!

Reviewed Aug. 24, 2019

Boondocking in the sun

This is BLM land that's free to camp on for up to 14 days every 45 days. The camp sites are just off a dirt road that leads to the trailhead for hiking to Blanca Peak. The road gets pretty rough the further up you get, but there are plenty of large camp sites on the way up the mountain, some you'd have to home to if you decide to go to Blanca Peak. It's a fairly busy place as off-road vehicles and horse back riding are popular here. Beautiful views of the San Luis Valley, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Mt. Blanca. Definitely worth checking out of you're in the area. No shade or amenities, so bring everything you need with you and as always, leave no trace.

Reviewed Jul. 14, 2019

Fun, rocky road up the mountain

We drove up the road for a while to find a higher up spot. High clearance is definitely needed, dirt road turns into curvy, rocky road with multiple spots on both sides. There were plenty of already made fire pits. The views are amazing and even though we saw several other people, we never heard them. There was a few 4wheelers and dirt bikes. All around great, free spot.

Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Kelsie S., July 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Kelsie S., July 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Kelsie S., July 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Kelsie S., July 14, 2019
Reviewed Jun. 30, 2019

Great BLM spot near Great Sand Dunes National Park

We stayed a week and half in late June 2019. The camping areas are very easy to find and are directly off Lake Como Road which is off Hwy 150(main road that leads to Great Sand Dunes NP). There is a BLM sign at the turn to the right. The GPS coordinates will take you to the correct area. There are several camping areas as you drive down the road. There are all on the left side. There is a large dip right after you turn and before the sign. Make sure you are going slow and you shouldn’t have any problems. The road is washboard sand and dirt but overall is not bad to drive down, especially if you go slow. I think any size rig would be fine to travel to the first three camping areas. Each camping area could probably fit 3-5 rigs and some tenters without being on top of each other. The first camping area is about¼ mile down the road. Not a bad area, but it was a bit busier when we arrived(probably due to the proximity to the road). We went to the second area which is probably another¼ mile down the road. That area was busy as well, but we liked it better(more grass than dirt). We setup camp in the back of the area and were able to get level without blocks! Most everyone else needed blocks, but they didn’t seem to have much problem leveling. As you continue down the road, its condition does worsen. Tenters and small vans have more options towards the mountain. We did see a decent size Airstream make it to the fourth pullout area, but we didn’t feel comfortable taking our 30 ft travel trailer past the second section. We did walk down to the third pullout and it was not as level or as big, so we were happy with our decision to stick to the second section. The road was a bit worse from areas#2-#3, but still probably doable for most rigs. After that it starts to get a bit rough, at least in our opinion. Cell reception was good, we had 2-3 bars 4G LTE on AT&T. We use hotspots for internet and have AT&T and Verizon and both worked well. No amenities at all so pack in and out. The area is about 20-25 minutes to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. We were able to get potable water there(at the dump station) and dump as we were leaving. They also have dumpsters we used to dispose of our trash(and the trash of inconsiderate tent campers who left over two bags of trash for us to collect for them). The town of Alamosa is about 30 minutes away and has places for groceries, propane, and anything else you may need during your stay. The camping areas have a wonderful view of Blanca Peak. If you are in better shape than we are, you can attempt the summit while there. There are no trees or any obstructions on any of the pullouts. Perfect for solar, but also no protection from wind and blowing sand. It was windy several times when we were there, and it will blow sand and dust in the RV. Nothing too bad but be aware. The weather was great until the last few days when the high was almost 90. Small rain events happen frequently in the afternoon, but they never last long and some don’t make it to the area, but you can see them in the distance. The area gets busy on the weekend, but during the week it slows down. Everyone was respectful and enjoyed the quiet. The biggest noise was the free-range cows in the morning making a raucous and using the RV as a back scratcher. They didn’t visit every morning but were there several times bright and early. Dark skies there. You can see the Milky Way with the naked eye. Overall, it was a great stay and we would stay again if ever back in the area.

SiteSecond pullout
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Meandering Life , June 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Meandering Life , June 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Meandering Life , June 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Meandering Life , June 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Meandering Life , June 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Meandering Life , June 30, 2019
Reviewed Jun. 5, 2019

Ranger Review: Éclipse UPF Neck Gaiter at Sacred White Shell Mountain

Campground Review:

We chose this BLM campground because it is right outside of Great Sand Dunes National Park.  There are several sites along Lake Como Road.  The type of vehicle you have determines how far up the road/secluded you can get.  We were there over Memorial Day Weekend and it was packed.  However, there are tons of sites and plenty of space for all!  We camp in a RV and there were plenty of accessible sites for us to choose from us well.  The road in is really bumpy so we parked in the first parking area on the left as you come in and were happy with it.  This is a popular area for off-roading so be prepared for some traffic heading up Lake Como Road to hit the trails if you are there on a weekend.  The only downside to this area was the CRAZY winds that blew through.  There were gusts of 67 mph one day!  The views are amazing in this spot.  And, even better – our Verizon hotspot was strong enough for us to both work all week.  When the weather was clear it seemed no matter where we looked, we had mountain views.  Not to mention the spectacular view of Blanca Peak.  It’s also amazing being so close to the National Park.  We were really happy with the location and thoroughly enjoyed our time in the park.  We were really happy with this free spot!

Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I occasionally get to test products.  During this stay, I tested Éclipse Sun Protective Clothing’s neck gaiter.  I knew the sun would be strong when we were hiking the dunes, so we wanted to protect ourselves.  We also expected the wind to blow the sand around so we figured this would be the perfect product to protect us from both.  Boy, were we right!  The gaiters were perfect.  They come with an info sheet showing you the different ways you can wear your neck gaiter.  I assumed I would just wear it around my neck as planned.  However, prior to hiking the dunes we hiked a Zapata Falls and I was a little chilly.  I pulled the neck gaiter out and wore it like a headband and LOVED it.  It was super easy to get comfortable and in a good spot and it was nice knowing my hairline was protected from damaging UPF rays.  Once we started hiking the dunes, I assumed I would pull it back down around my neck.  However, I loved it so much as a headband I didn’t want to move it.  It did a great job of keeping the sand out of my ears which I am so thankful for.  My husband wore his around his neck and he too was really happy with it.  This is versatile product has earned a permanent spot in our day packs.  Way to go Éclipse!

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Bounding Around , June 5, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Bounding Around , June 5, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Bounding Around , June 5, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Bounding Around , June 5, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Bounding Around , June 5, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Bounding Around , June 5, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Bounding Around , June 5, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Bounding Around , June 5, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Bounding Around , June 5, 2019
  • Review photo of Sacred White Shell Mountain by Bounding Around , June 5, 2019