Home › Colorado › Public land › The Sand Dunes Preserve
NPS preserve in the CPW Southwest Region
Great Sand Dunes National Preserve hunting access and seasons
National preserve in Saguache County and Alamosa County (40,818 acres).
Photo: Craig Talbert (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Parking, trailheads and gates near Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
- Sand Ramp TrailheadParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Entry requirements for the Sand Dunes Preserve
NPS: "While hunting is not permitted in Great Sand Dunes National Park, licensed hunters may hunt in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve during designated legal seasons." Stock use in the Cold Creek drainage is limited (two parties, six head of livestock) and the Cold Creek backcountry campsite is reserved on Recreation.gov.
NPS page text: While hunting is not permitted in Great Sand Dunes National Park, licensed hunters may hunt in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve during designated legal seasons. Please be familiar with hunting regulations and guidelines before beginning your hunt. Learn more about firearms regulations before visiting the park and preserve.
Liberty Trailhead (northern backcountry access to Rio Grande National Forest and Great Sand Dunes National Preserve)
Contact the Permit Office at 719-378-6321 or via email for a list of guides that are authorized to lead hunts in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve.
Due to overgrazing, there is a limit on pack animals permitted in the Cold Creek Drainage. No more than two parties with a combined maximum of six(6) head of livestock may establish campsites and maintain their livestock within the watershed of Cold Creek at any one-time year-round. Demand for Stock use is high during most hunting seasons, making a reservation system necessary to protect plant and animal habitats in the area.
From the agency source; checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
What the agency says about the Sand Dunes Preserve
Going by the GIS area of the NPS Land Resources Division boundary, the Sand Dunes Preserve covers 40,818 acres.
Species are not listed for the Sand Dunes Preserve; any game in season in its GMUs may be hunted where the rules allow.
From the agency page (National Park Service); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Open seasons by unit on the Sand Dunes Preserve
In all, 32 public-land season rows apply in these GMUs. OTC options in these units: elk and wild turkey. Private-land-only and ranch rows (3) are not shown. Note: spring turkey shows 2026 dates until CPW prints 2027.
| Game | Method | Sex | Sale | Opens | Closes | GMUs here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Archery | cow | Limited, nonresident | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Archery | cow | OTC, residents | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Archery | either sex | Limited, nonresident | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Archery | either sex | OTC, residents | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Second rifle | bull | OTC | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Third rifle | bull | OTC | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 82 |
| Deer | Archery | buck | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 82 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, early | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 82 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 82 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 82 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 82 |
| Pronghorn | Archery | buck | Limited draw | Aug 15, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 82 |
| Pronghorn | Archery | doe | Limited draw | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 82 |
| Pronghorn | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | 82 |
| Pronghorn | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 82 |
| Pronghorn | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 82 |
| Black bear | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 82 |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 82 |
| Mountain lion | All methods | – | Group harvest limit | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 82 |
| Wild turkey | Spring | – | OTC | Apr 11, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | 82 |
| Wild turkey | Fall | – | OTC | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 82 |
Season rows and hunt codes from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure, the Turkey brochure and the Mountain Lion brochure; property access dates still apply; checked November 5, 2026.
Which units cover the Sand Dunes Preserve
The CPW unit layer puts the Sand Dunes Preserve in 1 GMU: GMU 82.
No antler point limit on bulls in the units of the Sand Dunes Preserve. Lion hunters check the quota for group 14 before going out.
Read these as whole-unit numbers: the biggest 2024 total among them was 521 elk in GMU 82.
| GMU | Animal | Taken | Hunters | Success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 82 | Elk | 521 | 2,297 | 23% |
| GMU 82 | Deer | 210 | 419 | 50% |
| GMU 82 | Pronghorn | 98 | 119 | 82% |
| GMU 82 | Black bear | 4 | – | – |
GMU overlay from the CPW Big Game GMU layer; unit rules from the 2026 Big Game brochure; 2024 elk harvest by GMU, 2024 deer harvest by GMU, 2024 pronghorn harvest by GMU, 2024 bear harvest by GMU; checked November 5, 2026.
Where the Sand Dunes Preserve is and how to get in
Its map point, 37.8336, -105.4967, comes from the boundary layer.
point from NPS Land Resources Division boundary (inside Colorado) (polygon centroid); checked November 5, 2026.
Towns and outfitters within reach of the Sand Dunes Preserve
Count on Crestone, about 16 miles out, as the first town for supplies. Census 2024 counts 9,906 people in Alamosa, the largest nearby. The nearest CPW office is in Monte Vista, 40 miles away.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestone | Saguache | 140 | 16 miles | northwest |
| Westcliffe | Custer | 492 | 21 miles | north |
| Alamosa East | Alamosa | – | 31 miles | southwest |
| Alamosa | Alamosa | 9,906 | 32 miles | southwest |
| Saguache | Saguache | 530 | 39 miles | northwest |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); CPW offices from the CPW Contact Us page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 5, 2026.
Public places a short drive from the Sand Dunes Preserve
The closest other public ground is Huerfano SWA, 11 miles to the southeast. Within the six nearest places are 5 trust land parcels and 1 SWA.
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huerfano SWA | SWA | 544 | Huerfano | 11 miles | southeast |
| Foster Gulch STL | State trust land | 640 | Custer | 12 miles | northeast |
| Manzanares Creek STL | State trust land | 1,420 | Huerfano | 13 miles | southeast |
| Froze Creek STL | State trust land | 640 | Custer | 13 miles | northeast |
| Black Mountain STL | State trust land | 640 | Huerfano | 15 miles | east |
| Zapata Falls STL | State trust land | 619 | Alamosa | 15 miles | south |
Point: NPS Land Resources Division boundary (inside Colorado) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Closed places from lands.json closed rows. Statewide public land map.
A look at the country near the Sand Dunes Preserve
The Sand Dunes Preserve: when the legal day starts and ends
In the Sand Dunes Preserve, the light goose conservation order and furbearer hunting both run to half an hour after sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Pronghorn bow opener | 6:19 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:35 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:43 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:01 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:21 a.m. | 6:17 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 6:17 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:54 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:17 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure and the Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Time); checked November 5, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Great Sand Dunes National Preserve hunters: public range plus clubs
For a no-dues line, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve hunters head 39 miles to Lathrop State Park Archery Range. After the public range come the nearest clubs within 30 miles.
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Questions about the Sand Dunes Preserve, answered
Where do I confirm the rules for the Sand Dunes Preserve?
Check the agency page run by National Park Service.
What clock times bound legal hunting on the Sand Dunes Preserve?
Half an hour either side of the sun for big game, which on November 7, 2026 means 6:06 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. in Saguache County.
How much room is there to roam on the Sand Dunes Preserve?
Listed size: 40,818 acres.
What license or pass gets me onto the Sand Dunes Preserve?
NPS: "While hunting is not permitted in Great Sand Dunes National Park, licensed hunters may hunt in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve during designated legal seasons." Stock use in the Cold Creek drainage is limited (two parties, six head of livestock) and the Cold Creek backcountry campsite is reserved on Recreation.
Which GMUs does the Sand Dunes Preserve overlap?
Units on the CPW layer: GMU 82.
Which county page covers the Sand Dunes Preserve?
The county overlay gives Saguache County and Alamosa County.
Do I need to draw for elk on the Sand Dunes Preserve?
Buy over the counter for 4 rows (archery, OTC, residents is one); the other elk hunts need the April draw.
What animals may be hunted on the Sand Dunes Preserve?
State seasons decide; the manager does not publish a game list.
Where should I stay when hunting the Sand Dunes Preserve?
Crestone is your nearest base, 16 miles off.
CWD and antler rules for the Sand Dunes Preserve?
No elk antler point restriction in these units. No mandatory CWD testing GMU here; deer testing is not mandatory in 2026.
What blaze orange rule applies on the Sand Dunes Preserve?
With any firearm license for deer, elk, pronghorn, moose or bear: 500 square inches of solid orange or pink above the waist plus an orange or pink hat.
Who can answer a question about conditions on the Sand Dunes Preserve?
Phone CPW Monte Vista Office in Monte Vista, (719) 587-6900 (40 miles away).
Does Colorado allow baiting on the Sand Dunes Preserve?
Not for big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds; bait of plant or animal matter is legal only for furbearers.
Wrap-up for the Sand Dunes Preserve
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for the Sand Dunes Preserve the week before the trip.
Sources: source 1 · source 2; seasons from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure. Checked November 5, 2026.
Other photos on this page: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).