The tallest sand dunes in North America, reaching a height of 750 feet, are not on the coast. In fact, they are far from it. At the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado lies a surreal landscape of sand that extends far and wide. This unique and wonderful landscape is part of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The National Park Service protects the dunes, but you can hike and wander in the dune field.

What makes this place extraordinary is not only the dunes themselves but the story of their creation. Rivers flowing from the mountains carry sand into the San Luis Valley. Prevailing winds that funnel through mountain passes push the sand back toward the base of the mountains. The trapped sand accumulates iand builds into towering dunes. This process occurred over millions of years and continues today. The dunes continue to shift and reshape with each gust of wind creating rippling ridges that are never the same twice.

I hiked to the peak of the dunes. It was surreal to see mountains of sand and the Sangre de Christo mountains towering above the dunes. Ken Burns said it best "America's Best Idea".