North Sand Hills - Walden, CO
Distance From Denver: 157 Miles
Cost: Free
Liz Rating: 4/5 (rated this way because of the awesome area, relatively few people, and distance from other attractions).
Things to Do:
Camp
Dirt Bike, Jeep, or ATV around the Sand Dunes and surrounding trails
Visit nearby Federal Lands
Arapahoe National Wildlife Refuge
Mount Zirkel Wilderness
Never Summer Wilderness
Platte River Wilderness
Rawah Wilderness
Roosevelt National Forest
Routt National Forest
Ghost Towns - Twller City (30 miles away)
North Park Pioneer Museum
Drive Buffalo Pass
Deive Cache La Poudre Byway
Visit the State Forest State Park for hiking
Looking over the dunes from a trail in the North Sand Hills Recreation Area.
Colorado's only open sand dune area for OHV recreation is situated at the eastern edge of North Park at the toe of the Medicine Bow Mountain Range. North Sand Hills provides unique riding opportunities for dirt bike, ATV, side- by-side and sand rail riders. Due to the area's extreme landscape, it is important to be prepared and alert when riding OHVs. The area also has connecting trails into the State Forest State Park and adjacent U.S. Forest Service lands, all while providing the scenic backdrop of the Park and Medicine Bow Mountain Ranges.
A small campground of 13 individual pull-through units with picnic tables and fire rings and other dispersed camping sites are available within the area. Whip flags on vehicles are not required but are recommended.
The North Sand Hills Instant Study Area is adjacent within the OHV area. Colorado OHV registration is required on all non-licensed vehicles. The North Sand Hills ISA represents a Cold Climate Eolian sand deposit, which comprises three active dune areas in Colorado. The morphology here consists of two large, active parabolic dunes with small, internal dunes migrating up the windward slopes. Several archaeological sites have been discovered, increasing the historical and cultural values of the area. The area is very popular, especially on holiday weekends during the summer. The area is seasonally closed to motorized use from December 15 to April 15 annually. Drive safely and obey posted speed limits through camp areas. For more information, please contact the Kremmling Field Office.
We thought this was a great place to spend a weekend. There is a grocery store in town if you need to stock up on supplies. There are also some cute restaurants on the main street. We were able to find a camping spot away from everyone else, on the sand, and in a nice grove of aspen trees! The trails here vary from sandy, to rocky… there is something for everyone at any skill level! It is easy to get here and makes for a nice weekend trip.
