Updated October 2026
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve Weather by Month
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 81°F and a low of 52°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 33°F and an average low of 11°F. July is the wettest month, with about 2.1 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in March, at about 8.5 inches.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 6 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
81°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
11°F avg low
Wettest month
Jul
2.1 in avg
Snowiest month
Mar
8.5 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.6 h of daylight
Average weather at Great Sand Dunes by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F | 11°F | 0.6 in | 8.1 in | 9.7 h |
| February | 39°F | 16°F | 0.4 in | 6.2 in | 10.6 h |
| March | 49°F | 24°F | 0.9 in | 8.5 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 56°F | 29°F | 1.2 in | 7.9 in | 13.0 h |
| May | 66°F | 38°F | 1.2 in | 1.7 in | 14.0 h |
| June | 77°F | 48°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in | 14.6 h |
| July | 81°F | 52°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in | 14.4 h |
| August | 78°F | 50°F | 1.9 in | 0.0 in | 13.5 h |
| September | 72°F | 44°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 60°F | 33°F | 0.9 in | 2.8 in | 11.0 h |
| November | 46°F | 22°F | 0.5 in | 5.6 in | 9.9 h |
| December | 34°F | 12°F | 0.5 in | 7.0 in | 9.4 h |
| Year total | 12.2 in | 47.8 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00053541, 6 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Great Sand Dunes is at that time of year.
Great Sand Dunes weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 33°F in January, between 34°F in December and 39°F in February, with average lows between 11°F and 16°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 1.5 inches of precipitation, about 12% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 21 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.4 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 49°F in March to 66°F in May, with average lows between 24°F and 38°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March and April. Together the three months average 3.3 inches of precipitation, about 27% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 18 inches for the season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 14.0 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 81°F in July, between 77°F in June and 78°F in August, with average lows between 48°F and 52°F. Together the three months average 4.7 inches of precipitation, about 39% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.6 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 72°F in September to 46°F in November, with average lows between 22°F and 44°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 2.7 inches of precipitation, about 22% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 8.4 inches for the season, most of it in November. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 9.9 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Temperatures are relatively cool all year at the park elevation 8000 ft. Conditions are most often calm, but winds can arise, especially in spring and during storm fronts. Daytime temperatures feel warmer here year round due to intense high-altitude sunlight, and mid-day summer sand surface temps can be 160 degrees F! Plan to explore the dunes morning or evening during summer. Nights are cool in summer, and frigid in winter. Visit https://nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/weather.htm for details
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Great Sand Dunes
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 37.79°N, 105.59°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve →
Weather and crowds together
July, the warmest month, sees about 2.3× the visitors of the park's average month. June is the busiest month of the year and January the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Great Sand Dunes.
Where to stay near Great Sand Dunes
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, with an average high of 81°F and an average low of 52°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 6 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, with an average low of 11°F and an average high of 33°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
July is the wettest month, with about 2.1 inches of precipitation. February is the driest, at about 0.4 inches. The station records about 12.2 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 6 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 48 inches of snow a year. March is the snowiest month, at about 8.5 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 8 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
79 mi away · warmest in July (79°F)
105 mi away · warmest in July (83°F)
113 mi away · warmest in July (86°F)
119 mi away · warmest in July (95°F)
128 mi away · warmest in July (82°F)
134 mi away · warmest in July (88°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00053541), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.