Cradled in a nook of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Hidden Dune rises like a perfect pyramid more than 700 feet from the valley below. The tallest dune in Great Sand Dunes National Park, the hike to get here was a grueling off-trail journey.
As I began, looming storm clouds hovered over the dunes. Soon enough, the skies opened up, and a gentle rain began misting the sand. I counted a couple of rainbows and some fascinating cloud formations as the storm passed overhead. Finally, with Hidden Dune in sight and sunset only minutes away, the sun emerged from behind the clouds, casting light and shadows across the valley and brilliant hues on the clouds above.
