When you set foot in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, you enter a landscape unlike any other in the country. Two mountain ranges with 14,000-foot peaks tower over a valley filled with giant sand dunes, rushing rivers and waterfalls, and wetlands teeming with wildlife. Sitting at an elevation of 7,500 feet, the vast valley measures 65 miles wide and 100 miles long. Its size and special blend of natural wonders enable adventures that travelers won’t find in other places. From sandboarding to backpacking among massive dunes, here are 11 epic adventures that celebrate the unique nature of the San Luis Valley.

In 1978, home brewing was legalized in the United States, and one year later the first microbrewery opened in Colorado. Decades later, the state continues to pioneer the art of craft brewing and boasts one of the country’s—and the world’s—most impressive craft beer cultures, with hundreds of independent beer makers (and growing).

When you travel to Southern Colorado, you’ll find that same pioneering spirit in Alamosa, where beer is ingrained in the culture. For years, local farms have supplied barley and hops to large and small breweries, and the town is home to a handful of craft breweries. Plus, Alamosa was the birthplace of one of the state’s first craft malting operations.

If you also have a passion for craft beer, you’ll feel right at home in Alamosa. Here, we raise a glass to three breweries and their diverse selections of ales, lagers, stouts, porters, and malts.

Outside of the park, you’ll not only encounter rugged mountains, but also several other ecosystems, including wetlands, grasslands, and the Riparian area where cottonwoods, aspens, and alders thrive along lively creeks.

With such a rich landscape surrounding the park, there’s plenty do after you’ve slid down the dunes, like hiking to waterfalls, fishing, biking, and viewing bison. Before you head to the sand dunes or the surrounding area, check out these eight amazing things to experience beyond the boundaries of the national park.

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is home to the tallest dunes in North America, topping out at around 755 feet. These ever-shifting hills and mounds sit west of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, creating a mind-boggling, desert-like landscape surrounded by 14,000-foot snow-capped peaks. Compared to most of Colorado’s mountains, the Sangres are extremely rugged, due to the earth’s sudden upheaval that created their relief. The landscape here is one of the most stunning scenes in the entire country.

The dunes are also surrounded by a variety of environments, including grasslands, wetlands, aspen forests, and alpine lakes. Nearby, a grove of 200 ponderosa pine trees, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was historically peeled by indigenous tribes for food and medicine.

From the best ways to explore the dunes to where to stay when visiting the area, here are 10 things you should keep in mind to make the most of your trip.