GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE — April is a great time to be in the local national park before the summer rush. 

Get outside and visit Great Sand Dunes and reflect on national parks and honor National Park Week and Appreciation Month. 

This year, April 19 to 27 is National Park Week. Recently, Visit Alamosa announced its fifth year of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Appreciation Month. On March 26, the Alamosa County Board of Commissioners also proclaimed April a month to appreciate the park. 

April is the windiest month of the year, with volatile weather and often blustery conditions, but there can be some warm, calm mornings. Winds tend to peak in the afternoon, so plan to experience the dunes in the morning. This year, April 1 held true to this, with the National Weather Service predicting gusts of up to 65 mph. 

April is the second snowiest month of the year on average. Snow falls on the dunes about once per week, but it typically melts off within a day. The weather forecast for the first week of April calls for snow on Thursday and Friday — be prepared. 

Higher-elevation hiking trails are typically still under snow, but lower sections are melting out or dry.  

As of April 1, the dunes and trails at lower elevations are free of snow. The Wellington Ditch trail recently was clear of snow, with patches of mud. Mosca Pass Trail is also free of snow at lower elevations, but there are some pernicious patches of ice, so beware and bring snow/ice traction devices. This experienced hiker recently slipped and fell on one of these ice patches. Conditions are subject to change with snow in the forecast. 

According to the park service, visitors with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle can access Castle Creek Picnic Area along Medano Pass Primitive Road. Beyond that point, the remainder of the road may still be closed for the winter season unless dry conditions permit opening it farther into the mountains. Visit https://go.nps.gov/Medano_Pass_Road for the latest information on this backcountry road. 

Elk and pronghorn may occasionally be seen in the grasslands early morning or evening. Deer were recently seen by this reporter quietly grazing just off of the main park road. 

Although trees have not yet leafed out, there are some buds on trees along the Mosca Pass Trail, and some migratory birds are beginning to arrive back for the season. 

Medano Creek melts and moves further around the dunes, trickling down to the main dune parking Area sometime in April.  

As of this writing, the snowpack for Medano Creek is extremely low at 20 percent. 

For the latest forecast and flow conditions, visit https://go.nps.gov/Medano_Creek. 

Amazing dark skies. 

The Milky Way is only visible in the early morning hours during spring.  

April 13 is a full moon and a micro moon, the opposite of a supermoon. A micro moon is when the moon reaches its farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit. 

On April 21, Mercury is at its Greatest Western Elongation. Mercury will be at its highest point in the morning sky above the horizon. 

A great celestial show is on April 22-23 when the Lyrids Meteor Showers peak which produces about 20 meteors per hour. This shower runs from April 16-25, and the crescent moon will not be too bright, so the showers should be quite visible.  

Plan to visit on April 27, a moonless night, offering prime stargazing conditions.