Medano Pass

4.8/5 (139 reviews)
Known as the backway into the Great Sand Dunes, Medano Pass offers travelers a very unique experience you will not find anywhere else in Colorado. One of only a few primitive roads that cross the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Medano Pass follows the route of the 1806 expedition of Lt. Zebulon Pike, re...Read More
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Highlights of Medano Pass

Beginner Category IconBeginner
Camping Category IconCamping
Forest Category IconForest
Iconic Category IconIconic
Overland Category IconOverland
Sand Category IconSand
Water Category IconWater
Highest Elevation
9994 ft
Shape of Trail
Straight Through
Typically Open
05/20 - 12/01
Best Direction
West
Official Trail Name
559
Nearest Town
Gardner
Nearest Services
Westcliffe
Management Agency
San Isabel National Forest, Great Sand Dunes National Park
District
San Carlos Ranger District

Overview

Known as the backway into the Great Sand Dunes, Medano Pass offers travelers a very unique experience you will not find anywhere else in Colorado. One of only a few primitive roads that cross the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Medano Pass follows the route of the 1806 expedition of Lt. Zebulon Pike, revealing breathtaking scenery, abundant dispersed camping, countless water crossings, and deep sand you generally only find in desert environments. The Great Sand Dunes are the tallest dunes in North America, rising to a maximum height of 750 feet from the floor of the San Luis Valley, covering about 19,000 acres. If you are looking for the only beach-like offroad experience you can find in the Rocky Mountains, Medano Pass is certainly a trail you need to see.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
29 Waypoints
89 Trail Photos
3 Trail Concerns
139 Community Reviews
1 Video
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