Medano Pass

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4.8/5 (107 reviews)
Westcliffe, Colorado (Huerfano County)
Last Updated: 08/22/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Camping Category Icon Camping
Forest Category Icon Forest
Iconic Category Icon Iconic
Overland Category Icon Overland
Sand Category Icon Sand
Water Category Icon Water
Medano Pass offers travelers breathtaking scenery, plenty of free dispersed camping, hikes, sand, and water crossings. Truly a gem in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, Medano Pass is your gateway to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The Great Sand Dunes offer a vista that can be found nowhere else in the state of Colorado. The Great Sand Dunes are the tallest sand dunes in North America, rising to a maximum height of 750 feet (229 m) from the floor of the San Luis Valley on the western base of the Sangre de Cristo Range, covering about 19,000 acres.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Medano Pass is a great option for an alternate route into or out of The Great Sand Dunes National Park. The trail can be run in either direction. This is a good trail for any beginner or veteran and should be passable by just about any stock, high clearance 4wd vehicle. The scenery is beautiful, and there is a good mix of rock, sand, and water crossings. On the road's east side, you'll find the trail is mostly dirt, trees, and rocks. On the west side, it gradually becomes sandier with frequent water crossings. Be aware - the water crossings can be 2-3 feet deep during the spring snowmelt season and remain relatively deep throughout the year. Always use caution when fording water. Great Sand Dunes National Park charges a standard parks entrance fee for any non-commercial vehicle inside the National Park. Entering the Great Sand Dunes via Medano Pass does not have a ranger pavilion at the park entrance. Drivers are asked to visit the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center to pay the entrance fee. Entrance fees directly provide for maintenance and improvements to the park and preserve.

Trail Reviews

4.8/5 (107)
Open
Visited: 09/16/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

At least right now, there's a significant deep, off-camber mud hole obstacle that makes this trail much harder than its "easy" rating. It was kind of late into the trail going out from the Great Sand Dunes side. The guy ahead of me with a big lift and 37s made it through. When I tried to follow with my 3" lift and 32s, my right front tire slipped off the "shelf" and my front end slipped down to the left and slammed into the opposite wall of the mud hole causing bumper and body damage. Then I needed to be winched, as did the truck behind me. If the mud dries up, it would probably go back to being "easy," but as of right now - beware. A local trail guide behind us said the mud hole has gotten progressively worse in the past few weeks.
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3500
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 09/15/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Trail was super muddy, sand was hard compacted. Used 4h and never needed 4lo. Fun trail but proablly a one and done for us
Trail Review: Medano Pass - Kevin
Trail Review: Medano Pass - Kevin
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Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 09/03/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

A 2-Mandatory is selling it short, I’d say. There are some spots near the summit of the pass where a SUV could get hung up if you’re not careful. That being said, I had no issues in my 96 Tacoma on 32s. This is a very fun trail. I’ll have to come back some time and camp along the creek. We saw a big gopher snake near the dunes, so watch out for wildlife crossing the road.
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9400
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 09/03/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

Scenic and just technical enough to keep the ride interesting. The east side is much rougher than portrayed in the guide, warranting a rating bump to a 3. The water crossings were low and the mud holes were dry. The sand sections on the west side descending into the park are always my favorite. A must do trail for anyone that enjoys solitude and unique landscapes.
Trail Review: Medano Pass - Ray
Trail Review: Medano Pass - Ray
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400
Open
Visited: 08/21/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Went from South to North and then back to the dunes. Definitely preferred taking this route South and ending with the dunes. Nice water crossings and plenty of camping spots along the way.

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