Medano Pass

4.8/5 (112 reviews)
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 el... Read More
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Highlights of Medano Pass

Camping Category Icon Camping
Forest Category Icon Forest
Iconic Category Icon Iconic
Overland Category Icon Overland
Sand Category Icon Sand
Water Category Icon Water
Highest Elevation
9995 ft
Shape of Trail
Straight Through
Typically Open
05/20 - 12/01
Best Direction
West
Official Trail Name
559
Nearest Town
Westcliffe
Nearest Services
Westcliffe
Management Agency
US Forest Service
District
San Carlos Ranger District, Westcliffe, CO

Overview

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 Guide Overview
13 Waypoints
41 Trail Photos
2 Trail Concerns
112 Community Reviews
1 Video
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