Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [235]
The park also has miles of more conventional trails.
Medano Creek to Castle Creek
5 miles RT. Moderate. Access: Dunes parking area.
This route, which leads north along the face of the dunes from the dunes parking area, follows Medano Creek upstream to a spot where the dunes are so steep that they avalanche into the creek.
Montville Nature Trail
.5 mile RT. Easy. Access: Parking area on east side of main park road, just past visitor center. This pleasant walk—especially nice on hot days—runs along shady Mosca Creek, through the lower part of Mosca Canyon, offering dramatic views of the dunes from several high points. A guide for the nature trail is available at the visitor center.
Mosca Pass Trail
6 miles RT. Strenuous. Access: Parking area on east side of main park road, just past visitor center.
This challenging hike, which climbs 1,463 feet into the mountains, passes through forests of pinyon, juniper, aspen, spruce, and fir to grasslands near the top of the pass. It offers good chances of seeing quite a bit of wildlife. Note: Rangers say that each year, hikers report seeing bears and mountain lions along this trail.
Piñon Flats Trail
1.5 miles RT. Easy. Access: Campground or dunes parking area.
This convenient trail runs through a grassy area, connecting the campground with the dunes parking area.
Sand Ramp Trail
22 miles RT. Moderate. Access: Campground, near site 62.
Those looking for a longer hike than most of those at Great Sand Dunes can escape any crowds that happen to be in the park by following this trail along the northern edge of the dunes, crossing Little Medano Creek and Cold Creek. For a pleasant half-day jaunt, hike the first 3 miles, then turn around and head back.
Visitor Center Trail
.5 mile RT. Easy. Access: Visitor center.
This fairly level, wheelchair-accessible loop features exhibits on the area's natural and human history.
Wellington Ditch Trail
2 miles RT. Easy. Access: Parking area on east side of main park road, just past visitor center.
This level trail offers good views of the dune field. Part of the trail follows an irrigation ditch that was hand-dug by a 1920s homesteader named Wellington.
Exploring the Backcountry
Backpacking is permitted throughout the park, and there are backcountry campsites along the Sand Ramp Trail. The required free backcountry permits are available at the visitor center.
Other Summer Sports & Activities
Fishing. Although this area is not a prime fishing destination, anglers with a Colorado fishing license can fish Sand Creek and Medano Creek. Medano is stocked with Rio Grande cutthroat trout and is catch-and-release only.
Four-Wheeling. Driving in the dunes or off-road in any section of the park is specifically prohibited, but those with 4WDs can get wonderful views of the dunes and gain access to the national preserve on the Medano Pass Primitive Road, which takes off from the main park road near the amphitheater and heads north out of the park. This rugged road, which has a lot of deep sand, is closed by snow from November through April.
Horseback Riding. Horseback riding is permitted in some areas of the park; contact the visitor center for information.
Wildlife Viewing. Among the specialized animals that survive in this unusual environment are the Ord's kangaroo rat, a creature that never drinks water, plus several insects found nowhere else on earth, including the Great Sand Dunes tiger beetle. Among more common wildlife you're apt to see are Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, coyotes, black-tailed and white-tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontail rabbits, golden-mantled ground squirrels, and Colorado chipmunks. Just outside the park, look for bison. More than 150 species of birds have been sighted in the park, including both