National Park & Preserve · Colorado

Trails in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

24 named trails · 41 miles · 10 trailheads · 3 with the Park Service's own write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks map Every park with trails Park on nps.gov

24 trails, A to Z.

2 Track Road

2.7 mi one way · about 350 ft of climbing · 7,903 ft–8,250 ft · hiking

Backcountry camps

Along the way Sand Creek Backcountry Campsite

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Dunes Access from Campground Trail

0.4 mi one way · 100 ft of descent · 8,111 ft–8,226 ft · hiking

Trailhead Dunes Access Trailhead 8,232 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Dunes Access from Visitor Center Trail

0.4 mi one way · 100 ft of descent · 8,050 ft–8,151 ft · hiking

Trailheads Dunes Access Trailhead 8,154 ft Drive there · Interpretive Loop Trailhead 8,166 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Dunes Overlook Trail

0.5 mi one way · about 250 ft of climbing · 8,404 ft–8,632 ft · hiking

Views

Along the way Dunes Overlook

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Dunes Parking Lot to Campground Trail

0.5 mi one way · 70 ft of descent · 8,065 ft–8,137 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Interpretive Loop Trail

0.4 mi one way · about 30 ft of climbing · 8,136 ft–8,169 ft · hiking

Visitor centers

Along the way Great Sand Dunes

Trailheads Dunes Access Trailhead 8,154 ft Drive there · Interpretive Loop Trailhead 8,166 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Little Sand Creek Lakes Trail

2.4 mi one way · about 60 ft of climbing · 2,200 ft of descent · 9,809 ft–11,979 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Lower Sand Creek Trail

0.9 mi one way · 400 ft of descent · 11,059 ft–11,460 ft · hiking

Hike Sand Creek Lakes the Park Service's write-up

10-15 Hours · dogs allowed · Summer, Fall

Start Lower Sand Creek Lake

An alpine lake with conifer trees at the side, and rocky summit with snow — Sand Creek Lakes are a completely different environment from the dunes! Photo: NPS/Kris Illenberger

Sand Creek Lakes are part of the alpine watershed of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. A longer drive and hike is required to reach these lakes, but the mountain scenery is worth the effort. Check with a ranger for conditions before travel. Snow may block these trails from November into June.

Music Pass Trailhead is accessed from Highway 69 on the east side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, 4.5 miles south of Westcliffe. Turn off Highway 69 to the west at the sign for Music Pass and South Colony Lakes Trailhead. At the "T" junction, turn left onto South Colony Road. At the end of the ranch fence on the right, you'll see another sign for Music Pass.

2WD vehicles should park where the Rainbow Trail crosses Music Pass Road. This lower trailhead will add 2.5 miles (4 km) each way to the hike..

4WD vehicles may continue another 2.5 miles to Music Pass Trailhead at the end of the road. From here, it is a steep 1 mile (1.6 km) hike to the pass at treeline, with a great view of Upper Sand Creek basin. From the pass, hike farther to the alpine lakes, or to any one of the 13,000' peaks above the basin.

Round Trip Hiking Mileages From Music Pass Trailhead

Lower Sand Creek Lake: 8 miles (12.8 km), 2000 feet (610 m) elevation gain

Upper Sand Creek Lake: 9 miles (14.4 km), 2000 feet (610 m) elevation gain

Accessibility High clearance 4WD vehicles can make it to Music Pass Trailhead. After that point, the trail is steep and rocky, unsuitable for wheelchairs.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Medano Lake Trail

3.5 mi one way · about 1,900 ft of climbing · 9,636 ft–11,536 ft · hiking

Hike Medano Lake and Mount Herard the Park Service's write-up

8-12 Hours · dogs allowed · Summer, Fall

Start Summit of Mount Herard

Alpine tundra in foreground, part of the dunefield at right, and snow-capped Blanca Peak — The incredible 360 degree views from the summit of Mount Herard include the dunefield and more. Photo: NPS/Patrick Myers

Take your 4WD vehicle around the dunes and up to Medano Pass, hike to a small alpine lake, then continue to the summit of 13,297 ft (4,053 m) Mount Herard for an aerial perspective on the entire dunefield! This is a physically demanding but incredibly rewarding way to experience many of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve's ecoystems, from desert dunes to alpine tundra. Watch the high-energy 40-second video to get a glimpse of this unique experience!

Accessibility While Medano Pass Primitive Road is accessible by driving with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, the hiking trail and ascent to the summit are steep and rocky.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Montville Nature Loop Trail

0.4 mi one way · about 90 ft of climbing · 8,257 ft–8,342 ft · hiking

Trailhead Montville Nature Loop Trailhead 8,252 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Mosca Pass from Visitor Center Trail

0.2 mi one way · 70 ft of descent · 8,179 ft–8,253 ft · hiking

Trailheads Montville Nature Loop Trailhead 8,252 ft Drive there · Mosca Pass Trailhead 8,174 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Mosca Pass Trail

3.1 mi one way · about 1,400 ft of climbing · 8,360 ft–9,717 ft · hiking

Trailhead Mosca Pass Trailhead 8,174 ft Drive there

Hike Montville Nature Trail or Mosca Pass Trail the Park Service's write-up

30-240 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Montville and Mosca Pass Trailhead

Two girls hiking on a forested trail — Montville Trail and Mosca Pass Trail feature aspen and conifer forests along a small creek. Photo: NPS/Patrick Myers

Just above the dunefield are montane woodlands of pinon and ponderosa pine, subalpine aspen and conifer forests, alpine lakes and rugged mountains over 13,000 feet (4,000 m) in elevation. The easiest hiking access to forest in the national park is on the Montville Nature Trail and Mosca Pass Trail.

Watch a short video showing Mosca Pass Trail in the fall season on the Great Sand Dunes YouTube Channel.

Montville Nature Trail

This is the easiest, most popular forest hike in the park. In summer, keep this hike as an option for afternoon as an escape from the heat of the dunes. Walk along a shady forested trail named for a late 1800s settlement, comprising 20 houses in its heydey. Rest near the trail's highpoint, where you'll find views of Mt. Herard, the dunes and the valley. A booklet available at the trailhead provides numbered stops to learn about this historic community and the mountain pass above it.

Round Trip Hike: 0.5 mile (1 km)

Elevation Gain: 200 feet (60 m)

Average Time: 30 minutes

Mosca Pass Trail

This trail continues past Montville Nature Trail, following a small creek to the summit of a low pass in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Though views are limited, it has shady aspen and evergreen forests. Indigenous tribes and early settlers used this route for travel into the valley.

Round Trip Hike: 7 miles (11 km)

Elevation Gain: 1400 feet (427 m)

Average Time: 3.5 hours

Accessibility Montville Trail and Mosca Pass Trail are not wheelchair-accessible. There are rocks and uneven areas on the trail.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

Music Pass Trail

0.9 mi one way · about 50 ft of climbing · 450 ft of descent · 10,957 ft–11,417 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Sand Pit Trail

0.5 mi one way · 150 ft of descent · 8,211 ft–8,381 ft · hiking

Picnic areas

Along the way Sand Pit

Trailhead Sand Pit Trailhead 8,380 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Sand Ramp Trail

11 mi one way · about 1,300 ft of climbing · 7,903 ft–9,234 ft · hiking

Backcountry camps

Along the way Aspen Backcountry Campsite Cold Creek Backcountry Campsite Sand Creek Backcountry Campsite Sawmill Canyon Accessible Backcountry Campsi

Trailheads Sand Pit Trailhead 8,380 ft Drive there · Sand Ramp Trailhead 8,526 ft Drive there · Sand Ramp Trailhead 8,298 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Trail to Aspen Backcountry Campsite

30 ft of descent · 9,226 ft–9,254 ft · hiking

Backcountry camps

Along the way Aspen Backcountry Campsite

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Trail to Cold Creek Backcountry Campsite

8,253 ft–8,254 ft · hiking

Backcountry camps

Along the way Cold Creek Backcountry Campsite

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Trail to Escape Dunes Backcountry Campsite

0.1 mi one way · about 30 ft of climbing · 8,411 ft–8,437 ft · hiking

Backcountry camps

Along the way Escape Dunes Backcountry Campsite

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Trail to Indian Grove Backcountry Campsite

0.4 mi one way · 100 ft of descent · 8,376 ft–8,476 ft · hiking

Backcountry camps

Along the way Indian Grove Backcountry Campsite

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Trail to Little Medano Creek Backcountry Campsite

0.1 mi one way · about 20 ft of climbing · 8,673 ft–8,696 ft · hiking

Backcountry camps

Along the way Little Medano Backcountry Campsite

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Trail to Sawmill Canyon Accessible Campsite

0.2 mi one way · about 40 ft of climbing · 8,362 ft–8,402 ft · hiking

Backcountry camps

Along the way Sawmill Canyon Accessible Backcountry Campsi

Trailhead Sawmill Canyon Access Trailhead 8,358 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Unimproved Trail

1.4 mi one way · about 50 ft of climbing · 300 ft of descent · 8,005 ft–8,246 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Upper Sand Creek Trail

10 mi one way · about 100 ft of climbing · 3,400 ft of descent · 8,495 ft–11,745 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Wellinton Ditch Trail

0.9 mi one way · about 40 ft of climbing · 8,299 ft–8,345 ft · hiking

Trailhead Wellinton Ditch Trailhead 8,303 ft Drive there

On the parks map

More hikes the Park Service describes

Write-ups that name no single mapped trail, in the Service's words.

Explore the Dunes · dogs allowed
Explore the tallest dunes in North America! The centerpiece of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is the 30-square-mile (78-square-km) dunefield, featuring the tallest dunes in North America. Because there are no trails, you can venture out anywhere you'd like to discover unusual insects, plants, wildlife tracks, ripples, and sand grains of every color.

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.