Hiking the High Dune Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of the most unique areas in Colorado and should be on every bucket list! Picture this: huge sand dunes with snow-capped mountains in the background. And yes, it is as beautiful as it sounds!

Although you can enjoy views of the sand dunes from the parking lot, the best are from the top, and High Dune Trail is one of the best hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park. High Dune is among the tallest sand dunes in the park and offers incredible views of the surrounding dunes and mountains.

When you visit Great Sand Dunes National Park, High Dune should be on your itinerary. This guide has everything you need to know about hiking the High Dune Trail!

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High Dune Trail Overview

Trail Length and Difficulty

The High Dune Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park is a 3-mile round trip hike with about 600 feet of elevation. But do not let the short mileage fool you! Although you only gain 600 feet of elevation, the trail is not easy because hiking on sand dunes is strenuous.

Although High Dune Trail is among the most popular hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park, it is not easy to follow. The dunes do not have trail signs, so it is difficult to follow the trail unless you download an offline map and pack a physical map. Many people choose their own path to hike to High Dune, which is what we did because we could not find the official trail.

Trail Parking

The closest parking area to High Dune Trail is off Medano Creek Road. The trail begins just across Medano Creek, so parking here is the easiest way to access the trail.

This parking lot is the most popular because it is the closest to the dunes and fills quickly. I recommend arriving at the parking lot in the morning to avoid entrance wait lines and easily find a parking spot.

If this parking lot is full, you can park at the visitor center and hike the trail out of the back to Medano Creek. It is about a half-mile hike from the visitor center.

Best Time to Hike

One of the best things about Great Sand Dunes National Park is it is a year-round destination! No matter what season you visit, you will enjoy stunning views. And this trail is open year-round.

Late spring to early fall is the most popular time to visit because the weather is beautiful. But the heat in the summer can be overwhelming since the trail has no shade. Winter is also a great time to visit if you do not mind cold weather! No matter when you visit, you will love hiking to High Dune!

Regardless of the season, the weather in Great Sand Dunes National Park can change quickly. When we visited in the summer, the day had blue skies and no wind, but a thunderstorm quickly rolled in with high winds. It is crucial to stay aware and prepared for the hike!

What to Pack for the Hike

The weather in Great Sand Dunes National Park is unpredictable. When we started our hike, it was a beautiful, sunny day, but an hour into the hike, the wind picked up and a thunderstorm rolled in. It is crucial to pack for any type of weather you may run into.

You should have supportive shoes with good traction, like hiking boots, layers for the time of year you are hiking, and a backpack with water, snacks, and layers. And last but not least, make sure to pack the Ten Essentials. Most of the areas in Great Sand Dunes National Park have little to no shade, making it crucial to pack and wear sunscreen, too.

Where to Stay Near Great Sand Dunes National Park

If you plan to stay a night near Great Sand Dunes National Park, you can either stay right outside the park or in Alamosa. A few resorts are near the park entrance and offer fun accommodations. If those are not available or you are looking for something else, you can stay in Alamosa.

Alamosa is the closest town with accommodations and one of the best places to stay because of its proximity to the park. It does not have many accommodations, but there are a few hotels you can stay in for the night.

Best Places to Stay:

High Dune Trail Guide

**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.

The High Dune Trail is one of the most popular trails in Great Sand Dunes National Park for good reason! It has some of the best views in the national park park of the surrounding dunes and mountains. The views will leave you in awe!

The easiest way to access High Dune Trail is from the parking area off Medano Creek Road. This lot is the main area to park in Great Sand Dunes National Park, so it fills up quickly. I recommend arriving in the morning to secure a spot and avoid long wait lines at the entrance station.

Once in the parking lot, you will cross Medano Creek before hiking on the dunes. Medano Creek is easy to cross most of the year because the water is low. We decided to take off our shoes before crossing the creek to avoid having wet shoes on the hike.

Once you arrive at the bottom of the dunes, you will likely see people hiking along many different paths up the dunes. High Dune Trail does not have a specific route or trail markers, so you essentially choose whatever path you want to hike to the top. I recommend downloading an offline map from a hiking app and packing a physical map to help navigate.

We decided to hike the path most people were taking because it seemed to be the easiest route to the top of the ridge. But hiking on sand dunes is not easy! It took us way longer than expected because of how difficult it is to climb the dunes. But it is all part of the fun!

Once you get to the ridge line, the trail follows to the left along the dunes to High Dune. When you arrive on the ridge, you will likely see many people on top of High Dune, so you will know where to go. High Dune is easy to see because it is the tallest along the ridge.

Once on High Dune, you get breathtaking views of the surrounding dunes and mountains. The views are stunning and make the strenuous hike worth it. We sat here for a while, taking in the views.

When you are ready to head back to Medano Creek, you can follow the same trail you took on the ascent or loop around on other dunes. We decided to explore the area, and it was worth it!

If you want to hike to Star Dune from High Dune:

If you want to hike to the tallest sand dune in Great Sand Dunes National Park, you are in luck! Star Dune is about 2.5 miles from High Dune and is worth the effort to stand on the tallest dune in North America. The views from the top are stunning!

If you decide to hike to Star Dune, you can either follow the same trail over High Dune and to the parking lot or hike directly down Star Dune and along the creek to the parking lot. Both routes are about 8 miles round trip and make you work for the views, but the effort is worth it! We loved exploring both dunes, and the hike was breathtaking.

If you want to hike other trails near High Dune:

Montville Nature Trail - 0.5 miles round trip
Dunes Overlook Trail - 2.7 miles round trip
Mosca Pass Trail - 6.2 miles round trip

best hikes in great sand dunes national park

If you want to hike the High Dune Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park, this guide is the perfect place to start planning! It has everything you need to hike to High Dune.