How to Hike High Dune Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park
If you want to hike High Dune Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park, you are in the right place!
Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of Colorado's most unique national parks 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 dunes from parking lots and overlooks, the best, in my opinion, are from the top of the dunes themselves. High Dune is among the tallest dunes in the park and offers incredible views of the surrounding dunes and mountains.
I created this guide to include everything you need to know about hiking High Dune Trail. Trust me, you are going to fall in love with the views!
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Tips for Hiking High Dune Trail
Arrive in the park early. About half a million people visit Great Sand Dunes National Park each year, so it gets busy, especially midday. I recommend arriving early and starting the hike in the morning to avoid the midday crowds and to hike in cooler weather. Colorado also has afternoon thunderstorms, and we almost got stuck in one during our hike. We wished we had started earlier to avoid the hot midday temperatures and the afternoon thunderstorms.
Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. Hiking on the dunes is more difficult than you think, so I highly recommend wearing sturdy, comfortable shoes. We saw people in flip-flops, and they struggled because flip-flops do not provide good traction on the sand.
Wear sunscreen and pack water and snacks. The dunes in Great Sand Dunes National Park have no shade, so learn from our mistakes and wear sunscreen! Also, as I mentioned, hiking on dunes is difficult, so I recommend packing plenty of food and water. We packed our hiking backpack with snacks, water, and layers, and it was worth it!
Download an offline map of the trail route. The dunes lack trail signs and markers, so I recommend having an offline map of the trail. Honestly, we tried to follow the trail on the map, but ended up following the route most people were taking. The offline map was incredibly helpful to get us to the top of High Dune. Since there are no signs, you will not know where it is unless you have a map.
How to Get to High Dune Trail
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 large, but it fills up quickly because it is close to the dunes. I recommend arriving in the morning to avoid wait lines at the park entrance and find a parking spot.
If this parking lot is full, you can park at the visitor center and hike the trail out the back to Medano Creek. It is about a half-mile hike from the visitor center.
What to Pack for High Dune Trail
The weather in Great Sand Dunes National Park can be unpredictable. When we started our hike, it was a beautiful, sunny day, but an hour later, the wind picked up and a thunderstorm rolled in. It is crucial to pack for any weather you may run into.
You should have hiking boots, moisture-wicking clothes, and a hiking backpack with food and plenty of water. Most of Great Sand Dunes National Park has little to no shade, so wear sunscreen and reapply as needed.
High Dune Trail Overview
The High Dune Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park is a 3-mile round trip hike with about 600 feet of elevation gain. But do not let the short mileage fool you! Hiking on dunes is strenuous, so the trail will make you work for the views.
Although High Dune Trail is among the most popular hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park, it is not easy to follow. The dunes have no trail signs or markers, 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 Trail, which is what we did because we could not find the official trail.
High Dune Trail Hiking Stats
If you only want to hike to High Dune, here are the trail stats:
Length: 3 miles (4.8 km) round trip
Elevation gain: 600 feet (183 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate
Best time to hike: Late spring through early fall
Facilities: The parking lot has restrooms.
If you want to enjoy a longer loop to High Dune and Star Dune (the tallest dune in North America), here are the trail stats:
Length: 8.1 miles (13 km) round trip
Elevation gain: 1,300 feet (396 meters)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best time to hike: Late spring through early fall
Facilities: The parking lot has restrooms.
High Dune Trail Map
High Dune Trail:
High Dune and Star Dune Loop:
Hiking to High Dune Trail (+ Longer Route to Star Dune)
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 of the surrounding dunes and mountains. The views will leave you in awe!
This guide reviews hiking the High Dune Trail as an out-and-back trail and how to extend it to include Star Dune. If you add Star Dune, know that the hike is strenuous and long, so make sure to pack enough food and water!
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly. We have to protect and take care of these beautiful areas!
High Dune Trailhead to Medano Creek
The easiest way to access High Dune Trail is from the parking area off Medano Creek Road. It is the main parking area 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. We also stopped here on the way back to wash our feet because our hiking boots had so much sand in them!
Medano Creek to the Dunes
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 has no 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 take the path most people were hiking because it seemed to be the easiest route to the top of the ridge. But hiking on the dunes was not easy! It took us a lot longer than expected because climbing the dunes was strenuous. But it was all part of the fun!
The Ridgeline to High Dune
Once you arrive on the ridgeline, 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. We still used our map to make sure we were hiking in the right direction to High Dune.
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 Trail:
If you want to hike to the tallest 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 continue hiking on the dunes to Star Dune, and then loop back to the creek toward the parking lot. The strenuous 8-mile hike makes you work for the views, but the effort is worth it! We loved exploring both dunes, and the views were 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
High Dune Trail FAQs
Is hiking High Dune Trail worth it?
Hiking High Dune Trail is absolutely worth it! It is one of the best hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park for a reason.
Although you can enjoy views from parking lots and overlooks, nothing beats the views from the top of the dunes. The 360-degree views of Great Sand Dunes National Park and the surrounding mountains are worth the hike.
And hiking on them is a fun experience! You can even rent a board or sled to get down the dunes.
How long is the High Dune Trail?
The High Dune Trail is 3 miles round trip with about 600 feet of elevation. But do not let the short mileage fool you because hiking on the 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 have no trail signs or markers, so I highly recommend downloading an offline map and packing a physical map.
Many people choose their own path to hike to High Dune Trail, which is what we did because we could not find the “official” trail. But we would not have even known we reached High Dune if we did not have a map to reference.
What is the best time to hike High Dune Trail?
One of the best things about Great Sand Dunes National Park is that it is a year-round destination! No matter what season you visit, you will enjoy stunning views, and High Dune Trail is open year-round.
Late spring to early fall is the most popular time to visit because the weather is beautiful. The summer heat can be overwhelming since the trail has no shade, but you can avoid the midday hot temperatures by hiking in the morning. Winter is also a great time to visit if you do not mind the cold and have proper hiking gear and layers!
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!
Where is the best place 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 near the park entrance 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 you should be able to find a hotel within your budget.
Hotels and Campgrounds near 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! I created it to have everything you need to hike to High Dune.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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