10 Must-Do Hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of the most unique areas in Colorado because its landscape is not found anywhere else in the state. The national park is known for having the tallest sand dunes in North America and will quickly take your breath away when you visit.

Although you can enjoy beautiful views of the dunes and surrounding mountains from overlooks, hiking is the best way to experience everything Great Sand Dunes National Park offers. We loved hiking on the dunes and enjoying the breathtaking mountain views.

And the best part? There are hiking trails for all levels! Whether you want to hike to the tallest sand dune or an alpine lake, there is a trail for everyone. This guide has everything you need to know about the best hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park!

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Tips for Hiking in Great Sand Dunes National Park

Although you can see the dunes and surrounding mountains from various overlooks through the park, I highly recommend adding at least one hike to your itinerary when you visit. We loved spending our day hiking on sand dunes, so I know you will love these trails!

Before we dive into the best hikes in the park, let’s walk through a few tips you need to know. These things were incredibly helpful for planning our trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park!

Important Things to Know

Get acclimated to the elevation. If you are not used to high elevation, you may get altitude sickness when visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park. If you want to hike, I recommend taking it slow to ensure you get used to the altitude and pack plenty of water and snacks.
Start your day in the park early. Getting into the park in the morning will also help have minimal wait times at the park entrance. Most people arrive at the park at midday, and the park entrance lines can become long as the day goes on.
Pack proper hiking gear and sunscreen. 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.
Expect crowds and be flexible. Great Sand Dunes National Park draws over a half-million visitors each year, so there is also a high chance there will be lines at the park entrance stations. Getting to the park entrances early in the morning will help lower the wait times.

Trail Information

The hiking trails on the dunes are not marked. You will likely see people hiking along different paths on the sand dunes. We tried to follow the trail map to get to High Dune and could not find it. We followed the trail with the most people and finally got on the right path once at the top near High Dune.
The sand dunes are not easy to climb, and they do not offer any shade for hiking. Make sure to pack enough food and water for your hike, and take your time hiking up the dunes. Also, because you are at a higher elevation and closer to the sun, it is easy to get a sunburn. Great Sand Dunes National Park also has minimal shade. Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen before heading out to adventure.
Medano Creek is at the base of the sand dunes, and you have to walk through it to get to the dunes. Most of the year, the creek is easy to pass, and you can take off your hiking boots to cross it. Also, when Medano Creek has low water, it has a lot of mosquitos. But once you walk away from the water, they tend to disperse.
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they do not have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.

The Best Hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park

High Dune

Length: 3 miles

Elevation Gain: 630 feet

Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous

High Dune is one of the most hiked sand dunes in the park, and you will quickly fall in love with the views from the top! The 3-mile trail travels up the sand dunes to the top of High Dune, and although the hike is not overly long, it is strenuous! Walking on sand dunes is not easy, and it took us longer than we anticipated, but it was worth the effort for the stunning views of the surrounding sand dunes and mountains.

Once you are at the top of High Dune, you can explore other nearby dunes or sand sled down if you rent one. Sand sledding is a much more fun way to get down the dunes than hiking! Also, expect your shoes to be filled with sand once you are down your hike. My hiking boots were full of sand which was interesting to hike with, to say the least!

hiking guide to high dune

Star Dune

Length: 8 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,300 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Star Dune is the tallest sand dune in North America, standing at over 740 feet, and offers beautiful views of the park and mountains. You can either hike only to Star Dune for an 8-mile trail or loop it with High Dune for an 8-mile trail.

The loop with High Dune has a lot of elevation loss and gain in between the dunes, so if you would rather avoid that, you can hike directly to Star Dune. But the hike with Star Dune and High Dune is more scenic if you are up for the strenuous trail. Either way, you will love the views from the top and quickly see why it is one of the best hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park!

Zapata Falls Trail

Length: 1 mile

Elevation Gain: 210 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Although, technically, Zapata Falls is not in Great Sand Dunes National Park, it is one of the best hikes near the park! This beautiful 30-foot waterfall is hidden in a crevasse on a 1-mile trail. Although the hike is short, it makes you work to see Zapata Falls because it requires you to wade through the ice-cold river and hop over slippery rocks. I promise the waterfall is worth the effort!

Once you reach the end, you can see the entire falls between the carved rock. And the best part? It is not too far from the park entrance, so you can easily hike it when you visit Great Sand Dunes National Park!

Mosca Pass Trail

Length: 6.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Mosca Pass Trail is a fun hike in Great Sand Dunes National Park if you want to escape the crowds. Many people only visit the sand dunes and forget that the park includes sections of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. Mosca Pass Trail is a 6.2-mile hike that leads you into a valley at the base of those mountains.

The beginning of the trail offers some views overlooking the dunes, but other than that, the views are limited. Many people turn around after the dune viewpoint. The best time to enjoy this hike is in the summer when the meadows have beautiful wildflowers. Although the trail does not offer expansive views, it is a great hike if you want to escape the crowds in Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Montville Nature Trail

Length: 0.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 100 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Not all the hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park are to the top of the dunes! If you want to avoid hiking on the dunes, you can enjoy views overlooking them from the Montville Nature Trail. This 0.5-mile trail is easy to follow and offers beautiful views overlooking Great Sand Dunes National Park. It is a great trail to see the vastness of the park without the strenuous hike on the dunes.

Dunes Overlook Trail

Length: 2.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 470 feet

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Dunes Overlook Trail is a great alternative to the Montville Nature Trail if you want a longer hike to a higher view of Great Sand Dunes National Park. The 2.7-mile trail begins in the Pinyon Flats Campground and travels to the top of an 8,700-foot viewpoint, overlooking the surrounding dunes and mountains. Dunes Overlook Trail is a great way to enjoy the beautiful landscape in the park without hiking the dunes.

Upper Sand Creek Lake Trail

Length: 7.4 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Upper Sand Creek Lake Trail starts on the other side of the mountains, near Westcliffe, Colorado, about a 2-hour drive from the Great Sand Dunes National Park entrance. It is better to hike these trails on your way to the park or on your way out. Also, to access the trailhead, you need a 4x4 car.

This beautiful 7.4-mile trail brings you to a stunning alpine lake surrounded by mountains. The entire trail is breathtaking, but it will make you work for the views. Upper Sand Creek Lake Trail has a few steep sections and is at high elevations, so it takes a lot out of you. The trail starts at 10,700 feet and brings you to Upper Sand Creek Lake at 11,700 feet. But the effort is worth it for the views!

Because Upper Sand Creek Lake Trail is not near the dunes, it is much quieter than the other hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park. If you want a difficult hike with fewer crowds, you will love Upper Sand Creek Lake Trail.

Lower Sand Creek Lake Trail

Length: 6.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,700 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Lower Sand Creek Lake Trail is a more popular hike than Upper Sand Creek Lake Trail and offers just as beautiful views! Similarly to the above trail, you need a 4x4 car to access the trailhead.

The 6.8-mile trail follows along the same path to Upper Sand Creek Lake before turning left towards Lower Sand Creek Lake. Lower Sand Creek Lake is a gorgeous alpine lake with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, especially of Tijeras Peak. Some parts of the trail are steep, but the views make the effort worth it.

You can also hike 10 miles to the Upper and Lower Sand Creek Lakes if you are up for a challenging and long hike.

Medano Lake Trail

Length: 8.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Medano Lake Trail is easily one of the most beautiful and challenging hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park. The trailhead is off Medano Pass Primitive, which is a difficult road to drive with multiple river crossings requiring a 4x4 vehicle.

The 8.5-mile trail to Medano Lake gradually gains elevation before heading west towards the lake, where it gets steeper. Medano Lake Trail is known to have many blowdowns, but all should be passable. The trail also has a few river crossings, and you may have to get your feet wet while crossing a few. But the effort is worth it once you arrive at Medano Lake and see the stunning views! It is a beautiful hike in Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Mount Herard

Length: 9 miles

Elevation Gain: 3,700 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

If you want an even more challenging hike, you can hike past Medano Lake to Mount Herard. This trail is not well-marked, and you should only hike it if you are an experienced hiker because of the terrain. The views at the top are unmatched and will take your breath away! I recommend speaking with park rangers before heading on this hike to ensure you are prepared.

If you want to hike in Great Sand Dunes National Park, this guide is the perfect place to start planning. It has everything you need to know about the best hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park.