NPS Photo

Autumn is one of the most attractive times to drive the Medano Pass Road. Late September is generally the peak of color for changing aspens. Be aware that hunting is permitted in the national preserve in season, and take appropriate measures. Ask at the Visitor Center for details on hunting seasons and locations.

Current Conditions of the Road

updated February 4, 2012

The Medano Pass road is closed to through travel for the winter season. On the east side of the range, the road is gated at the Muddy Creek crossing. On the west side of the range, the road is gated at Castle Creek Picnic Area, three miles from the western entrance of the road.

In an average snow year, the pass summit opens to through travel in mid-May. In spring and fall, as the snow elevation level decreases or increases, rangers open access up the west side of the range as far as safe travel permits. Large snowdrifts or dangerous, unstable ice crossings on Medano Creek will prompt closures for visitor safety in this remote canyon.

Castle Creek Picnic Area is for day use only. Overnight parking is available at the Amphitheater/Horse Trailer parking lots near the road's entrance, or at Point of No Return, one mile east of the road's entrance. Stop at the Visitor Center between 9-4:30 to obtain a free overnight parking permit and backpacking permit. In winter, car camping is only available at Pinyon Flats Campground. One restroom in Loop 1 is winterized and open all year.

Please contact the Visitor Center for the latest information and conditions: 719-378-6399. 

General Caution for the Medano Pass Primitive Road: The road passes through sections of forest that were burned in a 6,249 acre wildfire in 2010. Burned, standing trees may fall at any time, especially during wind. Thunderstorms may produce dangerous debris flows that can trap people or vehicles, and that may make the road impassible. The water in Medano Creek contains soot and ash, especially in lower sections; soot levels may increase during rainstorms or snowmelt. Upper sections of Medano Pass were not burned; water is clear higher on the pass.

Current Flow of Medano Creek  

From Great Sand Dunes, the Medano Pass Road crosses Medano Creek nine times on its way to Medano Pass. See the current cubic feet per second (cfs) flow of Medano Creek. This current flow chart is shown as a graph over the past month. Creek flow is normally highest at dawn, and lowest in late afternoon. Peak flow for an average season is about 40 cfs (cubic feet per second). When creek flow goes over 50 cfs, the road is closed for safety, since water that high can sweep a vehicle downstream.

Medano Creek: General Information and Current Conditions for Visitors

Call the Visitor Center at 719-378-6399 for more details and any daily changes. 

NPS Photo by Scott Hansen

A truck pulls off at the Castle Creek Picnic Area, where steep dune faces are cut by Medano Creek.

General Information on the Medano Pass Primitive Road

Part of the mountain watershed of the Great Sand Dunes, Medano Pass (pronounced MED-ah-no; in the original Spanish the accent is over the e) is a scenic backcountry route. The rugged road takes you through soft sand around the eastern side of the dunefield, up through a forested mountain canyon, then over 10,000' Medano Pass, eventually joining Highway 69 in the Wet Mountain Valley. There are numerous places to turn around on the road if a shorter trip is desired. A high-clearance 4-wheel drive, full-size SUV, truck, or Jeep is required. Low wagons, mini-SUVs, or all-wheel drive vehicles will get stuck in sand. All vehicles and drivers must be street-licensed to drive in Colorado; off-road vehicles and motorcycles are not permitted.

NPS Photo by Patrick Myers

Views of high cliffs, 12,006' Mt. Zwischen and 13,294' Mt. Herard, and tall conifers make Medano Pass a worthwhile drive.

The road includes soft sand for about 2 miles, 9 creek crossings that may be deep in late spring, and a rocky roadbed near the summit of the pass. If sand becomes soft during dry times, dropping tire air pressure to about 20 pounds may be necessary. Full tire pressure is required to drive over rocks higher on the pass, so if you do drop pressure, you will need to either 1) have your own air compressor to refill before going higher on the pass, or 2) drive the road from east to west, and reduce pressure after going over the pass but before driving through the soft sand. A free air compressor is available at the western entrance to the road in the national park.

The Medano Pass Road is not a shortcut to save time. Driving speed averages 5-10 mph. Plan on 2 1/2 to 3 hours to drive the entire 22 mile road. The road's eastern entrance is in Custer County; the closest town to the eastern entrance is Westcliffe.

Click on the view map rectangle at upper left to see the official park map with zoom-in capability. This map shows the Medano Pass Primitive Road's route through the park and preserve. An area map of the Medano Pass Primitive Road showing regional towns and highways is also available. 

NPS Photo

Each of the 18 campsites along the road has a fire ring and bearproof box to store food and other items.

Medano Road Camping Information

Wildfire Update

In 2010, a wildfire burned some of the lower areas in Medano Canyon. Seven campsites were closed. The list below are campsites still open in 2011. The water in Medano Creek contains some levels of soot and ash, especially in lower sections; soot levels may increase during rainstorms or snowmelt. Water is clear higher on the pass.

Roadside camping is permitted only at 18 marked, numbered campsites in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve (part of the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, beginning 5.2 miles from where the pavement ends in the National Park). These sites are indicated with a brown post and camping symbol, and are numbered by approximate road mileage from the Park/Preserve boundary to Medano Pass. Numbers in parentheses are approximate road mileage from Medano Pass down to the Preserve/Park boundary. Roadside car camping is not permitted in the national park other than the developed campsites in Pinyon Flats Campground.

These designated sites are free of charge and first-come, first-served. All 18 sites fill on summer holiday weekends, and occasionally on other weekends.

Please follow all regulations for camping in these sites (.pdf file, 72kb), to protect the natural enviroment for present and future generations.

Campsite locations are listed below. Each location has one fire ring. Please do not build additional fire pits.

Uphill Mileage (Downhill Mileage)

0.0      (6.0)   3 sites

0.1        (5.9)   2 sites

0.2      (5.8)   1 site

0.3      (5.7)   1 site

0.9      (5.2)   1 site

1.2        (5.8)   1 site

1.8        (4.3)   1 site

2.2      (4.0)   1 site

2.3      (3.9)   1 site

3.2      (2.8)   1 site

4.8      (1.2)     1 site

5.1        (0.8)   1 site

5.6      (0.7)   1 site

5.7      (0.6)   1 site

5.8      (0.3)   1 site