Medano Pass Primitive Road
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 NPS Photo updated May 17, 2013 The Medano Pass Road is fully open. Sandy sections of the road are in average condition; most do not need to drop air pressure to drive through the sand. The air compressor at the western entrance of the road (next to Pinyon Flats Campground) is operational for the season. Creek crossings are somewhat low; as of May 17, flow is 5 cubic feet per second (cfs). Peak flow in an average year is 40 cfs. Contact the Visitor Center for the latest information and conditions: 719-378-6395. 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 10 days; click "1 month" for a longer trend. 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. 
Creek crossings may be deep, especially in early summer. Drive slowly through crossings to avoid drowning your engine. NPS/Patrick Myers 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. In the first 5 miles of the road, there are few places to turn around: Point of No Return (1.1 mile), Sand Pit (1.8 miles), Castle Creek (2.6 miles), and the first Medano Creek crossing (4.5 miles). 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 or in creek crossings. All vehicles and drivers must be street-licensed to drive in Colorado; off-road vehicles and motorcycles are not permitted. 
Views of high cliffs, Mount Herard (13,297 feet/4053 m), and tall conifers make Medano Pass a worthwhile drive. NPS Photo by Patrick Myers The road includes soft sand for about 4 miles, 9 creek crossings, and a rocky roadbed near the summit of the pass. When 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 (open in warmer months only). 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 View Park Map at 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. 
Each of the 18 campsites along the road has a fire ring and bearproof box to store food and other items. NPS Photo Medano Road Camping Information Wildfire Update In 2010, a wildfire burned some of the lower areas in Medano Canyon. Several campsites were closed or relocated. The list below are campsites currently open. 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 21 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 21 sites fill on summer holiday weekends, and often on other summer weekends. Please follow all regulations for camping in these sites (.pdf file, 72kb), to protect the natural environment 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 0.25 (5.75) 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 1.9 (4.2) 1 site 2.2 (4.0) 1 site 2.3 (3.9) 1 site 3.2 (2.8) 1 site 4.5 (1.5) 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 |
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