Medano Creek

Medano Creek at the dunes parking and trailhead area is very shallow and up to 20 feet (6 meters) wide.

NPS / Sierra Willoughby

Current Conditions

Updated May 22 2025

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• Medano Creek bed has some limited flow at the parking lot. The creek is flowing gently past the parking lot area of the dunes trailhead, and is less than one inch (2.5 cm) deep. The creek consists of multiple thin bands ranging from 1 ft (.3 meters) to 6 ft (2 meters) wide. It is not deep enough for floating. Flow rate has decreased in recent days.

• Memorial Day Weekend. Flow rate expectations for the busy Memorial Day weekend are for continued low flow and decreasing water depth. The creek will continue to flow past the parking area at this reduced rate. At this time there is no expected precipitation to effect the creek flow prior to the holiday weekend.

• Check up-to-the-minute flow (available spring through fall). This is shown as a flow graph of Medano Creek in cubic feet per second (cfs), measured where it first reaches the sand 5 miles upstream from the Dunes Parking Area. This is not the flow to expect in the main visitor area, but it gives a relative indication of flow and whether it is increasing or decreasing. Peak flow in an average year occurs in late May or early June at 40 cfs. Flow is not expected to reach even 20 cfs this year.

• Check park weather forecasts for environmental conditions.

 

2025 Flow is almost 1/2 of what the historical average is as of May 8th, 2025. The Medano Creek watershed is estimated to have only 30% of normal snowpack for water year 2024/2025. Peak Flows are estimated to be between 5-10 CFS in later May in 2025.

Adapted from Colorado Department of Natural Resources

Medano Creek Forecast for 2025

 

The depth and duration of Medano Creek's flow are a direct result of the amount of snowpack in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It has been a very dry winter, with snowpack less than a third of average. Medano Creek is forecast to be less than a third of average in depth and duration this year.

May

• Flow will increase through May. If May is dry and warm, flow may peak earlier than average, in mid-May. If May is average or wet, the creek will likely peak around late May. Surge flow waves may be present but will be too small to float.
  
• While it is still springtime and winds may arise, especially in the afternoon, May temperatures are generally moderate, with highs in the 60s-70s F. However, snow is still possible at this elevation!
  
• Trees and bushes along the creek leaf out. There are some "no-see-ums" (tiny biting gnats), but mosquitoes are rarely out in May.
  
• Water comes out of the mountains cold, but warms up significantly when the sun shines on it for a few hours as it spreads across the sand.
  
• Even with less flow on Medano Creek, late spring is the most popular time to visit Great Sand Dunes. Visitors may experience some delays at the entrance station and may need to park in overflow areas, particularly on weekends in late May and early June. Visiting the dunes at early morning and evening hours midweek are advised for less crowded conditions.

June

• Flow will slowly decrease from the May peak, and the creek may dry up by mid-June. Surge flow waves may still be present but will be too small to float.

• Even with less flow on Medano Creek, late spring is the most popular time to visit Great Sand Dunes. Visitors may experience some delays at the entrance station and may need to park in overflow areas, particularly on weekends in late May and early June. Visiting the dunes at early morning and evening hours midweek are advised for less crowded conditions.

• As the creek becomes even lower and slower around the second week of June, mosquitoes typically emerge. Mosquito season usually lasts 4-6 weeks when Medano Creek is low, but this year there may be few mosquitoes due to more rapid drying of the creek after peak flow.

July - September

• The creek will be completely gone from the main Dunes Parking Area. It usually continues to gently flow at 1/2" - 1" (1-2 cm) deep along the eastern edge of the dunefield, near Castle Creek Picnic Area. Castle Creek is accessible by high clearance 4WD vehicle on the Medano Pass Primitive Road. Visitors without 4WD may also access the creek in late summer by hiking approximately 3 miles (5 km) up the creekbed from the Dunes Parking Lot, or or approximately 1 mile(1.6 km) from the Point of No Return parking area.

 

Duration:

1 minute, 16 seconds

This short National Park Service video reveals Medano Creek's attraction for people of all ages, and explains mysterious 'surge flow'!

 

Medano Creek at typical peak flow in late May, with a surge flow wave. See current and forecast conditions below.

NPS/Patrick Myers

 

Medano Creek Conditions to Expect Each Month in an Average Year

See also overall conditions to expect at Great Sand Dunes each month of the year.

Below are typical creek conditions for each month of an average season. Less or more snowpack will affect the depth and duration of the creek.

April

• While April is the second snowiest month of the year on average, there can also be warmer, sunny days that begin to melt the snowpack.
  
  
• Medano Creek usually arrives at the Dunes Parking Area sometime in April, at first just a trickle. By the end of April, it may be a few inches/cm deep with minimal surge flow.

May

• Flow increases through May, and late May is near the peak of Medano Creek's annual flow.
  
  
• While it is still springtime and winds may arise, especially in the afternoon, May temperatures are generally moderate, with highs in the 60s-70s F. However, snow is still possible at this elevation in May!
  
  
• Trees and bushes along the creek leaf out. There are some "no-see-ums" (tiny biting gnats), but mosquitoes are rarely out in May.
  
  
• Late May and early June are the best opportunity to experience ‘surge flow’, where waves flow down across the sand. In average or wetter years, surge flow waves are high enough for children to float down limited distances on flat inflatable toys.
  
  
• Water comes out of the mountains cold, but warms up significantly when the sun shines on it for a few hours as it spreads across the sand.
  
  
• Late May and early June weekends can be crowded with overflowing parking lots, a crowded beach, and some delays at the entrance station. If possible, plan your visit on a weekday this time of year.

June

• There are warmer water temperatures for water play and generally pleasant temperatures in June.
  

• Late May and early June are the best opportunity to experience "surge flow", where waves flow down across the sand. In average or wetter years, surge flow waves are high enough for children to float down limited distances on flat inflatable toys.
  

• Because of the creek's popularity, late May and early June weekends are extremely crowded, with long lines of traffic, overflowing parking lots, a crowded beach, and full campgrounds. If possible, plan your visit on a weekday this time of year.
  

• As the creek becomes much lower and slower around the second week of June, mosquitoes will emerge in large numbers. Move away from vegetation, to the far side of the creek to avoid the worst of the mosquitoes: they don't like open sand, but prefer to be near shady bushes and trees.
  

• By late June, the water level will be fairly low, only 1 or 2 inches (1-5cm) or may even be drying up.

July

• Unless there are significant ongoing rains, the creek will be retreating back toward the mountains and will be dried up at the main visitor area near the Dunes Parking Lot.

• It usually continues to gently flow at 1/2" - 1" (1-2 cm) deep along the eastern edge of the dunefield, near Castle Creek Picnic Area. Castle Creek is accessible by high clearance 4WD vehicle on the Medano Pass Primitive Road. Visitors without 4WD may also access the creek in late summer by hiking approximately 3 miles (5 km) up the creekbed from the Dunes Parking Lot, or approximately 0.7 miles (1km) from the Point of No Return parking area.

• Mosquitoes are typically still present in large numbers after breeding in the low remaining water, but begin to disappear by mid-to-late July.

• July is the warmest month at the park, with average highs in the low 80s F.

August and September

• The creek usually continues to gently flow at 1/2" - 1" (1-2 cm) deep along the eastern edge of the dunefield, near Castle Creek Picnic Area. Castle Creek is accessible by high clearance 4WD vehicle on the Medano Pass Primitive Road. Visitors without 4WD may also access the creek in late summer by hiking approximately 3 miles (5 km) up the creekbed from the Dunes Parking Lot, or approximately 0.7 miles (1km) from the Point of No Return parking area.

• Mosquitoes are gone in late summer and fall.

 

Two children sit in a wave of Medano Creek at peak flow

NPS/Patrick Myers

Weather

Weather forecasts and information for Great Sand Dunes are available on the park's weather page. Also learn what Conditions to Expect Each Month at the park.

 

In wet years, waves can be large enough at peak flow for floating.

NPS/Patrick Myers

How do you pronounce 'Medano'?

Médano is a Spanish word that means "sand dune". It is pronounced "MED-ah-no". In the original Spanish there is an accent on the é.

 

A skimboarder glides along Medano Creek, June 2024

NPS/Patrick Myers

Medano Creek Activities

Depending on water level, visitors may do any non-motorized and non-mechanized activities in the creek, including splashing, wading, skimboarding, floating (works only in small inflatable device with a child at peak runoff), sand castle building, and sand sculpting.

To protect this riparian habitat, please do not disturb living plants or animals, and keep water resources clean.