Thing to Do

Hike Sand Creek Lakes

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

An alpine lake with conifer trees at the side, and rocky summit with snow
Sand Creek Lakes are a completely different environment from the dunes!

NPS/Kris Illenberger

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

View from green tundra slope into an alpine basin, with a lake at left and snowy peaks above
View of Sand Creek Basin from Marble Mountain. Upper Sand Creek Lake is visible on the left, Milwaukee Peak at center, and Crestone Needle at upper right.

NPS/Patrick Myers

Hiking Marble Mountain


From Music Pass (see directions above), there is also an option to hike to the summit of Marble Mountain, 13,266 feet (4,043 m). From Music Pass Trailhead, hike 1 mile (1.6 km) to Music Pass, then turn north and follow the tundra ridge 3 miles (4.8 km) to the summit of Marble Mountain. Of the six peaks over 13,000 feet (4,000 m) in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, Marble Mountain has the easiest access, but it is still a strenuous hike at very high elevation. Always plan your time above treeline for morning hours to avoid afternoon thunderstorms with lightning.

Last updated: October 27, 2020