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 Medano Pass is a fairly easy trail near the Great Sand
Dunes National Monument in southern Colorado. Just north of Alamosa are the majestic
(and somewhat out of place) sand dunes created by the unrelenting winds in the San Luis
Valley. Starting from the base of these and heading northeast is Medano Pass.
The trail itself is mild with a lot of deep stream crossings and (as one might
imagine) some deep sand. The trail would be best served as part of the fun on a
weekend trip to the dunes. Of course, you could just use it as a warm up before you tackle
Mt. Blanca!
We decided to head for Medano pass as part of a Memorial Day camping trip. (If
you are going to spend 5 hours getting somewhere, you had better plan on being there for a
while.) We managed to barter for a camping spot in the nice but filled to capacity
Pinon Flats Campground within the National Park. Early the next morning we headed
out from the campground and onto the trail.
The first part of the trail lies within the park boundaries and is named, appropriately,
the Sand Trap (you'll know it when you see the "point of no return signs".
The trap is a fun curving road that had plenty of DEEP sand. However, this
passes quickly and soon you are in the bottom of a valley following a large stream.
Following might not quite be the word since you end op crossing many times (~7).
The crossings aren't bad but with the spring runoff, we could feel the water
pushing against the bottom of our vehicles. And that is basically the
description of the trail until you reach the summit some 11.5 miles down the road.
There are a couple of big mudholes that can stop you for a while but nothing a
prepared driver can't deal with. The real problem with the trail is the sheer number
of vehicles on the trail and the blatant disrespect many of those drivers had for
the trail and trail ethics. In places where it was obvious that terrain was being
destroyed by drivers, some eco-conscious people had put logs across the damaged areas.
I watched as drivers removed the logs and proceeded to plunge into the mud at full
throttle only making things worse. These guys had obviously never heard of Tread
Lightly. I talked to a park ranger about this and he was of the opinion that this
blatant disregard for the trail wold probably end up closing the trail very soon...
The Denver club, the
Rover Riders, recently ran Medano Pass and Blanca. Here is their brief
report on the trail... Well we had great weather for the trip. Medano Pass looked the same as
last year, no real hard sections but fun all the same. The river crossings seemed a little
deeper but no one had any trouble. After the last stream crossing, you start to
see more sand and get near the Dunes. The sand can be deep in places. Try not to stop on an up
hill, or you'll never get started forward again. This is a real fun section. I like to take
it a little fast, but watch out for park rangers. When leaving the Sand Dunes, don't forget that
their is a $3 per person charge. - Thanks to the Rover Riders for their support!
Located just outside Alamosa, there are a number of approaches you can take.
From anywhere on the Front Range, the easiest route is to take I-25 to Walsenberg and then
take 160 west to Blanca. The turn North onto 150 which takes you right into the
heart of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument.
From the Western Slope or anywhere else, probably the best advise is to make your way to
Alamosa and then take 160 east towards Walsenberg.
The trail itself takes off from within the boundaries of the park and, if you follow it to
its conclusion, will spit you out on highway 69 near Watkins Gluch.
A close up of the start of the trail near in the middle of the park. |
The trail from start to finish! |
This trail is covered in Volume 4 of the Pass
Patrol books.
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