Hiking the High Dune Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park
Distance (One Way): 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
The High Dune Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of the most popular day hikes in the 30-square-mile dune field, due in large part because it is the most prominent sand dune visible from the visitor center and the Medano Creek Trailhead.
That being said, the High Dune Trail is not an easy day hike by any means. Sand dune adventures are often referred to as one of the most difficult forms of hiking in the world, largely because the difficulty of hiking on sand pales in comparison to hiking on solid ground.
However, there is one best route to follow in order to maximize effort and minimize elevation gain, as hiking in a straight line toward the High Dune is the least effective, least efficient, and most time-consuming option to get there. But, by following the natural ridges up the dune field, as shown in this article, you can summit the First Ridge and High Dune with the least amount of effort required!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
High Dune Trailhead Parking
Parking for the High Dune Trail is located at the Medano Creek Trailhead, the most popular access point for the Great Sand Dunes.
That being said, the parking lot is very large and can accommodate large vehicles and trailers, so finding a spot to park is typically never an issue.
Google Maps Directions: Medano Creek Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Great Sand Dunes
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the High Dune Trail
The High Dune Trail begins at one of a few different access points at the Medano Creek Trailhead, also called the Dunes Trailhead.
Note that all GPS coordinates in this article follow the visual representation of Google Maps and that actual locations may be slightly different from the imagery of where these pins were placed.
Once on the sand, walk to the northwest directly toward the dune field and Medano Creek, not toward the High Dune.
The easiest ridges to the top are to the east of the High Dune, not directly toward it.
With that in mind, the entire High Dune Trail can be vague; however, you can follow the fastest route using my GPX file linked below to stay on the best route.
Download GPX File: High & Star Dune Trail
Medano Creek
Typically, Medano Creek flows through this area at the base of the dune field throughout the winter, spring, and early summer months.
However, these photos were taken in September, when the creek was nonexistent this far from the mountains, as it truly ebbs and flows with the seasonal snowmelt and rain.
Contrary to how you might imagine a windswept dune field forming, the sand dunes and ridges do not change.
In fact, there is a very old photo in the visitor center of the First Ridge that looks almost identical to how it does today.
The joke is that sand dunes get a 'haircut,' so to speak, where the tops of the dunes and ridges may change in height slightly, but their overall mass and shape stay the same.
This is all to say that the route you see here will be the route to follow for many years to come!
When you get into the Great Sand Dunes, there’s simply no way to accurately describe which direction to hike to get on the best path, except to say: use these GPS directions linked throughout the sections below!
These coordinates follow the best path toward the First Ridge with the least amount of effort required.
Google Maps Directions: 37°44'40.9"N 105°31'18.3"W
This is where the first set of coordinates takes you, and from here, go left to climb the neighboring ridge toward the next pin.
Google Maps Directions: 37°44'43.7"N 105°31'21.9"W
This is the ridge crest of the second GPS coordinates.
From here, simply follow the ridge until the left-hand turn toward the following ridge that can be seen on the left in the photo below.
Google Maps Directions: 37°44'49.6"N 105°31'22.8"W
This is the location of the coordinates linked above, and from here, go left to stay on the High Dune Trail and gain the neighboring ridge that leads up to the summit of the First Ridge.
That being said, this dip is one of the few times on the High Dune Trail when losing elevation is essentially unavoidable.
Google Maps Directions: 37°44'53.3"N 105°31'30.6"W
These mid-elevations on the way up to the First Ridge are a favorite among visitors wishing to sled in the sand dunes!
Once on this next ridge, the hike up to the First Ridge and High Dune becomes much more straightforward and easy to follow, as the best path simply follows the most prominent ridgeline up to the top.
That said, the next set of coordinates below is for the next turn just below the First Ridge.
Google Maps Directions: 37°44'57.9"N 105°31'29.8"W
This is the location where the coordinates above lead, which is also where hikers have the choice to either continue on the ridgeline in order to keep climbing or go left to hike down and up and take a more direct approach.
I chose to go left toward the next pin because walking on the ridge of a sand dune is not as easy as it may seem.
Google Maps Directions: 37°44'58.9"N 105°31'32.0"W
This ridge is the more direct approach to the crest of the First Ridge.
Google Maps Directions: First Ridge
Sun Shirts
If this is your first time in the area, you’re likely unprepared for how strong the sun can be.
For this reason, I recommend picking up a quality, hooded sun shirt if you plan to do any hiking. Protection from the sun cannot be overstated, and in my experience, sunscreen alone has never been enough over a multi-day visit, especially if you’re visiting during the summer season!
First Ridge
The First Ridge is not a named landmark within the Great Sand Dunes National Park, but it is a common reference point for both hikers and park staff alike.
This is the point where backcountry camping becomes legal, and from this point on, the High Dune truly starts to come into view, which is the highest sand dune on the left side of the photo below.
Note that the First Ridge sits right at the 1.0-mile (1.6 km) mark, which is 1.0 mile (1.6 km) by hiking, not as the crow flies.
That being said, go left once on the First Ridge and follow the ridgeline directly toward the High Dune, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) away.
Google Maps Directions: High Dune
From the crest of the First Ridge, the High Dune Trail becomes much easier to follow, as it simply heads directly west toward the closest and tallest sand dune in the photo below.
This is where the High Dune Trail makes its final ascent up to the summit.
High Dune
The High Dune in Great Sand Dunes National Park is not taller than the Star Dune or Hidden Dune, but it is higher because its base rests at a higher elevation than the other two.
This is where the name 'High Dune' comes from, as it is the highest and most prominent dune from places afar, like the Sand Sheet Loop Trail.
Warning
Afternoon thunderstorms in high Mountain West areas, such as this, are a serious concern during the summer monsoon season.
Even if the weather forecast doesn’t predict any storms, I can tell you from personal experience that they may show up out of nowhere and can put you and your entire group in a very dangerous situation.
I say this to emphasize the importance of turning around at the first sign of lightning, thunder, or even heavy cloud buildup. However, if you ever get caught in a storm unsuspectingly, follow the steps linked below to reduce the risk of getting struck.
U.S. Forest Service: Lightning Safety Tips
Star Dune Trail
The reason I’ve separated the High Dune and Star Dune Trails into two separate articles is because they really are just that different.
The Star Dune is by far more involved than the High Dune, due in large part to its remote location. However, if you plan to hike to the Star Dune, I highly recommend first hiking to the High Dune and returning later by way of Medano Creek.
I suggest this because the alternative method is to hike down Medano Creek and turn into the dune field. However, knowing exactly which turn and route to take is much more difficult at the base of the dunes, as all the ridges can look very non-distinct from one another.
In short, it’s much easier to navigate and see where you’re going from up high than down along Medano Creek.
Read My Separate Post: Star Dune Trail
More Great Sand Dune Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Great Sand Dunes National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Almost all of the safety factors that the National Park Service focuses on are centered around the weather.
By this, I mean that the National Park Service reports extremes, such as the surface temperature of the sand dunes reaching up to 150˚F (65.6˚C) in the summer, while in the winter, the park, including the dunes, can be completely covered in snow.
For this reason, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is best visited in strategic ways, meaning that certain adventures are best for some seasons, while others are best for different times of the year.
For example, to explore the Dune Field in July, the National Park Service recommends early morning or late evening hikes only. However, this can be one of the better times of the year to head to some of the upper-elevations trails, such as Mt. Herald.
That said, Black bears are known to be found in the hills and mountains surrounding the Great Sand Dunes dune field, and while hiking in black bear territory usually presents less danger compared to grizzlies, hiking with bear spray is never a bad idea. However, it’s really up to your own discretion and comfort level.
Finally, afternoon thunderstorms in high mountain west areas, such as this, are a serious concern, especially in the dune field! For this reason, I highly recommend checking Mountain Forecast before hiking in the summer monsoon season, as this is one of the best and most reliable resources for upper elevation weather around the world.
I say this because I unfortunately got caught in a lightning storm in a remote part of the Star Dune Trail, and it was one of the scarier lightning experiences I’ve ever had, as there is quite literally nothing taller or more conductive than yourself when surrounded by nothing but sand.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Great Sand Dunes National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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