Hiking the Montville Nature Loop Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park
Distance: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
The Montville Nature Loop Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park is a relatively short and easy day hike at the base of the foothills of Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
This unique adventure allows visitors the opportunity to follow along with numbered trail markers and an interpretive guide to learn more about the trail and the park as a whole.
On a different note, the shaded Montville Nature Loop should be highly considered during the hotter summer months in Great Sand Dunes, as venturing out into the exposed 30-square-mile dune field can be extremely dangerous if you visit the park during this time of year!
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!
Montville Nature Loop Trailhead Parking
The Montville Nature Loop Trailhead is located just past the visitor center on the right-hand side of Highway 150.
That said, the Montville Trail is not the most popular adventure in Great Sand Dunes National Park, meaning that finding a spot to park is typically never an issue throughout all times of the year.
Google Maps Directions: Montville Nature Loop 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 Montville Nature Loop Trail
The beginning of the Montville Nature Loop is also the junction with the 0.25-mile (0.4 km) access trail between the visitor center and Montville Trailhead.
This is important to mention because the National Park Service does not allow RV or trailer parking at the Montville Trailhead, meaning that the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center is the best place for larger vehicles to park.
The trail markers on the Montville Nature Trail begin shortly after the trailhead and continue throughout the 0.5-mile (0.8 km) loop.
With that in mind, trail guides can be found at the Montville Trailhead or by asking the staff in the visitor center just down the road.
Montville Nature Loop Trail
Almost immediately after beginning the hike, the Montville Trail splits into the 0.4-mile (0.6 km) loop, with most visitors choosing to go right, in the counterclockwise direction, to follow the numbered markers.
This is all to say that I chose to go right as well.
After roughly 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Montville Nature Loop leaves the National Park and enters the Great Sand Dunes National Preserve.
That being said, both the National Park and National Preserve operate together under the National Park Service, meaning there is truly no difference in visitor experience that one might notice.
The difference really only comes into play in terms of the specific regulations governing activities like hunting or resource use, which most visitors won’t encounter during a typical visit to Great Sand Dunes.
Montville Nature Loop-Mosca Pass Junction
When the Montville Nature Trail reaches the far eastern end of the loop, the trail splits with the Mosca Pass Trail, which climbs from here to the park boundary with the Rio Grande National Forest.
In any case, go left here to continue on the Montville Nature Loop Trail, or you can use the link below to learn more about the full hike up to Mosca Pass.
Read My Separate Post: Mosca Pass Trail
Montville Nature Loop-Wellington Ditch Junction
Not long after beginning the return loop, the Montville Nature Loop splits once again with the Wellington Ditch Trail, which connects Montville to the Piñon Flats Campground, about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) away.
This one-way adventure is best served as a great trail to see the sand dunes from above, which can be especially beautiful at any one of a number of different viewpoints at sunset.
In any case, go left again to remain on the Montville Nature Loop, returning to the beginning about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) down the trail.
Read My Separate Post: Wellington Ditch Trail
It’s important to mention that Black Bears are more common in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Range than in areas closer to the dune field.
This includes hikes in Great Sand Dunes, such as the Montville Nature Loop, Mosca Pass, the Wellington Ditch, the Dunes Overlook Trail, along with a number of other backcountry adventures that are far less popular.
This is all to say that hiking with bear spray is truly up to your own discretion, but it’s important to be aware of their presence.
Montville Nature Loop Junction
After crossing back over Mosca Creek, the Montville Nature Trail completes the 0.4-mile (0.6 km) loop.
At this junction, go left to return to the trailhead and visitor center, and remember to return any trail guides you may have taken, so that future hikers can use them when they arrive.
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
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
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