Hiking the Mosca Pass Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park
Distance: 6.4 miles / 10.3 km
Elevation Gain: ~1,400 ft. / 427 m
The Mosca Pass Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of just a handful of day hikes that venture into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the range that surrounds the beautiful 30-square-mile dune field encompassing much of the park.
Beginning at the Montville Nature Loop Trail, the Mosca Pass Trail climbs up Mosca Creek to Mosca Pass, which can be reached by way of trail, as shown in this article, or by forest road on the eastern side of the range.
That being said, the Mosca Pass Trail is more about the journey than the destination, which is why I highly recommend hiking the trail during peak fall colors, as the Aspens that line the trail from bottom to top are best enjoyed at 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!
Mosca Pass Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Mosca Pass Trail depends entirely on whether you reach the trail through the National Park or National Forest.
Given these options, most visitors hike to the trailhead through the National Park on the Montville Nature Loop. However, there is also the option to hike top-down, which is most suitable for those interested in dispersed camping in the Sangre de Cristo Range outside of the park.
Google Maps Directions: Montville Nature Loop Trailhead / Mosca Pass 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 Mosca Pass Trail
To begin the Mosca Pass Trail from the trailhead within Great Sand Dunes National Park, the hike initially follows the Montville Nature Loop for the first 0.2 miles (0.3 km) before branching off to follow Mosca Creek up to the pass.
On a different note, 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.
To skip ahead to beginning of the Mosca Pass Trail after Mosca Creek, click here.
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 this is the fastest and most direct route to the beginning of the Mosca Pass Trail.
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.
Mosca Pass-Montville Nature Loop 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.
Here, go right to begin the Mosca Pass Trail, or use the link below to learn more about the rest of the Montville Nature Loop toward Wellington Ditch and beyond.
Read My Separate Post: Montville Nature Loop Trail
Mosca Pass Trail
After leaving the Montville Nature Loop behind, the Mosca Pass Trail begins climbing roughly 1,300 ft. (396 m) from the Mosca-Montville junction to the pass, located at the park boundary with the Rio Grande National Forest.
Coming across Black Bear scat is always a nice reminder to be aware of their presence when hiking in Colorado, which is all to say that hiking with bear spray is truly up to your own discretion and comfort level.
Even though the Mosca Pass Trail climbs constantly from the trailhead to the pass, the elevation gain is fairly mild, making it one of the better trail running options in Great Sand Dunes National Park, so long as you’re comfortable running in Black Bear territory.
That said, the shoes linked below are my favorite trail-running shoes, which also work well for light day-hiking, such as this.
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Boundary
After about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the Montville Nature Loop, the Mosca Pass Trail enters the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, which continues through the middle portion of the hike but ends before the trail reaches Mosca Pass.
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!
These middle sections of the Mosca Pass Trail are where it’s best to slow down and turn around to enjoy some upper views of the sand dunes from above!
The Aspen stands that follow Mosca Creek from bottom to top are what make the Mosca Pass Trail one of the best fall hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park!
It was nice to see some changing colors in the middle of September, but Colorado wasn’t my destination for peak fall colors on this trip.
When the Mosca Pass Trail reaches these upper-elevation meadows, the park boundary and the end of the hike are not far ahead.
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
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Boundary
This is where the Mosca Pass Trail leaves the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, which, as previously mentioned, does not span the full length of the trail.
Mosca Pass
Sitting at just over 9,700 ft. (2,957 m), the Mosca Pass Trail ends at Mosca Pass, a drive-up trailhead and dispersed camping area accessed by way of Forest Road 583 in the Rio Grande National Forest.
At the top, most hikers would simply turn back down toward the Montville Loop, as there are no more trails—just forest roads—that continue on from this point.
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.
Noah Lang Photography LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion, judgement, and seek professional advice where it is appropriate.
Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
All said, the content on this blog is for the sole use of Noah Lang Photography LLC, and unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited.
Disclosure
This post is not sponsored.
However, some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission if a purchase is made through one of those links. This commission comes at no additional cost to you, and I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support, which enables me to continue creating more!
To read the full privacy policy, click here.
About This Blog
Noah Lang Photography, also known as @noahawaii, is 100% reader-supported!
I do not accept guest articles or sponsored content of any kind on my blog, which is why, if you enjoy the outdoor and travel content I create, please consider buying me a coffee!
I appreciate your support, which helps me continue to keep this blog alive!
