Sand Creek Basin

~5 min drive

<p>Sand Creek Basin is part of the alpine watershed of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. A longer drive and hike is required to reach these lakes and peaks, but the mountain scenery is worth the effort. Check with a ranger for conditions before travel. Snow may block these t…

Horn Peak

~13 min drive

6.6 mi · Hard

Willow Lake

~15 min drive

9.7 mi · Moderate

Hidden Dune

~22 min drive

Hidden Dune is currently tied with Star Dune as the two tallest dunes in North America at 741 feet/225 m. Hidden Dune is named for its remote location in the dunefield, where it is not visible from most of the main visitor day use areas. It is even hidden from much of the high…

Humboldt

~7 min drive

2.7 mi · Easy

South Crestone

~16 min drive

9.0 mi · Hard

Phantom Terrace

~16 min drive

4.8 mi · Moderate

High Dune on First Ridge

~25 min drive

The high dune on the first ridge is neither the highest in elevation nor the tallest in the dunefield, but it looks that way from the main parking lot. This is the most common destination in the dunefield, providing a great view of the entire dunefield. It is about 692 feet (2…

Mosca Pass

~27 min drive

<p>Just above the dunefield are forests of aspen, pine, fir, and spruce. The easiest hiking access to forest in the national park is in Mosca Pass, on the Montville Nature Trail and Mosca Pass Trail. On these trails, you are walking in the footsteps of Pleistocene mammoth hunt…