Hiking the Hidden Dune Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park
Distance (Roundtrip): 4.6 miles / 7.4 km
The Hidden Dune in Great Sand Dunes National Park is arguably the most aptly named of the three major dunes within the Great Sand Dune field, which includes the Hidden Dune, High Dune, and Star Dune.
I say this because the Hidden Dune is just that remote, and this is reflected by the fact very few visitors make the long trek to the Hidden Dune, so finding evidence of previous hikers on the Hidden Dune Trail will be far less likely compared to the other two.
That said, the argument could be made that the Star Dune is just as remote, if not more so, but since the Star Dune can be reached more easily by knowing precisely where to turn into the dune field along Medano Creek, the Hidden Dune is actually more remote, as it is located much deeper within the dune field in comparison.
In any case, I’ve shared my experience in the way that it is below, so that you can learn from my mistakes because the Hidden Dune, as well as the route to get there at the end of the Sand Pit Trail, are not obvious from afar. Therefore, I highly recommend following the coordinates I have listed throughout this article in order to follow the most direct and, more importantly, the most efficient path to the Hidden Dune.
Hidden Dune Trailhead Parking
The Hidden Dune Trailhead is located at the same Point of No Return Trailhead as the Sand Pit Trail, about 1.1 miles (1.8 km) from the area where the pavement ends on Medano Pass Primitive Road.
That being said, there is a parking area closer to the dune field, about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) past the pavement. However, this trailhead is past the Point of No Return, which is reserved for 4WD vehicles only.
This is all to say that the pavement ends near the Piñon Flats Campground, but most vehicles should be able to make it as far as the Point of No Return, provided that the road is in good condition and is snow-free.
Google Maps Directions: Hidden Dune 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.
Hiking the Hidden Dune Trail
The Hidden Dune Trail begins on the 0.6-mile (1.0 km) Sand Pit Trail.
At the Point of No Return, the Sand Pit Trailhead can be found just past the parking area, on the left-hand side of the road.
To skip ahead to the Sand Pit and the start of the Hidden Dune Trail, click here.
For the most part, the Sand Pit Trail follows a relatively easy and straightforward downhill path directly toward the sand dunes, with Mt. Herald towering above the dune field in the distance.
Throughout much of the spring, summer, and early fall, wildflowers can be enjoyed throughout Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the Sand Pit Trail can be one of the best places to enjoy them!
Sand Pit Picnic Area Junction
After about 0.3 miles (0.5 km), the Sand Pit Trail splits for the only time with the trail that leads to the Sand Pit Picnic Area.
This is the much closer trailhead mentioned previously, where 4WD vehicles have the option to park closer to Medano Creek and the dune field.
That being said, go left to stay on the more trafficked side of the Sand Pit Trail, which leads to Medano Creek shortly ahead.
As the Sand Pit Trail nears Medano Creek, the trail will begin descending a short hill, followed immediately by the crossing.
Medano Creek
Whether beginning here or at the Medano Creek Trailhead, where the High Dune and Star Dune Trails begin, Medano Creek is the infamous right of passage to get to the dune field.
With that said, Medano Creek typically flows across the Sand Pit Trail much later in the season compared to the dune field access point on the High Dune Trail, due entirely to the fact that it is located further upstream.
There’s no straightforward way across Medano Creek, but these photos from late in the season show a relatively easy crossing compared to how it can appear at different times of the year.
On the far side of Medano Creek, visitors have the option to hike in any number of directions, with most climbing the nearby foothills in order to go sledding down the first few smaller dunes.
This is the end of the Sand Pit Trail, which is the foothills of the expansive 30-square-mile dune field and the beginning of the hike to the Hidden Dune.
Google Maps Directions: End of the Sand Pit Trail
Hidden Dune Trail
From the end of the Sand Pit Trail, it may seem like the best way to hike directly toward the Hidden Dune is to the right, but it’s actually the opposite.
The easiest and most efficient route, in order to minimize elevation changes, is to go left toward the pin linked below, where it will ultimately climb steeply up the ridge that the photos below lead to.
Google Maps Directions: 37°45'51.6"N 105°30'57.9"W
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.
In the beginning, it’s important to follow the base of the dunes without climbing too high or going too low, in order to minimize effort.
This first hill, off in the distance, is the steepest and most challenging part of the entire hike to the Hidden Dune.
However, the hike to the Hidden Dune noticeably becomes easier from that point on, as this is by far the best and most gradual route compared to others, which I can confidently say from experience!
This is the location of the first set of coordinates, which, as previously mentioned, is where the rest of the Hidden Dune Trail becomes much milder compared to the steep ascent to reach this point.
That said, go right once on top and either hike on the ridge or parallel to it, heading north toward the next pin.
The idea here is to maintain elevation until the low point, where the next pin is located, becomes visible. At that time, it’s best to leave the ridge and hike directly toward it.
Google Maps Directions: 37°46'10.0"N 105°31'13.4"W
The dip in the ridge above the vegetation is the low point referenced above, and it’s the location of the second set of coordinates.
This is where it’s best to leave the ridgeline and hike directly toward the pin linked above.
This is the location of the second set of coordinates, with the third set linked below.
That said, the Hidden Dune Trail from here to the summit gets a bit easier to navigate, as the dune itself and Mt. Herald start to become visible from this point moving forward.
Google Maps Directions: 37°46'22.5"N 105°31'20.1"W
Again, I cannot stress the importance of hiking in a quality sun shirt in Great Sand Dunes National Park, as there is quite obviously no shade on a clear day!
All of the hills off in the distance toward the Sand Pit are exactly why I suggest hiking to the Hidden Dune in the direction that follows these pins, as they would have to be traversed by going right instead of left in the beginning, resulting in more elevation change compared to this route that I suggest following.
From here, simply continue toward the next pin, which is where the Hidden Dune Trail becomes much more direct, as the Hidden Dune can now be seen in the photos below.
Google Maps Directions: 37°46'21.7"N 105°31'27.1"W
This is roughly where the coordinates above lead, with the next set ascending up to the final ridgeline that leads to the summit of the Hidden Dune.
Google Maps Directions: 37°46'25.6"N 105°31'37.2"W
Once on this ridge, continue to hike toward the highest point until the summit ridge meets this ridge, which is the location of the pin linked below.
Google Maps Directions: 37°46'27.0"N 105°31'47.7"W
This is the point where the route makes the final turn toward the Hidden Dune, the highest dune on the left-hand side of the photo below.
Google Maps Directions: Hidden Dune
Hidden Dune
The Hidden Dune, along with the Star Dune, is tied as not only the highest sand dune in Great Sand Dunes National Park but also the highest in all of North America!
That being said, the heights between the two can actually change from day to day, depending on the winds, meaning that one day the Hidden Dune may be the highest and on another the Star Dune may be the highest.
In any case, I hope to one day return to the Hidden Dune at sunset, just as I have with the Star Dune many times, as remote locations in the heart of the dune field—such as this—are among the most beautiful and pristine, especially at golden hour in the evening!
