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!
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.
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
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.
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
