About
Length (round trip)2.5 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyHard
Elevation gain699 ft up
Typical time1 hr 30 min
TrailheadDunes parking area
SurfaceDeep loose sand, no trail
Best seasonLate May and early June for Medano Creek; September and October for cool sand. Summer sand surface reaches 150F.
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
What you'll see ⛰️ Summit🌄 Big views

There is no trail: you pick a line up the ridge and climb. High Dune is not the tallest in the field but it is the one you can see the whole dunefield from, with the Sangre de Cristo range behind it and the San Luis Valley in front.

Tips
Sand surface temperatures exceed 150F on summer afternoons - climb before 10am or after 4pm, and never barefoot. Allow twice as long as the distance suggests; every step slides back. Take twice the water you think you need.
🎒 What to pack

A 2.5 mi walk — here's the short list worth having in the pack.

Other Hikers
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Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.