About
Length (round trip)11 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyStrenuous
Elevation gain900 ft up
Typical time5 hr 30 min
TrailheadPinon Flats campground
SurfaceSand and rocky terrace between dunes and mountains
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 🌄 Big views🦌 Wildlife🎒 Backpacking

A long traverse along the boundary between the dunes and the mountain front.

Tips
The access route to the park's backcountry campsites. Deep sand in places makes it slower than the distance suggests. Free backcountry permits are required.
🎒 What to pack

This trail is set up for backpacking, so it's worth packing for a night out as well as the walk.

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
Your Hikes

🔒 Login or create an account to record the trails you've done, rate them, and tie them to a trip.

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.