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Hiking & Walking: Colorado > Great Sand Dunes National Park

Quick Facts

Castle Creek Trail

Beginning Elevation:	8,000 Feet (2493.8 Meters) Dunes Parking Area
Difficulty:	Easy
Ending Elevation:	8,000 Feet (2493.8 Meters) Junction with Castle Creek
Length, One-way:	2.5 Miles (4.17 Kilometers)
USGS Maps:	Zapata Ranch, Liberty

		Satellite and Topo Map

General Description

A hike to Castle Creek is well worth the effort. At Castle Creek, the dunes rise abruptly from the creekbed at sharp angles. Dune slipfaces avalanche as they near angles greater than 34 degrees. Steep slipfaces are challenging to climb; stay on the ridges and slide down the faces. Park in the Dunes Parking Lot and walk north along the base of the dunes.

Directions from Dunes Parking Area: Park in the Dunes Parking Lot and walk north along the base of the dunes for 2.5 miles.

Directions:

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Year-round (NOTE: Visitor Center open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Summer months; varying hours in the Winter.) .

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Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Backpacking	Eight backcountry sites in the Monument; free permit from Visitor Center required.	No
	Family Camping	Pinyon Flats Campground	No
	Fishing	Medano Creek; Rio Grande National Forest	No
	Four-Wheel Driving	Medano Pass Primitive Road	No
	Group Camping	Pinyon Flats Campground	No
	Group Picnicking	South Ramada (reservations required) and North Ramada	No
	Hiking & Walking	Numerous other trails in the area as well	Yes
	Horseback Riding	Park at Amphitheater, Montville or Point of No Return; stay out of main public use areas	No
	Animal Identification	Look for tracks in the sand, especially in early morning.	No
	Firewood Gathering	Not permitted in the Monument; purchase from concessionaire in summer and from Visitor Center in winter.	No
	Lodging	Alamosa, Monte Vista and Ft. Garland	No
	Mountain Biking	Only on Medano Pass Primitive Road; some difficult sandy stretches	No
	Mountain Climbing	Blanca Peak, Little Bear and the Crestones	No
	ATV Riding	Only on Medano Pass Primitive Road, if vehicle and driver are licensed.	No
	Motorcycle Riding	Only on Medano Pass Primitive Road, if vehicle and driver are licensed.	No
	General Information	Visitor Center	No
	Picnicking	Next to Dunes Parking Area, Sand Pit and Castle Creek sites	No
	Downhill Skiing	Trying skiing the dunes, even in summer.	No
	Attending Talks & Programs	Summer programs at amphitheater; programs in Visitor Center year-round	No
	Viewing Interpretive Signs	Picture Point Trail, Montville Nature Trail	No
	Guided Touring	Concessionaire conducts tours on Medano Pass Primitive Road in the summer.	No

Related Activities

Great Sand Dunes National Monument Visitor Center - Before venturing out to the dunes, stop by the Visitor Center. Here you can pick up information on the dunes and other park features. The center is opened daily, except on federal holidays in the winter.

Little Medano Creek Trail - Meander through a variety of terrain when you head north from the campground. Travel through escape dunes until the trail crosses Medano Creek. The trail ends at an overlook just beyond Little Medano Creek.

Medano Pass Primitive Road - The Medano Pass Primitive Road is a four-wheel drive road that begins in the park and goes north to Medano Pass and the Rio Grande National Forest.

Pinyon Flats Campground - Piñon Flats Campground is open all year on a first-come, first serve basis. Each site has a picnic table and fire grate. Facilities include water fountains and spigots as well as restrooms with sinks and toilets.

Point of No Return Parking Area - This is a turnaround area and small parking area, aptly named Point of No Return. It is provided for two-wheel drive, wide and/or long vehicles.