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Mountain Biking: Colorado > Great Sand Dunes National Park

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Quick Facts

Sand Pit Picnic Ground

Elevation:	8,000 Feet (2493.8 Meters)
Size:	1 site 1 picnic table
USGS Maps:	Zapata Ranch, Liberty

General Description

Looking down Medano Pass Primitive Road - 10.98

This is a nice place to come have a picnic, whether you walk from the campground or drive your car to The Point of No Return. Here, all two-wheel vehicles must stop. It is a half milt walk to the picnic area.

Directions from Visitor Center: Continue past the Point of No Return on Medano Pass Primitive Road less than 1/2 mile.

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.) .

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

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Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	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 trails in the area	No
	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.	Yes
	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 and Castle Creek picnic site as well	No
	Downhill Skiing	Trying skiing the dunes, even in summer.	No
	Backpacking	Eight backcountry sites in the Monument; free permit from Visitor Center required.	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

Castle Creek Picnic Ground - This picnic site is located on Medano Pass Primitive Road where Castle Creek joins Medano Creek. Either drive a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle or park at The Point of No Return and walk.

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.

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.

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.

More Information

Visitor Information:

Great Sand Dunes National Monument, 11999 Highway 150 , Mosca, CO, 81146, Phone: 719-378-6300

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