Backpacking Campsites in the Dunes or Forest

Overview

The most popular and unique backpacking option is camping in the 30-square-mile dunefield, beyond the major dune ridgeline (about 1.5 mile hike minimum over dunes). Enjoy wide open views of the starry sky or a bright moonlit night.

Operator

National Park

Camping types

Tent

Sites

27 campsites

Reservations

Reservable online

Phone

719-378-6395

Amenities

Location

Nearby adventures

Outdoor things to do around Backpacking Campsites in the Dunes or Forest, shown on the map above. Distances are straight-line from the campground, so driving or walking will be longer; trail details are approximate. Confirm access and conditions with the land manager.

Hikes and trailheads

• Explore the DunesHike · 2.2 mi from camp

  Explore the tallest dunes in North America! National Park Service

  Show on map
• Montville Nature Trail or Mosca Pass TrailHike · 30-240 Minutes · 3.3 mi from camp

  Just above the dunefield are montane woodlands of pinon and ponderosa pine, subalpine aspen and conifer forests, alpine lakes and rugged mountains over 13,000 feet (4,000 m) in elevation. National Park Service

  Show on map
• Hike Medano Lake and Mount HerardHike · 8-12 Hours · 5.4 mi from camp

  Take your 4WD vehicle around the dunes and up to Medano Pass, hike to a small alpine lake, then continue to the summit of 13,297 ft (4,053 m) Mount Herard for an aerial perspective on the… National Park Service

  Show on map
• Sand Pit TrailheadTrailhead · 2.3 mi from campShow on map
• Sawmill Canyon Access TrailheadTrailhead · 2.4 mi from campShow on map
• Wellington Ditch TrailheadTrailhead · 2.9 mi from campShow on map

Rivers and rafting

• Splash in Medano CreekPaddling and rafting · 1-8 Hours · 2.7 mi from camp

  Medano Creek is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages. National Park Service

  Show on map

Scenic sights

• Mount HerardPeak · 13,353 ft · 5.4 mi from camp

  Mount Herard is a high and prominent mountain summit in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Wikipedia

  Show on map
• Medano PassViewpoint · 7.8 mi from camp

  A mountain pass across the Sangre de Cristo Mountains beside Great Sand Dunes National Park, reached by a primitive road. AI-written

  Show on map
• Zapata FallsWaterfall · 11.0 mi from camp

  Zapata Falls is a waterfall located in the San Luis Valley near the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on Bureau of Land Management land adjacent to Rio Grande National Forest and south… Wikipedia

  Show on map
• California PeakPeak · 13,848 ft · 11.4 mi from camp

  California Peak is a high mountain summit in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Wikipedia

  Show on map
• Hot SpringsHot spring · 34.4 mi from campShow on map

Climbing and snow sports

• Cuchara Mountain ResortSkiing and snowshoeing · 37.3 mi from camp

  A ski area at Cuchara in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. AI-written

  Show on map

Trail and sight data: National Park Service and OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Text marked Wikipedia is from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0, lightly shortened. Text marked AI-written was drafted by an AI model from public data and may contain errors.

Reviews

Data sources

• National Park Service API — Public domain (U.S. Government work)

Listing details come from the sources above and may be out of date. Confirm fees, dates and closures with the operator before you travel.