8-12 Hours
Hike Medano Lake and Mount Herard
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
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 entire dunefield! This is a physically demanding but incredibly rewarding way to experience many of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve's ecoystems, from desert dunes to alpine tundra. Watch the high-energy 40-second video to get a glimpse of this unique experience!
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 entire dunefield! This is a physically demanding but incredibly rewarding way to experience many of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve's ecoystems, from desert dunes to alpine tundra. Watch the high-energy 40-second video to get a glimpse of this unique experience!
Tags
Backcountry HikingFishTundraPhotographyDunesFoothills, Plains and ValleysForests and WoodlandsConiferous ForestsDeciduous ForestsMeadowsLakesMountainsRiver and RiparianScenic ViewsTrails
Visitor Photos
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Details
Duration
8-12 Hours
Duration Details
Plan a full, long day for this drive and hike1
Fees Apply
No
Seasons
Summer, Fall
Time of Day
Day, Dawn, Dusk
Accessibility
While Medano Pass Primitive Road is accessible by driving with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, the hiking trail and ascent to the summit are steep and rocky.
Pets
Yes — Pets are permitted, on leash at all times, in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. Please clean up after your pet.
Reservations
No
Age Info
This requires strenuous, steep hiking in thin air at elevations up to 13,297 feet/4,053 m.
Location
Summit of Mount Herard