Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites
Roadside camping is permitted at 21 campsites in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve beginning 5.2 miles from where the road begins near Piñon Flats Campground. These designated sites are free of charge and first-come, first-served. All 21 sites fill on summer weekends. Passable only in the warmer months and only with high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles. This road crosses areas of deep sand, traverses Medano Creek nine times, and passes through excellent habitat for bighorn sheep.
More like this: first-come in Colorado · free in Colorado · dark sky in Colorado
Amenities & rules
| Dark sky | Inside Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
The south entrance to Medano Pass Road begins just below Pinon Flats Campground, one mile north of the visitor center. The road's north access is in the Wet Mountain Valley, on Highway 69 south of Westcliffe.
| Coordinates | 37.8035° N, 105.4957° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireAspen Acres
28 mi from the campground · 102,007 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 4.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Kristi's Mountain Sports ↗ | 31.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Holiday RV ↗ | 58.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 4.9 miGreat Sand Dunes Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
- 5.6 miEntrance Station ↗Visitor center
- 13.1 miZapata Falls Day Use Area ↗Day use
Public land it sits in
Great Sand Dunes Wilderness begins about 0.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.6 miGreat Sand Dunes Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 32,643 acres
- 7.3 miSangre de Cristo Wilderness ↗Wilderness · FS/NPS · 219,891 acres
- 10.9 miBaca National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 85,815 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Superintendent's Residence, Great Sand Dunes National MonumentBuilding · Mosca · 5.6 mi
- Zapata Ranch HeadquartersBuilding · Mosca · 11.7 mi
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites?
No. Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites Official Website
How much does it cost to camp at Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites?
Nothing. Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites is listed as free.
Source: Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites Official Website
Is Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites good for stargazing?
Yes. Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites sits inside Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
What if Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Pinon Flats Campground (4.1 mi), Zapata Falls Campground (13.3 mi), and North Crestone Creek Campground (18.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites in?
Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites is a Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.