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Dunes Overlook Trail
Hiking Trail
Hard
1.75 mi
374 ft
A short hike in the foothills, with a different perspective on the dunes.
The Dunes Overlook Trail is a somewhat hidden hike in Great Sand Dunes National Park. Most people hike on the dunes, but this trail is on the other side of the road, in the foothills with some tree cover. If the dunes are too windy, too hot, too crowded, or just too sandy for your liking, you might enjoy hiking this trail instead. It’s mostly a firm path, with only some soft sections, and it makes a moderately steep climb to a viewpoint over the dunes. Though the panorama is slightly eclipsed by trees, you can get a good impression of the vastness of the dune field from the overlook.
The Overlook Trail is actually a spur off the Sand Ramp Trail. The route mapped here begins from Pinyon Flats Campground, but the Sand Ramp Trail connects the campground with the Point of No Return on the road, so you could start from there instead. You can also hike Sand Ramp and Overlook Trail as part of a longer loop, connecting with a walk along Medano Creek or atop the dunes.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
The Dunes Overlook Trail is a somewhat hidden hike in Great Sand Dunes National Park. Most people hike on the dunes, but this trail is on the other side of the road, in the foothills with some tree cover. If the dunes are too windy, too hot, too crowded, or just too sandy for your liking, you might enjoy hiking this trail instead. It’s mostly a firm path, with only some soft sections, and it makes a moderately steep climb to a viewpoint over the dunes. Though the panorama is slightly eclipsed by trees, you can get a good impression of the vastness of the dune field from the overlook.
The Overlook Trail is actually a spur off the Sand Ramp Trail. The route mapped here begins from Pinyon Flats Campground, but the Sand Ramp Trail connects the campground with the Point of No Return on the road, so you could start from there instead. You can also hike Sand Ramp and Overlook Trail as part of a longer loop, connecting with a walk along Medano Creek or atop the dunes.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
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