Great Sand Dunes & Medino Pass (1 Viewer)

[slimbuddha]

I had planned to go through there in July, but my plans changed, so when my plans fell through a couple weeks ago, I decided to revive this trip. I left on a Friday and it was raining hard by the time I got to Alamosa. I had planned on staying at Zapato Falls CG on Friday night, then finding a spot along Medino pass road for Saturday. Well, I screwed up and booked Sat at Zapato falls, which I didn't realize until around 9:30pm Friday night when I was verifying my spot. So, I went the easy way and booked a hotel for Friday night.

Saturday morning, I woke up to some serious fog, so I took my time getting to the park.

 

[slimbuddha]

This is a few miles before the visitor Center

Just as I was going to hike out to the dunes, the rain and some lightning started again, so I decided to get a peek at the road to Medino pass (just a mile or so up) then came back to a parking area and waited an hour for the storm to clear.

 

[slimbuddha]

Around 11am or so it started to clear so I went back to the Trailhead

I went out to my own dune away from everyone else and enjoyed the view for over an hour. I wanted to go out further, but the chance of thunderstorms were very high.

 

[slimbuddha]

After hiking in the dunes, I headed to Zapata Falls to see the waterfall in the cave. It's a short .8 mile round trip hike, but the last couple hundred feet, you need to cross the stream.

The hike isn't that bad, but that water is absolutely freezing. It took me about an hour to get warmed back up after that short trek.

 

[slimbuddha]

Camping at Zapata falls CG:

My lazy dinner

 

[slimbuddha]

Sunday morning, I headed out up Medino pass. On the way back into the park, I saw several deer, elk, and even one of the Kangaroo rats, but didn't get any good pics because it was still fairly dark.

The road starts off very sandy, but because of the rains, it was packed hard, so I didn't even switch into 4WD for a while. There are numerous creek crossings, only one of which appeared to be deep, but ended up being only 1-1.5'. The road was pretty mild most of the way up, but I'm sure this is dependant on the rain fall and how the creek is flowing.


I saw this rabbit early on in the trail, as well as the deer.

I saw several beaver dens along the way, but never was able to spot a beaver.

 

[slimbuddha]

This was near the top a few miles before the pass.

The only obstacle that could give anyone some trouble is coming down the other side. There is a short section that is sort of a waterfall, but mixed in the rocks was very sandy lose dirt. I just took my time going down that section, it would have been funnier to climb it. Shortly after that, I passed a Toyota Corolla parked on the side of the road, so that gives you an indication on how easy the road is, though I'm sure they hit pretty frequently because there were some sections bigger than a curb.

From there on, I headed to Denver, as I was planning on going to a couple concerts at Red Rocks. When I got into town, I met a friend at Apex Park to do some Mountain biking which totally kicked my ass.

I defintely am planning to head back to the dunes next summer and get a back-country permit to do some night photography if anyone else is interested.

 

[slimbuddha]

Oh, and I finally stopped to take some pics of antelopes. I've never seen so many as I did on the drive back.

 

[pappy]

This was near the top a few miles before the pass. View attachment 3996659


The only obstacle that could give anyone some trouble is coming down the other side. There is a short section that is sort of a waterfall, but mixed in the rocks was very sandy lose dirt. I just took my time going down that section, it would have been funnier to climb it. Shortly after that, I passed a Toyota Corolla parked on the side of the road, so that gives you an indication on how easy the road is, though I'm sure they hit pretty frequently because there were some sections bigger than a curb.

I bet those aspens will be stunning in a few weeks.

 

[juane]

A view of the Dunes and Medano Pass from my current vantage:

 

[marcfj60]

I bet those aspens will be stunning in a few weeks.

Danise and I will be spending a week in the South Fork area next week and hope to see some changing aspens too.

 

[marcfj60]

A view of the Dunes and Medano Pass from my current vantage:View attachment 3996765

John, what the heck is going on here? I need some context. You're clearly driving what looks like a Class 8 Peterbilt.

 

[juane]

John, what the heck is going on here? I need some context. You're clearly driving what looks like a Class 8 Peterbilt.

Good eye!
I'm driving a potato truck...
Helping a friend out during the harvest.

 

[juane]

And I can confirm that the aspens are in their peak glory, at least in the Garita Mountains and Saguache Park. Incredible!

 

[marcfj60]

Good eye!
I'm driving a potato truck...
Helping a friend out during the harvest.

Do you still live in the area of Alamosa/Del Norte or did you move south? Looking for suggestions of things to see/do while there for a week. We're staying in an RV park in South Fork. I've been to Pagosa before. Never been to Creede and have only passed through Lake City. I saw Ali's recent trip to Kerr Lake so I may make a day trip there. Probably going to go check out Creede and explore Lake City a bit. Might go check out the Great Sand Dunes NP. I saw there is a small river walk in Del Norte.

 

[alia176]

I had planned to go through there in July, but my plans changed, so when my plans fell through a couple weeks ago, I decided to revive this trip. I left on a Friday and it was raining hard by the time I got to Alamosa. I had planned on staying at Zapato Falls CG on Friday night, then finding a spot along Medino pass road for Saturday. Well, I screwed up and booked Sat at Zapato falls, which I didn't realize until around 9:30pm Friday night when I was verifying my spot. So, I went the easy way and booked a hotel for Friday night.

Saturday morning, I woke up to some serious fog, so I took my time getting to the park.

I thought Zapato falls was a first come, first serve type of CG. Sounds like it's a reservation only now? Must be getting popular!

 

[slimbuddha]

I thought Zapato falls was a first come, first serve type of CG. Sounds like it's a reservation only now? Must be getting popular!

It required a reservation, and I got the last spot

 

[OGBeno]

Good eye!
I'm driving a potato truck...
Helping a friend out during the harvest.

Loving the things Juan does in retirement.

 

[juane]

Marc,
I did live in Salida, then in a 1908 farm house between Monte Vista and Del Norte.
Currently in El Rito, NM but we'll eventually end up back in Del Norte. As much as we love NM (my native state) there is no place on earth like the San Luis Valley. Mt. Blanca and the peaks above Del Norte got a heavy dusting of snow this morning.

Are you bringing the 100? There's a published back roads route tour thing into the mountains from Creede. Wheeler Geologic area for another 4x4 adventure. Summitville is a great high elevation drive. One of endless possibilities...

Otherwise, Creede is full of galleries and museums. Del Norte has funky shops and that river walk. Great museum...

The San Dunes are sublime...

It's endless...

 

[marcfj60]

Marc,
I did live in Salida, then in a 1908 farm house between Monte Vista and Del Norte.
Currently in El Rito, NM but we'll eventually end up back in Del Norte. As much as we love NM (my native state) there is no place on earth like the San Luis Valley. Mt. Blanca and the peaks above Del Norte got a heavy dusting of snow this morning.

Are you bringing the 100? There's a published back roads route tour thing into the mountains from Creede. Wheeler Geologic area for another 4x4 adventure. Summitville is a great high elevation drive. One of endless possibilities...

Otherwise, Creede is full of galleries and museums. Del Norte has funky shops and that river walk. Great museum...

The San Dunes are sublime...

It's endless...

Yes, I am bringing the 100. It's a bit underpowered and doesn't have enough transmission gears to be great for towing my 4,500 lbs Travel Trailer but it gets there eventually. And since I'm coming up 285 through Alamosa, I won't have any major passes or hills to contend with. My trip to Silverton in July was pretty rough going over Molas and Coal Bank in first gear and 20 mph. But the trailer only has to get to the RV Park in South Fork on the first day of the 1-week vacation. Then the 100 is perfectly fine going everywhere after that.

I'll be doing a bunch of scouting for fishing as well. I'm hoping to retire in ~7ish years and would really love to live somewhere that has lots of wheeling and fishing opportunities but also isn't stupid expensive like Durango/Telluride/Ouray. So this is also somewhat of a scouting trip for future retirement home, or second home in case I somehow end up richer than I was expecting to be. I'd be ok with even just finding some land and eventually building a modest cabin on it.