Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites
The Quick Take
Medano Pass Primitive Road is the campground that Great Sand Dunes keeps behind a velvet rope of deep sand and creek crossings. These two dozen free, first-come sites are scattered along a rugged backcountry road that demands genuine four-wheel drive and high clearance -- not the kind you pretend your Subaru has. The trade-off is stark: you give up flush toilets, cell service, and any hope of a level parking pad, and in return you get free camping, bighorn sheep sightings, and the kind of silence that makes you realize how loud Pinon Flats actually is. Sites fill every summer weekend, so Friday arrivals are already late. This is the spot for experienced campers who own real recovery gear and want to earn their solitude the hard way.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 21 sites are reservable.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
4 ADA-accessible campsites. Accessible restrooms available. None Unpaved Roads - 4WD/High clearance required
Rules to Know
- Fires:- Fires only in existing fire rings; put out completely with water.
- Bear Safety:- Tents must be located within 40 feet of the front of the bear box at each site.
Pro Tips
Arrive Thursday afternoon for summer weekends -- by Friday evening all twenty-one sites will be claimed. Midweek visits in July and August are your best bet for having your pick of spots, and the sites closer to the trailheads at higher elevation tend to be more scenic and less dusty.
The road crosses Medano Creek nine times, and water levels vary dramatically by season and time of day. Snowmelt peaks in late morning and afternoon during May and June, so plan your drive in early morning when flows are lowest. Carry a tire deflation kit and air compressor -- dropping to around 20 PSI makes the deep sand sections far more manageable.
There is no firewood for sale anywhere nearby, so gather dead and downed wood along the road before you reach your site, keeping to pieces under four inches in diameter as regulations require. Bear boxes are provided at most sites, but bring extra rope or a dry bag system for anything that does not fit -- bears are active in this corridor, especially in late summer when berries ripen along the creek.
Photos
NPS Photo
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
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.
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