Sand Ramp Trail
A long, lightly used path that takes hikers around the foot of the dunes and towards the Sangre de Cristo mountains.
Plan Around Sand Ramp Trail
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Sand Ramp Trail Details
The Sand Ramp Trail is an 11-mile hike over mainly level ground, staying just inside the lower edge of the woods before crossing over sand and grass flats. Expect to see the rising dunes above as you follow Medano Creek toward the west. Hikers rarely hike the entire trail, partially because the first few miles parallel the Medano Pass Road and also because the surrounding scenery is not super interesting. It does offer access to a few primitive camping sites, however, making this a good choice for an easy backpacking trip. You can also choose to hike the Dunes Overlook Trail, which spurs off in the first half-mile of the Sand Ramp Trail. The Sand Ramp Trail is not obviously marked, but the trailhead is located in the Pinon Flats Campground in a small parking area in the upper section of Loop B. If there's no parking available here head to the overflow lot, which is a quarter-mile away.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
11 miles
Estimated time
All day
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Sand Ramp Trail
Compare nearby parks around Sand Ramp Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Sand Ramp Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Sand Ramp Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Sand Ramp Trailhead
The Sand Ramp Trailhead is unmarked but located next to a small parking lot in loop B of the Pinon Flats Campground.
0.2 mi away
Pinyon Flats Campground
Campsites are $20 each and come with a picnic table and fire grate.
0.3 mi away
Amphitheater
The park amphitheater hosts free ranger programs in the summer.
0.3 mi away
Medano Pass Primitive Road
A rough 22-mile road to the top of Medano Pass.
0.3 mi away
Buck Creek
A backcountry campsite located a half-mile from Pinon Flats Campground.
