Dunes Overlook Trail
A short hike with vast views of the dunes.
Plan Around Dunes Overlook Trail
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Dunes Overlook Trail Details
Access the Dunes Overlook Trail via the Sand Ramp Trail. You'll cross open, bushy ground and woodlands before passing the Buck Creek campsite and, shortly thereafter, the junction for the Dunes Overlook Trail. Expect to climb about 450 feet in a little over a half-mile. Once at the overlook, the best views are to the north, peeking out over the trees. The Dunes Overlook helps you grasp just how large the dunes really are. It becomes immediately clear that the first row of dunes, which look huge from below, are really just the smaller counterparts to their fellows deeper in the dune field. The Dunes Overlook Trail is a great option for windy days, since it is sheltered and you can enjoy the views of the dunes without being blasted by sand.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
4 miles
Estimated time
2 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Dunes Overlook Trail
Compare nearby parks around Dunes Overlook Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Dunes Overlook Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Dunes Overlook Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.1 mi away
Buck Creek
A backcountry campsite located a half-mile from Pinon Flats Campground.
0.1 mi away
Dunes Overlook
Take a trail off Medano Pass Road for great views of the dune field.
0.3 mi away
Point of No Return
A backcountry trailhead that's also the beginning of the 4WD portion of the Medano Pass Road.
0.4 mi away
Sand Pit Trail
A half-mile spur trail off the Point of No Return, with great views and picnic tables.
0.4 mi away
Sand Ramp Trail
A long, lightly used path that takes hikers around the foot of the dunes and towards the Sangre de Cristo mountains.
