High Dune may not be the highest dune in the Great Sand Dunes National Park but is the most prominent for most who visit the park and it is climbed the most. From the top of High Dune at 8727 feet (693 feet tall) looking west, you can see Star Dune at 741 feet tall. Star Dune is the highest dune in the park and North America^[1]www.nps.gov/grsa/index.html.

How the Dunes form

The dunes come from sand that blows on the prevailing southwesterly winds from the San Juan Mountains 65 miles to the west. Larger granules come from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east. Thousand of years ago a large lake covered the valley floor. As the lake dried the wind blew the sand which accumulates against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Northeasterly storm winds that blow through the mountain passes shift the sand back onto itself creating the dunes^[2]Great Sand Dune Visitor’s Map.

Climbing the Dune

Climbing High Dune begins at the Dunes Parking, .9 miles from the Park’s Visitors Center. Being that the sand is in a constant state of motion, blowing this way and that, there is no trail to follow. From the parking lot make your way to Medano Creek. The creek is mostly shallow and about 50 yards wide near the parking lot. Once you cross the creek make your way across the flat sand to the base of the dunes. Follow the various ridges to make your way to the top. Do not hike in the soft sand near the top of the ridge. If you offset to one side or the other, the sand is more firm and you sink in less. This makes the climb easier.

Descending

The Descent is a little easier. You may pick a route that is more direct to the parking lot. Plan the descent to minimize having to descend below a ridge and having to ascend back up. Traversing horizontally maintains your altitude until you reach the lower part of a ridge. cross it and head towards the next ridge doing the same.