Alamosa County Colorado Hiking Trails
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Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
The 4 to 6 mile Sand Creek Lakes Trail has an elevation change of
2,000'. This spectacular area is accessed from Music Pass on the east
side of the Sangre de Cristo range. Driving time to the Music Pass
trailhead from the national park visitor center is about 3 hours. From
Music Pass, the trail descends steadily into the Upper Sand Creek
drainage. Less than 1 mile from the pass, there is a trail junction;
turn right (northwest) for the lakes.
The trail south passes several nice campsites then follows the creek
downstream through very dense timber. Heading north from the junction,
the trail crosses Sand Creek, then forks again. Turn left to reach the
lower lake (.6 mile) or right to reach the upper lake (1 mile). The very
steep sided, rocky peak is Tijeras Peak (elev. 13,604’). To its right is
Music Mountain (elev. 13,355) and Milwaukee Peak (elev. 13,522).
Sand Creek Lakes Trail is available for
hiking and horseback riding.
Directions:
Great Sand Dunes National Monument is located 35 miles northeast of
Alamosa, Colorado, reached by US Highway 160 and Colorado Highway 150 from
the south. or from Colorado Highway 17 and County Six Mile Lane from the
west.
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