Denver to Sand Dunes National Park

[Brandon GBO]

Looking at planning a trip next month from Denver to Sand Dunes National Park. Planning on leaving mid-afternoon on a Thursday, driving down to Cripple Creek and camping in that area and then taking the section of the Enchanted Rockies Trail south to the Sand Dunes area following the map at the link below:

GaiaGPS - S6-ERT (GSDNP to Victor)

www.gaiagps.com

We are looking for possible places to camp closer to the Sand Dunes. I'm aware of the dispersed camping on Medano Creek but doubt any of those spots will be available on Friday. Any ideas or areas that we should consider?

Our tentative itinerary is below.

Thursday: Denver to Cripple Creek (Camping outside of Town)
Friday: Cripple Creek to Sand Dunes via Enchanted Rockies Trail (Looking for a place to camp, any ideas?)
Saturday: Sand Dunes National Park (Looking for a place to camp after the park)
Sunday: Head back home to Denver

Open to any feedback or recommendations.

Thank you.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

There's a good bit of camping along the trail before you enter the park and there's a large open area as you transition to the Medano Pass Rd from the dirt road access. I'll follow up with coordinates.

Be sure to check here for conditions on Medano Pass Rd:

Medano Pass Primitive Road - Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Here's the big area at the east end of Medano Pass Rd:

559 Just east of Medano Pass | Wild Camping | United States

Open area along 559 near the beginning of the Medano Pass 4wd Road. I often see camper trailers here and there is at least one fire ring in the edge of the woods. There are both open grassy areas and places to park and tent along the woods. Access from east via 2wd dirt road or 4wd Medano...

www.ioverlander.com

 

[Brandon GBO]

Here's the big area at the east end of Medano Pass Rd:

559 Just east of Medano Pass | Wild Camping | United States

Open area along 559 near the beginning of the Medano Pass 4wd Road. I often see camper trailers here and there is at least one fire ring in the edge of the woods. There are both open grassy areas and places to park and tent along the woods. Access from east via 2wd dirt road or 4wd Medano...

www.ioverlander.com

Hey Neal - Thank you for sending this. I locked down the camp site outside of Cripple Creek. The plan is to hit the Royal Gorge on our way down to Medano Pass. Do you think that there will be enough space for me to find a place to camp off of the road to Medano Pass on a Friday afternoon?

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Here's the big area at the east end of Medano Pass Rd:

559 Just east of Medano Pass | Wild Camping | United States

Open area along 559 near the beginning of the Medano Pass 4wd Road. I often see camper trailers here and there is at least one fire ring in the edge of the woods. There are both open grassy areas and places to park and tent along the woods. Access from east via 2wd dirt road or 4wd Medano...

www.ioverlander.com

Hey Neal - Thank you for sending this. I locked down the camp site outside of Cripple Creek. The plan is to hit the Royal Gorge on our way down to Medano Pass. Do you think that there will be enough space for me to find a place to camp off of the road to Medano Pass on a Friday afternoon?

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Here's the big area at the east end of Medano Pass Rd:

559 Just east of Medano Pass | Wild Camping | United States

Open area along 559 near the beginning of the Medano Pass 4wd Road. I often see camper trailers here and there is at least one fire ring in the edge of the woods. There are both open grassy areas and places to park and tent along the woods. Access from east via 2wd dirt road or 4wd Medano...

www.ioverlander.com

Hey Neal - Thank you for sending this. I locked down the camp site outside of Cripple Creek. The plan is to hit the Royal Gorge on our way down to Medano Pass. Do you think that there will be enough space for me to find a place to camp off of the road to Medano Pass on a Friday afternoon?

Most folks will grab the campsites coming from the park end of the trail. You're much more likely to find something coming in the northeast end.

You actually enter the Preserve part of the park at the top of the pass road. Everything after that are the formal dispersed sites with fire rings and bear boxes. Everything before that is informal dispersed camping.

Every time you pass an empty site it's a gamble if you'll find something later.

 

[Brandon GBO]

Most folks will grab the campsites coming from the park end of the trail. You're much more likely to find something coming in the northeast end.

You actually enter the Preserve part of the park at the top of the pass road. Everything after that are the formal dispersed sites with fire rings and bear boxes. Everything before that is informal dispersed camping.

Every time you pass an empty site it's a gamble if you'll find something later.

Incredibly helpful! The weather forecast looks like a go, so I'll start digging into the maps that you shared.

Thank you.