National Park · CO
17 trails · 29 places · 31 audio stories for the drive
Parkwolf’s Great Sand Dunes ranking
1SightHigh Dune on First RidgeA steep sand climb to the park’s best-known dune panorama.
2BeachMedano CreekSmall waves roll across the sand below the dunes when it runs.
3SightStar DuneA towering pyramid dune at the end of an unmarked sand hike.
4SightZapata FallsA short hike ends in a cold wade to a hidden waterfall.
5SightHidden DuneA remote high dune reached by a long, unmarked sand hike.
6SightDunes OverlookTwo wooded viewpoints frame the dunes and Mount Herald.
7SightMount HerardA steep, remote climb earns a view over the entire dune field.
8SightMedano PassA high-country crossing reached by a demanding 4WD road.
9SightMedano LakeA timberline lake after 2,000 feet of climbing from a 4WD road.Hiking
ModerateDunes Overlook Trail2 mi · 1.8 hrA short foothill climb opens onto dunes and mountain views.
ChallengingMedano Lake Trail7.4 mi · 5.5 hrCreekside forest climbs to an alpine lake beneath Mount Herard.
ChallengingUpper Sand Creek Lake Trail7.7 mi · 7.5 hrHigh alpine lake after a steep pass and loose basin descent.
ChallengingLower Sand Creek Lake Trail8 mi · 6 hrThe steep pass opens onto a high alpine lake basin.
ChallengingUpper and Lower Sand Creek Lakes Hike9.9 mi · 6.5 hrTwo lakes beyond Music Pass, with hard miles in between.
ModerateMusic Pass Trail2.2 mi · 2 hrA steep climb to a sweeping Sand Creek basin view.ModerateZapata Falls Trail1 mi · 45 minA mile round trip ends at falls tucked inside a rock cleft.
EasyMontville Nature Trail0.5 mi · 30 minA shady creek loop with dunes views and a trace of Montville.
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Great Sand Dunes Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Great Sand Dunes National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this place
Dunes Parking and Medano Creek“You're coming up on Dunes Parking, the main access to Medano Creek and the dunefield. You don't have to climb a summit to enjoy this stop.”
Plays as you drive up to High Dune on First Ridge in the Parkwolf Great Sand Dunes Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
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Wildlife
16 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
21 sightingsPronghornMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
12 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
153 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
38 sightingsRavenMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
15 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Great Sand Dunes. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.