Lower Sand Creek Lake

Lower Sand Creek Lake is a high alpine lake in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, reached by a long hike over Music Pass. From Music Pass Trailhead, the lower lake is an 8-mile round trip with 2,000 feet of elevation gain. High-clearance 4WD reaches the trailhead; a 2WD vehicle must stop 2.5 miles lower each way, adding five miles to the hike. This is a full-day outing, not a quick stop.

The route climbs steeply for about a mile to treeline at Music Pass, where the view opens into Upper Sand Creek basin, then continues into the high basin toward the lakes. The trail beyond the pass is steep and rocky, so this is a demanding backcountry hike and isn't wheelchair-suitable. The pass itself is a worthwhile place to turn around if the longer walk isn't for you.

Snow can block the approach from November into June, with drifts often lasting through June in an average snow year. Summer and fall are the practical seasons without snowshoes and avalanche gear. Mid-summer brings green grass and flowers, with snowfields still tracing the peaks.

Conifers line the shore below steep gray mountain walls, and the water can reflect the trees and snow patches. At the water's edge, include a band of shoreline pines in the frame to give the open reflection some depth. This alpine watershed is part of the mountain country that feeds the dunes below.

Many hikers backpack to the lakes. Marked campsites sit back from the water, and no reservation is needed to camp in the preserve. Treat it as a self-sufficient backcountry outing; the campsites are set back from the water. Dogs are allowed in the preserve on leash.