Medano Lake Trail

Medano Lake Trail is an out-and-back to a small alpine lake below Mount Herard, following Medano Creek through spruce-fir forest and open meadows. The trailhead-to-lake distance is 3.7 miles each way, so plan on 7.4 miles round trip and about 2,000 feet of climbing for the complete walk. Give it five to six hours; the trail starts near 10,000 feet, so the altitude adds up as much as the mileage. This is the hike to choose if you want a long climb with a lake as the payoff. The mapped route stops at the lake. Mount Herard’s steep summit is a separate continuation beyond it, not part of this distance.

Medano Lake Trailhead is at the end of a short spur about half a mile west of Medano Pass, at road mile 10.7. From the visitor center, allow about an hour and a half on Medano Pass Primitive Road. The road is seasonal, typically opening around late May and closing by November as snow and creek levels allow. A high-clearance 4WD vehicle with a 4-low transfer case is required by law; all-wheel drive is not enough. The access road has deep sand and multiple creek crossings, and there’s no cell signal along it. The Forest Service says visitors must get a permit at the visitor center; the National Park Service’s hike guidance doesn’t list a separate day-hiking permit, so confirm the requirement before you head in. There’s no potable water at the trailhead.

From the trailhead, the path climbs at a moderate, fairly steady rate beside Medano Creek through spruce-fir forest and patches of aspen. The creek valley is shaded and greener than the exposed country around the dunes. Farther up, meadows and thinner trees open the view as you gain elevation, and the route reaches timberline in a basin below Mount Herard. Snowdrifts can linger on the upper trail into June and sometimes July. Summer storms are a real concern once you reach open ground, so start early and set a turnaround time if the weather is building.

You retrace the same creekside trail, so keep enough energy for the second 3.7 miles. The elevation is high from the start and the upper basin is exposed; the park advises an early summer start to reduce the risk of afternoon lightning, especially for hikers continuing toward Herard. The lake trail and the summit route are different outings: stop at the lake unless you have planned specifically for the much steeper Mount Herard ascent. Dogs are allowed in the Preserve on leash, and the trail stays in the Preserve, so keep them leashed throughout. Road and trail access can be limited by snow and runoff even after summer begins; check with the visitor center before committing to the long drive.