Upper and Lower Sand Creek Lakes Hike

Upper and Lower Sand Creek Lakes is a 9.9-mile branched out-and-back from Music Pass Trailhead. Climb to Music Pass, drop into the Sand Creek basin, take the Upper Lake branch first, return to its fork, then visit Lower Lake before retracing the approach. Budget about 6–7 hours on foot; this is a hard, high-country day with roughly 2,400 feet of cumulative climbing, not a quick lake stroll. It’s a good choice if you want two alpine lakes and a dramatic pass in one outing. If that sounds like too much, choose one lake branch and leave the other for another day.

The trail climbs steeply for about a mile from the upper trailhead to Music Pass at treeline. The first stretch is forested; the view opens near the crest, where a rocky outcrop looks down into the Sand Creek basin. Take a moment there: it’s a rewarding view before the route drops steeply onto loose ground. That descent becomes a climb on the return, so expect the pass to feel harder on the way out. The line crosses into the Great Sand Dunes National Preserve’s high country, well beyond the dune-field walks most visitors come for.

Visit Upper Sand Creek Lake first, then retrace the path to the fork before heading to Lower Lake. The upper branch climbs into a mountain bowl below Music Mountain, Milwaukee Peak and Marble Mountain; the lake sits near 11,700 feet. From its shore, turn back rather than trying to cut across the basin to the other lake. The lower branch crosses Sand Creek and climbs to the smaller lake beneath a steep mountain wall. The crossing and the approach make Lower Lake feel like a separate destination, not a quick add-on from the upper shore.

From Highway 69 south of Westcliffe, follow the Music Pass signs and turn left at the T onto South Colony Road. The upper trailhead is another 2.5 miles up Music Pass Road and requires a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle. If you’re in a two-wheel-drive car, park where the Rainbow Trail crosses Music Pass Road; the walk from there adds 2.5 miles each way, making this roughly a 14.9-mile outing rather than the 9.9 miles above. Keep dogs leashed in the preserve.

A backpacking trip can break up the long day. Marked backcountry campsites sit back from the lakes, and camping in the preserve does not require a backcountry permit. Keep the lake shore itself clear and use the designated sites.