Desert & Redrock camping · Colorado
Medano Pass Road (Great Sand Dunes)
Free creekside camping below North America’s tallest dunes
SettingDesert & Redrock
StateColorado
Best seasonLate spring & fall
ReserveFree dispersed on Medano Pass Road (4WD; backcountry permit for the dunes)
A 4WD primitive road climbs from Great Sand Dunes into the Sangre de Cristos, with free dispersed sites along Medano Creek beneath the tallest sand dunes on the continent. Sled the dunes by day, camp under a wall of stars by night.
Don’t missThe dunes against the Sangre de Cristos
RVs & rigsHigh-clearance/4WD past the sand; no services
What’s here
- Star Dune & High Dune
- Medano Creek
- Sandboarding
- Dark-sky park
Reservation windows, fees, and seasonal/road closures change — confirm with the managing agency (Recreation.gov, the state park system, or the forest/BLM office) before you go, and check fire restrictions and pack-it-out rules, especially for free dispersed sites.
Build a trip around a camp like this.
Roamward turns spots like this into a real road trip on your phone — the scenic drive, the stops, and the detours, planned around the vibe you’re after. Get early access: