Hiking at Great Sand Dunes National Park - Sand Ramp Trail

#greatsanddunes #colorado #hikingadventures

* Hiking at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado
* Medano Pass Primitive Road
* Mental Health Update: Aging & Energy Levels

LINKS:
1. Mountain Master Off-Road Tours: https://www.mountainmasteroffroad.com
2. My brain supplements: https://brainmd.com/brain-body-power-max
3. My $5K Brain Scan at the Amen Clinic: https://youtu.be/bSBLt2NewO8

Welcome back to the Nash Potatoes Outdoor Show! Today, I'll be hiking a portion of the Sand Ramp Trail at Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado. I'll also be giving you some valuable information about the Medano Pass Primitive Road. Finally, I wanted to give you a quick update on my mental health. Specifically, I plan to briefly discuss aging and my energy level.

This video was recorded on Easter Sunday. It was quite windy with about 40 mph wind gusts. I did my best to hold the camera steady.

1. Sand Ramp Trail

Anyway, the total length of the Sand Ramp Trail varies based on where you park. If you park at the Piñon Flats Campground, your distance will be 12 miles out and 12 miles back. If you prefer, you can park at the Point of No Return. If you do, your distance will only be 11 miles out and 11 miles back.

I parked at the Pinon Flats Campground and turned around once I reached Medano Creek. As you can see, my total distance was 9.25 miles.

Because most of this hike is in the sand, be sure to allow for more time than you normally would.

2. Medano Pass Primitive Road

The first half of this trail actually runs parallel with the Medano Pass Primitive 4-Wheel Drive Road. So, let me quickly give you some information about that as well.

The Medano Pass Primitive Road is a 22-mile rough road that connects Great Sand Dunes with Colorado State Highway 69. The road is generally considered moderately challenging, with an elevation gain of about 2,000 ft.

The road is passable with high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles and doesn't require reservations. It's mostly easy, with some steep, rocky spots. The soft sandy sections may require you to air down your tires in those spots. It crosses Medano Creek nine times on your way to the summit of Medano Pass.

As of April 3, the Medano Pass Primitive Road is still CLOSED for the winter season at Castle Creek Picnic Area, which is 2.5 miles from the southern entrance. The road typically opens again for the summer season around mid-to-late May, depending on snow depth.

A scenic drive any time of the year, it is especially spectacular in late September and early October when fall colors are at peak. Creek crossings can be hazardous in the spring. For those without a 4-wheel drive vehicle, contact Mountain Master Off-Road Tours for Jeep rentals or tours. I'll put a link in the description of this video for your convenience.

Cameras used:
- GoPro 11 Mini
- Sony Handycam FDR-AX43

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ABOUT ME:
► I grew up in Kalamazoo, MI and graduated with a Marketing degree from Oakland University.
► I moved to Longmont, CO in November 2016 and fell in love with all the beautiful hiking trails that Colorado has to offer. So, in April 2012, the Nash Potatoes Outdoor Show was born.
► In November 2019, I took a 4-month camping trip in my pop-up camper. This gave me an opportunity to travel, explore, unwind, and create lots of great videos.
► In December 2020, I began recording a series of downhill skiing videos in Colorado. These quickly became popular and my passion for YouTube was re-ignited!
► I actually had so many great memories of my first camping trip that I decided to do another one. So, in April 2021, I converted a 12-foot enclosed trailer into a camper and documented the whole process.
► In June 2021, I reached 1,000 subscribers and was able to monetize my channel.
► By January 2023, I was already at 2,000 subscribers and counting!
► The Nash Potatoes Outdoor Show allows me to share all of my experiences with you. Join me on my adventure as I talk about life, laughter, exploration, and creating content for YouTube...enjoy!

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