Medano Creek

Medano Creek near 2024 peak flow, early June. See current and forecast conditions below.

NPS/Patrick Myers

 

Duration:

1 minute, 16 seconds

This short National Park Service video reveals the creek's attraction, and explains mysterious 'surge flow'! Length: 70 seconds

Also available to watch on YouTube:

 

Medano Creek's bed is now most often dry at the main Dunes Parking Area. Thunderstorms may temporarily bring a shallow flow of water.

NPS

Current and Forecast Conditions

as of July 1, 2024

Refresh this page for the latest information.

Current Conditions

• Medano Creek's bed is now most often DRY at the Dunes Parking Lot. Thunderstorms may temporarily bring down a shallow flow of water. There is still 1-2 inches (2-5 cm) of consistent water along the eastern edge of the dunefield, near the Castle Creek Picnic Area. Castle Creek is accessible by high clearance 4WD vehicle on the Medano Pass Primitive Road.
  
  
• As water became low in mid-June, mosquitos emerged in large numbers and are still present. Stay away from vegetation to avoid the worst of them. They are especially concentrated in shady, wet areas in sunny conditions, then spread out in the evenings.
  
  
• Check park weather forecasts for environmental conditions at the creek.

Forecast Flow Each Month for the Remainder of the 2024 Season

See also overall conditions to expect at Great Sand Dunes each month of the year.

Remainder of July

• Unless there are significant ongoing rains, the creek will continue retreating back toward the mountains and will remain dry at the main visitor area near the Dunes Parking Lot. Thunderstorms may temporarily bring a shallow flow of water.
  
• The creek will continue to flow at 1-2 inches deep (2-5 cm) along the eastern edge of the dunefield, near Castle Creek Picnic Area. Castle Creek is accessible by high clearance 4WD vehicle on the Medano Pass Primitive Road. Visitors without 4WD may also access the creek in late summer by hiking 1-3 miles (3-5 km) up the creekbed from the Dunes Parking Lot, or 0.7-1.5 miles (1-2.5 km) from the Point of No Return parking area.
  
• Mosquitos are still present in large numbers the first 2-3 weeks of July, but begin to disappear as the water retreats farther back toward the mountains.
  
• July is the warmest month at the park, with average highs in the low 80s F.

August and September

• In late summer and fall, the creek is still completely gone from the main visitor area near the Dunes Parking Lot. It may continue to gently flow at at 1-2 inches deep (2-5 cm) along the eastern edge of the dunefield, near the Castle Creek Picnic Area. Castle Creek is accessible by high clearance 4WD vehicle on the Medano Pass Primitive Road. Visitors without 4WD may also access the creek in late summer by hiking 1-3 miles (3-5 km) up the creekbed from the Dunes Parking Lot, or 0.7-1.5 miles (1-2.5 km) from the Point of No Return parking area.
  
• Mosquitos are typically gone in August and September.

 

Two children sit in a wave of Medano Creek at peak flow

NPS/Patrick Myers

Weather

Weather forecasts and information for Great Sand Dunes are available on the park's weather page. Also learn what Conditions to Expect Each Month at the park.

 

In wet years, waves can be large enough at peak flow for floating.

NPS/Patrick Myers

How do you pronounce 'Medano'?

Médano is a Spanish word that means "sand dune". It is pronounced "MED-ah-no". In the original Spanish there is an accent on the é.

 

A skimboarder glides along Medano Creek, June 2024

NPS/Patrick Myers

Medano Creek Activities

Depending on water level, visitors may do any non-motorized and non-mechanized activities in the creek, including splashing, wading, skimboarding, floating (works only in small inflatable device with a child at peak runoff), sand castle building, and sand sculpting.

To protect this riparian habitat, please do not disturb living plants or animals, and keep water resources clean.