North Ridge from Medano Lake

Overview

Mount Herard, once called Mount Seven for its many summits, has a huge flat top with a big cairn and a sweeping view of the dunes and the valley below.

From the north end of Medano Lake, a cairned path climbs a bench below a rock bluff toward the Medano-Herard saddle. Then you walk south up the north ridge, steeper in the middle, on tundra and embedded rock. It is Class 2. One hiker found the steepest part near the top hard going.

The round trip is about 9.8 miles with 3,700 feet of gain. Mileage and gain are our estimates. Adding Medano Peak makes it about 11.1 miles and 4,320 feet.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

From Westcliffe, drive about 24.7 miles south on Colorado 69 (or about 9.4 miles northwest from Gardner) to the signed Medano Pass road, County Road 559, on the west side.

Head west past private Creager Reservoir. About 7.2 miles in, where several roads branch off (including Forest Road 412), stay left on Forest Road 559 for about 1.8 miles to Medano Pass. The last two miles need 4WD: steep in places, with berms and sharp switchbacks. There are camp spots near the junction and at the wooded pass.

Continue southwest through the park boundary gate for 0.6 mile, then turn right at a small sign to the trailhead, in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. There are a few campsites with fire rings and bear boxes but no facilities. The road on west to the park visitor center has sand and many creek crossings; check with the park before driving it.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Medano Lake trailhead 9,685' · 0 mi

   Wade Medano Creek right away; there's no bridge. The trail follows an old jeep track through aspen and pine.

2. 2

   Log bridge 10,120' · 1.5 mi

   Past a meadow, cross to the north side on a sturdy log bridge.

3. 3

   South-side crossing 10,915' · 2.9 mi

   The trail has been rerouted. Cross a small side stream, then the main creek on rough logs to the south side, and climb higher above the creek.

4. 4

   Second clearing 11,200' · 3.2 mi

   Four switchbacks lead past the foot of a couloir to a second clearing.

5. 5

   North-side crossing 11,400' · 3.4 mi

   Cross back to the north side and rejoin the old trail.

6. 6

   Below Medano Lake 11,600' · 3.6 mi

   The lake sits in a cliff-ringed glacial bowl.

7. 7

   Bench 12,000' · 4 mi

   From the north end of the lake, follow cairns up a sloping bench at the foot of a rock bluff, north of a stream and a big rock glacier.

8. 8

   Medano-Herard saddle 12,500' · 4.4 mi

   Continue up the basin of tundra and talus to the saddle.

9. 9

   Summit 13,347' · 4.9 mi

   Climb south about 850 feet on tundra, embedded rock and some rubble. It eases near the broad top.

Getting down

Return the same way. Or go down the northeast ridge over Point 12,925 and bushwhack through forest to meet the trail about halfway to the trailhead.

If things go wrong

The saddle leads back down to the lake.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up Mount Herard we list, with its class.

• Medano Lake and Mt Herard Peak this routeEasy Class 3 10.3 mi
• Mt. Herard North RidgeClass 2 11.1 mi