Great Sand Dunes - 4x4 on Medano Pass 

I've driven Medano pass and been to the sand dunes since the early 70's. You used to be able to drive on the dunes😊. Had many picnics there. The trail to the lake and the Sangre De Cristo wilderness had not yet been declared. We used to camp right by the trailhead. Hiked to the lake many times. Sometimes in 5 ft of snow😂. I always wanted to hike the peak to see the dunes. You are a BOSS! Thank you for doing it and giving an old man a view of what may never be possible for me.👍

Did this hike a few weeks ago, definitely some of the first people to hike it this season. The road, as of late June, was definitely a moderately challenging one for a full size rig (F150). We didn't summit but there were a TON of down trees, bunch of big cat scat and very, very fresh tracks. Mosquitos were brutal...but we crushed it with our 10 and 8 year old!

Great trip and hike the video was amazing

Nice views from the mountain ridges. A little scary at times. I found the sand dunes were interesting. I didn't know that they were not only in the desert. The fall colours were beautiful. Thank you for taking me along.

That was a great trip you took us on. Thanks.

Absolutely beautiful, we live in Colorado. Been to Great Sand Dunes numerous times but not up the trail. Thanks so much for sharing.

I just found your channel as a result of your flood coverage and I’m hooked! I appreciate your enthusiasm, knowledge and skills. Thank you!

Great video, thank you for sharing. You were not too far from my old stomping grounds. For some reason I always went west to explore. Good to see what is east.

Seen a lot of rigs, but nor a collapsible truck camper; can you tell us more about it!! Thank you for sharing the journey!! Gorgeous!!

Wow, what an incredible hike to the top of Mount Herard. Great video.

Love the Dunes. Drove some of this road a couple of years ago. Great access to the dunes and creek from the road.

Wow. What a Great video. Love it very much. So glad I found you on RU-vid. Very good job on making this video and taking us along. Thanks do sharing.

I've been to Great Sand Dunes several times, love to hike the dunes at sunrise and have the place almost to myself.The Gator Farm and UFO Watchtower aren't too far away, both worth a stop if you're into roadside attractions. Nice footage of the fall colors...September/October is definitely a great time to be up in the Rockies. Thanks for taking us along on your scramble to the peak!

Love the colors, the views and the hat!

What a masterpiece God made ❣️

Such a great video, it could have lasted 2 more hours and I would have still been entertained. Such an inspiration. Thank you!

Beautiful views! Thanks for sharing this with us 👍

Excellent adventure and video. It's a lot of work capturing all the hiking and driving views but it gives us a complete experience of the area. The area is one of my favorite places in the country - last time I was there we climbed Creston Peak and Creston Needle. Going over the needle was something I'll never forget. Great work - thanks for sharing.

I had fun watching your adventure! It’s like going somewhere and very informative. Thanks!

thx Park Junkie 👏🏻🧡

This is the best place in the country to live,!!

Greatly enjoyed your adventures, but wincing as you traversed the top of that rocky ridge. You must have no fear of heights!

Oh wow, just beautiful. 💓

We hiked to the top of High Dune a couple years ago. It was great...but wow...tough hike! Hiking uphill in sand isn't fun. Only a few people made it all the way up.

Thank you for sharing, looking at hitting this place soon.

Awesome vidoe! Les Stroud vibes!

This was good. Thanks. We're beginner 4wd and I hope this one is ok. It looked ok even for beginners as long as you take your time and use common sense.

One of my favorite parks for photography. Hike west pre-dawn to get away from all the footprints.

I’m really enjoying your vlogs as I can’t travel so it’s like being there and seeing these great parks! Your truck (Frank) is awesome!! Thanks for sharing!!!

thankyou for sharing ...y'ol wiry Mt goat ...amazing!!!

stumbled across this video as I plan some trips this summer, hoping to get to Medano Pass and do the hike you did. And just wanna mention what an excellent video you made! your details and knowledge of the terrain made this a very informational and entertaining video. thanks for what you do, keep up the great work!

Wow, that is beautiful! going to plan a trip there out of Denver soon. Been by there on the way to Durango but never stopped.

Now we want to go!!

Been on that trail many times. It is a fun trail. There are some tight spots too.

A fantastic video - you are a great videographer. I love the shots you get of Frank cruising through the water and roads and of you hiking. That sure adds extra work for you but just so you know, it's appreciated. I never would have known about the preserve part of the park, I always assumed it was just dunes so thank you for informing me :)

风景太美了！虽然听不懂，一点也不影响这么棒的视频！👍👍👍

I wanted to see a video on the Medano Pass and whether or not I'd be able to drive it in a F150 Crew cab, not sure if that's possible or not but man, I had a great time watching the video, it was excellent!

Great video. I got tired just watching you hike up the trails, lol... I was on a road trip in 1997. Got on US-160 at Walsenburg at I-25 in Colorado, and followed it all the way to US-89 in Arizona. (Grand Canyon.) It was my second major road-trip, and on a whim, decided to stop in at Great Sand Dunes National Monument. (It was a National Monument back then.) It wasn't on my itinerary at the time. It was... impressive. I'd been around the sand dunes on the East side of Lake Michigan, but they're nothing like the ones here. Unfortunately, I needed to be in Durango that night, so only spent a couple of hours, long enough to play in the sand and to find out the Dunes are haunted, lol. I don't think they're haunted, just a good place for alien ships to land and not be seen. The low end of the park is still like 7,500 feet ASL, so I don't think I'd be doing anything strenuous, anyway. Hiking at 13K would probably kill me. Sand is pretty fine, since it's all air borne from the San Luis desert, but it's not as bad as say, Pink Coral in Utah. This place is definitely worth a stop...

Oh a old video, wondered how you got from Yellowstone here so quick. 🤣😎

That was fantastic. The day two Aspen strewn double track heading up Medano Pass was pure Colorado. And that shot of the reflection in the creek crossing that you (hiked across to set up?) captured was super pretty. Ridgeline looked hella sketchy! Fall here (we're in Boulder) is coming soon. Such a perfect season to be out and about.

Wow, that was great one, I really enjoy your channel so much and the amount of work put in to make these vids, Junkie can you tell me the make of camper on the truck, that is one nice rig you have there ! Thanks

I want to do this for years

Great report, beautiful sights! But I'm way too old to be trying to get somewhere at the glacial pace you have to travel on those NP Access dirt roads!

One of your most dramatic videos to date. I was hyperventilating as you ascended Mt. Herard! Love your introspective soliloquy after you descended Herard. Thanks for all you do. btw, what brand of shoes do you wear?

Great video! My wife and I visit in September and are hoping to hike to the lake. Are you aware of any transportation services or tour providers that would get us to & from the trailhead?

Great video, thanks for your effort to get to the summit of Mount Herard (looked a little harry in spots) to get the GREAT pics and views. How much extra time is added to your average video when you walk/hike back and forth to set up your camera for the hiking trail shots, I would think it adds at least 40 to 50 % . Thanks again

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I’m planing a trip to include Great Sand Dunes NP. I have a Subaru Crosstrek; however, I saw it says 4WD only. Are there other trails to see the sand dunes that my car would be able to make it successfully? Lol I love an adventure but I am not interested in getting an expensive tow. 😊 Thank you for your guidance! Happy hiking!

What did you do before all this? Now I want an AMA.

Have you ever done Red Cone here in Colo?

Oh you left Yosemite!? Oh, you say early October, so this was a previous trip

How does that pop up operate? Manually or on battery?

Awful chemtrails remnants at 21:17 Really loved watching, ty

I live close to there.

I'm just down the road. Blanca co