Medano Creek

Medano Creek is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages. On this page you'll find a short video, current creek conditions, forecast flow for the season, and what to expect month-by-month in an average year.

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 2017

Also available to watch on YouTube:

 

In January 2023, Medano Creek's bed is dry at the main Dunes Parking Area, but covered in a shallow layer of snow.

NPS Photo

Current and Forecast Conditions

as of January 23, 2023

Refresh this page for the latest information

Current Conditions

Medano Creek's bed is dry at the Dunes Parking Area, and intermittently snow-covered. The creek is frozen on the eastern side of the dunefield, at Sand Pit and Castle Creek Picnic Areas, accessible with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle on the Medano Pass Primitive Road.

Forecast Flow for the 2023 Season

To estimate Medano Creek's depth and duration for the season, park staff monitors snowpack in the watershed of the creek, including Medano Pass and lower elevations including the visitor center. 100% of average snowpack at the end of the snow season would mean the creek will have average depth and duration. See 'Medano Creek Conditions to Expect Each Month in an Average Season' below for a breakdown of what to expect in an average year.

Current snowpack is 61% of average for January 23, but it's early in the season. The majority of annual snowfall occurs in March and April, so final snowpack totals won't be known until then.

 

Click on the chart image for up-to-the-minute flow in Medano Creek.

NRCS

Check Up-To-The-Minute Flow

See the current flow and trend of Medano Creek as a graph.
(Available spring through fall). The creek's flow on this graph is measured where it emerges from the forest and first enters the dunefield, not where it spreads out across the sand 5 miles downstream. This measurement gives an indication of the current flow relative to average peak flow. Peak flow in an average year is 40 cubic feet per second (cfs), typically occurring in late May or early June. When flow drops below 4 cfs, Medano Creek does not usually reach the Dunes Parking Area.

 

Medano Creek Conditions to Expect Each Month in an Average Season

Below are typical creek conditions for each month of a season with average snowpack and temperatures. Less or more snowpack will affect the depth and duration of the creek. See also overall conditions to expect at Great Sand Dunes each month of the year.

While April is the second snowiest month of the year on average, there can also be warmer, sunny days that begin to melt the snowpack. Medano Creek usually arrives at the Dunes Parking Area sometime in April, at first just a trickle. By the end of April, it may be a few inches/cm deep with minimal surge flow.

Flow increases through May, and late May is near the peak of Medano Creek's annual flow. While it is still springtime and winds may arise, especially in the afternoon, May temperatures are generally moderate, with highs in the 60s-70s F. However, snow is still possible at this elevation in May! Trees and bushes along the creek leaf out. There are some "no-see-ums" (tiny biting gnats), but mosquitoes are rarely out in May. Late May and early June are the best opportunity to experience ‘surge flow’, where waves flow down across the sand. In average or wetter years, surge flow waves are high enough for children to float down limited distances on flat inflatable toys. Water comes out of the mountains cold, but warms up significantly when the sun shines on it for a few hours as it spreads across the sand. Because of the creek's popularity, late May and early June weekends are extremely crowded, with long lines of traffic, overflowing parking lots, a crowded beach, and full campgrounds. If possible, plan your visit on a weekday this time of year.

June brings warmer temperatures for water play and generally pleasant conditions the first week of June. Late May and early June are the best opportunity to experience "surge flow", where waves flow down across the sand. In average or wetter years, surge flow waves are high enough for children to float down limited distances on flat inflatable toys. As the creek becomes much lower and warmer around mid-June, mosquitoes may emerge in large numbers. Move away from vegetation, to the far side of the creek to avoid the worst of the mosquitoes: they don't like open sand, but prefer to be near shady bushes and trees. By late June, the water level will be fairly low, only 1 or 2 inches (1-5cm) or may even be drying up. Because of the creek's popularity, late May and early June weekends are extremely crowded, with long lines of traffic, overflowing parking lots, a crowded beach, and full campgrounds. If possible, plan your visit on a weekday this time of year.

In July, unless there are significant ongoing rains, the creek will be retreating back toward the mountains and will be dried up at the main visitor area near the Dunes Parking Lot. It may continue to gently flow at 1/2" - 1" (1-2 cm) deep 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 approximately 3 miles (5 km) up the creekbed from the Dunes Parking Lot, or approximately 0.7 miles (1km) from the Point of No Return parking area. Mosquitoes are typically still present in large numbers as long as there is low, warm water in the first half 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.

In August and September, the creek is still completely gone from the main visitor area near the Dunes Parking Lot. If dry conditions continue, it might not even flow 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 late summer by hiking approximately 2 miles (3.5 km) up the creekbed from the Dunes Parking Lot, or 0.7 miles (1km) from the Point of No Return parking area. Mosquitoes are gone in late summer and fall.

 

Family Splashing in Waves

NPS/Patrick Myers

Weather and Conditions to Expect

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.

 

Medano Creek can be a refreshing experience!

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.

 

Two skimboarders try their sport on Medano Creek.

Photo courtesy Nathan Salley. Used by permission.

Medano Creek Activities

Depending on water level, visitors may do any non-motorized and non-mechanized activities in the creek, including splashing, surfing, wading, skimboarding, floating (works only in small raft or tube 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.