Great Sand Dunes and the Spanish Peaks

As the first snows dust the Front Range with the promise of winter, we bid farewell to the summer hiking season. Trekking in the chilly air has its own charm to be certain, but if you still hanker for one more summer-style weekend, head south to the impressive Spanish Peaks and Great Sand Dunes National Park. Besides jaw-dropping scenery courtesy of the Sangre De Cristo peaks, the unique geography is accented by the soaring dunes. Bring your cameras get ready to roam — starting with the Spanish Peaks.

West Spanish Peak

The
twin Spanish Peaks cut an impressive profile over the farmland below.
Unlike the Front Range where mountains slowly rise from glaciated
foothills to massive domed summits, the Spanish Peaks rise like a
enormous fortress, giving the illusion they are considerably higher than
their mid-13,000foot elevations. Far enough away from the metro area to
feel remote but close enough for a modest drive (2.5 to 3 hours from
the Boulder area), the Spanish Peaks are something of a local secret.
This micro-range consists of two main peaks, the lower East Spanish Peak
at 12,683 feet and big brother West Spanish Peak, which tops out at
13,626 feet. What makes this duo so unique is their volcanic heritage in
a region that is mostly shaped by plate tectonics.

Of
the two, West Spanish is the more popular hike, particularly because of
the stunning 360-degree views from the summit. The standard trailhead
begins from Cordova Pass, which splits off of Colorado Route 12. CO 12
begins roughly seven miles from Walsenburg and travels 22 miles past the
small town of La Veta and the dormant Cucharas ski area before
intersecting with Cordova Pass. From here, it is six miles up a
well-maintained dirt road to the top of the pass where the trail starts.
A small campground with a half-dozen car camping sites is available for
$6 a night, but there are no water sources, so be sure to bring enough
for your camping and the hike. A modest $4 fee gets you into the Spanish
Peaks wilderness area. While the road is not plowed, the pass is
typically open until November due to the warmer southern Colorado
climate.

The hike
to the top of West Spanish is a modest 3.3 climb on a class 2 trail,
though there are a few steep sections near the summit. The hard granite
walls of the Spanish dykes were formed deep within the earth and pushed
to surface when tectonic plates shifted. Their symmetry is incredible to
behold from the lofty perch of West Spanish Peak. If you’re considering
a traverse over to East Spanish Peak, be prepared for a long day. It’s
five miles summit to summit, so round trip out and back is 16.6 miles —
certainly doable for strong hikers, but still an all-day effort. It’s
only 6.6 miles round trip if you only ascend West Spanish Peak.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

A bit more low-key but
no less incredible is Great Sand Dunes National Park. Enormous dunes,
some more than 700 feet high, sit at the foot of the Sangre De Cristo’s
flagship massif, the Blanca formation (which includes three of the
states famous 14ers — Mount Blanca, Ellingwood Point and Little Bear
Peak). Roaming the undulating hills offers a snapshot of desert terrain,
minus the expansive, barren stretches of larger deserts. These dunes
were formed from strong winds blowing across the flat lands to the west
and depositing the soil at the bottom of the mountains. Unlike so many
other natural formations, the dunes are actually growing with each year
rather than eroding.

The
main park entrance is located 35 miles from Alamosa, and there is
camping available in the area. A $3-per-person fee gets you into the
park, and if you’d like to camp, call ahead for reservations and
availability (www.nps.gov/grsa, or call 1-888- 448-1474). When combined
with the hiking adventure of West Spanish Peak (which is roughly an
hour’s drive away), the Great Sand Dunes provide a wonderful contrast in
eco-systems from the high peaks. This pocket of unique geography makes
for a great adventure anytime of the year but is especially good for
those hoping to squeeze in one more ice-free outing.

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