Medano Pass Towing a Trailer

[Cymon]

Has anyone on here done Medano Pass towing a trailer?

The family and I are planning our Summer trip and one of the stops is Great Sand Dunes NP. I would love to enter the park from the East over Medano Pass to get to our campsite at Piñon Flats at the park. This will be towards the end of July so I think the water levels should be low enough.

The trailer in tow is a 15’ Taxa Cricket. We will be traveling from Florida so no chance of scouting before although I’ve watched several YouTube videos (I know... :doh: ) of people doing the trail and it looks doable. We have taken it on some of the green and blue trails (Class I - Class II+) in Moab and Southwest Utah last summer without incident. It’s upgraded to a lock n’ roll hitch and has 12” of clearance at the lowest point. My main concern is departure and breakover angle as the trailer is almost the exact same dimensions as the 4Runner (Length and Width).

Any information, help or advice is appreciated!

Here are some pics of the trailer in question.

 

[JLTD]

Very neat Park.

I've driven part of that road from the dune side, to maybe 1/4 mile north of Castle Creek. It is narrow and rough with tight turns and was getting worse as we went north. There are also several deep soft sandy sections.

I don't know that I would try it with your trailer. Maybe make a day trip from the camp site, sans trailer.

Might want to put in a call to the Park Ranger.

Hope that helps~~

 

[Boort]

[MENTION=120701]Cymon[/MENTION]

A number of sections of the primitive road got washed out in 2019 summer. Last I heard (June/July-ish 2020) the pass was open but in much rougher shape than previous years. There were a few videos posted from folks that got stranded. Here is a link to one of them to give you an idea of the damage.

Off-roading goes wrong at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve on Medano Pass Primitive Road - YouTube

Boort

 

[Cymon]

[MENTION=120701]Cymon[/MENTION]

A number of sections of the primitive road got washed out in 2019 summer. Last I heard (June/July-ish 2020) the pass was open but in much rougher shape than previous years. There were a few videos posted from folks that got stranded. Here is a link to one of them to give you an idea of the damage.

Off-roading goes wrong at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve on Medano Pass Primitive Road - YouTube

Boort

Thanks for the info. I saw that video and their blog about it. I did see a video of a group pulling Opus Trailers through it during the summer of 2020 but they are a little more off-road oriented than our current trailer.

 

[MAST4R]

Don't forget you will want to be able to execute a 180 wherever you go with a trailer. You never know what you may face.

I agree with what said above: it is not worth it even if technically possible.

 

[Oldmanb777]

I have not been there in several years. Doable, not advisable. Just the traffic alone will make it difficult. every time you run into another vehicle, will make it abusive , if not to you then to others. Last tiem I was on my ADVenture bike with my camping gear. The sand was dry and deep, and hard to negotiate on the bike. I think it would also be difficult with the trailer.