Great Sand Dunes Hot Springs Adventure Ride

July 26-28 ’24 

3 Day Adventure Ride to the Great Sand Dunes Hot Springs and the Arkansas River. The Great Sand Dunes Loop is a spectacular 3 Day 500+ mile Adventure loop.

• That doesn’t just take you down the Highway to get there. 
• Day 1 the loop visits old  mining towns, railroad stops and takes little used dirt roads on a  circuitous route from Colorado Springs to overnight at the Sand Dunes Hot Springs.

On Day 1 there is a Challenging route over a 10k foot Medano pass, into the back of the Sand Dunes. 

Or you could ride an easier Alternate loop from Silvercliffe and avoid Medano Pass entirely. 

• Ride over Pass Creek Pass and La Veta Pass and avoid the sand all-together. 

On Day 2 ride over 4 Passes on a semi Challenging off-road loop to the Big Bend of the Arkansas River.

Or on Day 2 ride over 5 passes on a easier loop. (2 passes paved) to the river via the Highest Pass on Hwy 50. 

• The easier loop is longer and possibly more scenic.

Camping is included at the Sand Dunes Hot Springs on Friday, as is soaking or swimming at the Hot Springs pools.Glamping cabins are available at the GSD Hot Springs.  

• Saturday Camping is included at the Drift-In Bar & Grill, right on the Arkansas River.  

From Colorado Springs the Loop to the Great Sand Dunes entails:

Day 1

1. Staging in long term parking at the secure Colorado Springs Wold Arena La Quinta
2. Stagecoach road to the old Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek & Victor old railroad right-of-way.
3. Gold Camp Road to the Cripple Creek & Victor gold mine.
4. Victor Pass
5. The Old mining town of Victor
6. Phantom Canyon old railroad right-of-way
7. Canon City
8. Oak Creek Grade
9. Westcliffe & Fuel
10. Wet Mountain Valley

Challenging Loop

1. Medano Pass
2. Medano Jeep road
3. The Great Sand Dunes National Park

 Alternate Easier Loop

1. The Easier Loop that avoids the Sand and Medano Pass:
2. Goes over dirt Pass Creek Pass 
3. Paved La Veta Pass
4. To the Great Sand Dunes National Park
5. Sand Dunes Hot Springs

Day 2 Route Includes:
 

Challenging Route:

1. Town of Center & fuel
2. La Garita
3. Canero Pass
4. Sanderson Stagecoach road
5. The town of Saguache & fuel
6. Ute Pass
7. Bonanza
8. Visit the Cucomomga Mine
9. Otto Mears Toll-road
10. Silvercreek
11. Shirley Townsite
12. Mears Junction
13. Poncha Pass
14. Big Bend of the Arkansas River 

Easier & Longer Loop Day 2 Loop:

1. Town of Center & fuel
2. Canero Pass
3. La Garita
4. Sanderson Stagecoach road
5. Saguache & fuel
6. Poncha Pass
7. Mears Junction
8. Marshall Pass old railroad right-of-way
9. Sargents
10. Old Monarch Pass
11. Monarch Summit
12. Big Bend of the Arkansas River

Day 3 Route Includes:

1. River Road along the Arkansas River
2. Smeltertown Smokestack
3. Ute Trial from Salida
4. High Plains East of Salida
5. Hwy 9
6. Dirt roads west of Pikes Peak
7. Jeep road to 11 Mile Canyon
8. 11 Mile Canyon old railroad right-of-way
9. South Platte River
10. Dirt Back roads from Florissant
11. Hwy 24 old railroad right-of-way
12. The town of Divide
13. Woodland Park old railroad right-of-way
14. Rampart Range Road
15. Garden of the Gods or Pikes Peak
16. (Your Choice if you want to Ride Up Pikes Peak)
17. Cheyenne Canyon old railroad right-of-way

See this Link for more Descriptions and photos:

https://advtours.com/gsd-hot-springs-more-info/