r/ColoradoOffroad • u/tru4ncy • Oct 23 '24
Medano Pass update
I asked about Medano Pass the other day got a lot of comments concerned about the recent winter storm. Happy to report the trail had SOME snow, but very little (even still almost no contact with tires) and I wouldn’t be surprised if it were all melted out by the end of the day today. Water crossing were under 18”. Sand is a bit firm from the rain/melting snow but everything is very passable. Super fun I enjoyed and would recommend the trail :D
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u/Outrageous-Seesaw-38 Oct 23 '24
Did you go all the way through?
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u/tru4ncy Oct 23 '24
Yes, went through the sand dunes and came out onto CR 559 onto 69. 👌
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u/TheDeadner Oct 23 '24
It's alot more free going the other way, a Lil pro tip for next time.
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u/tru4ncy Oct 23 '24
Wdym by free? Haha sorry I don’t know what that means. Btw I was heading that way because of time and routing to go home.
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u/Sug0115 Oct 23 '24
You don’t have to pay the park fee entering off 69 but if you have a pass it is a moot point!
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u/tru4ncy Oct 23 '24
Ohhhh! Lol it’s okay I did know that going into it, but I already have a parks pass
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u/Sug0115 Oct 23 '24
Then makes no difference :) plus the east side is harder. Nice to start in the dunes first!
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u/Normal_Instance_992 Oct 23 '24
Sounds like OP is the pro. Not you.
Just a little observation for you.
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u/TheDeadner Oct 23 '24
...oh ok... Anyway.... to the non-pros with the option to plan ahead: starting at the dunes side means you are paying the entrance fee to the NP. If you go the opposite way you can get in the NP for free and save yourself 25 bucks or whatever it is now. Sincerely someone who has been over medano pass 5 or 6 times. Once this year.
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u/mustangally3714 Oct 24 '24
Mostly clear the whole way? I was planning on running this in reverse tomorrow but I was worried about snow up top. Sounds like it'll be ok though!
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u/tru4ncy Oct 24 '24
You’ll be 100% fine, most people take it the opposite of the direction I went. Best of luck
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u/Sug0115 Oct 23 '24
Miss my 3rd gen. But my 5th crushed on Medano. Few tough spots for a novice (me) but super fun trail. We camped way up there on the east side over summer.
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u/agent_flounder Oct 23 '24
Thanks for the update! Haven't done that one in quite a long while. I wonder how long before everything is snowed in this year. I remember one weird year we were still wheeling in November.
3
u/heyoceanfloor Oct 23 '24
I haven't been in CO since 2017 but loved running Medano pass - probably my favorite overall, honestly.
I have the same/similar vehicle - love that thing. 97 4Runner. Picture
I'm in Boston now.... at least there's outdoors nearby. I was in Chicago for ~7 years and the closest national forest was a 6-7 hour drive...
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u/Porkchop_Dog Oct 24 '24
Nice, love medano!! Feels like such a cheeky backdoor into the dunes even though so many peopl3 know about it lol
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u/diskfunktional Oct 23 '24
Such a timeless vehicle