2013 Map of Medano Pass

About this map

Medano Pass serves as a critical geographic divide on this survey, marking the intersection where the borders of Saguache, Huerfano, and Alamosa counties converge. The landscape is dominated by the sprawling boundaries of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and the adjacent Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, while the eastern portion falls within the San Isabel National Forest. High peaks like Mount Herard and Mount Zwischen anchor the high-elevation terrain, overlooking a network of drainages such as Medano Creek and the seasonally varying Dry Lake. Human management of this arid environment is evident through features like the Hudson Ditch, Medano Ditch, and McKinley Clay Reservoir. Deeply incised drainages including Big South Canyon, Horse Canyon, and Poison Canyon illustrate the complex erosion patterns characteristic of the Sangre de Cristo Range's western slopes.