With the arrival of Memorial Day weekend, many outdoor enthusiasts look forward to splashing through Medano Creek at the base of Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes. But this year, nature has other plans. According to the National Park Service, 2025’s creek flows are significantly below average—running at just half their typical volume for late May.
Normally, Medano Creek reaches its peak around this time, drawing crowds of families, hikers, and photographers eager to experience its unique surge-like flow. But this spring, the creek’s performance is underwhelming. As of May 8, flows topped out at just 6 cubic feet per second (CFS), with forecasts predicting a maximum of only 10 CFS through June—far short of the 20 CFS historical average.
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What’s Behind the Low Flows?
Medano Creek is powered entirely by melting snowpack from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Unfortunately, the snowpack this year was less than one-third of average, resulting in limited runoff. This means the creek is shallower, narrower, and less dynamic than usual. In fact, the National Park Service warns that it may dry up completely by mid-June.
This year’s shallow water—reported to be less than an inch deep in places near the trailhead—has serious implications for recreation. Typically, visitors can float small tubes or skimboard across the flowing water. This season, those activities aren’t recommended or even feasible.
Planning a Visit This Season?
While the creek might not be at its peak, Great Sand Dunes National Park still offers a spectacular landscape to explore. Hikers can trek high into the dune field, and star-gazers will still find dark skies worth the trip. But it’s important to adjust your expectations for Medano Creek:
Don’t plan on floating or skimboarding this year.
Expect warmer conditions and earlier mosquito activity.
Prepare for dry sand where water often flows in June.
We also encourage visitors to continue following Leave No Trace principles, especially in fragile streamside environments where low water can increase the risk of lasting human impact.
To learn more, check out the full report by CPR’s Andrea Chalfin: Medano Creek Flow at Great Sand Dunes Is Half of Normal.
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