Liberty Gate Trail

From Liberty Gate Trailhead, south of the town of Crestone on the north side of the national park, it is a 7 mile hike just to reach the lower part of Sand Creek where it flows around the dunefield. From there, you can add a 4-mile loop before retuning to the Trailhead. There is also an option to extend your hike an additional 10 miles up the Sand Creek drainage to reach either of the Sand Creek Lakes, with 3,500 ft. elevation gain.  The Sand Creek Trail crosses Sand Creek a few times as it ascends the drainage; in years of average to high streamflow, Sand Creek makes the trail uncrossable in early summer, generally the entire month of June.