The valley has the Wet Mountains on the east; the Sangre de Cristos on the west. It's worth a drive in its own right, from Walsenburg up through Westcliffe to Texas Creek and on to Salida and Monarch Pass.
The road climbs out of the valley into Medano Pass, a relatively low crossover into the San Luis Valley. We topped out at 10,300 feet. After cresting, the road drops down into the north end of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
Mt Herard is the dominant feature while crossing the pass and dropping down into the SLV. Once into the GSD, the dunes are spectacular, with Herard as a backdrop.
The road crosses Medano Creek 8 times. This time of the year the water is fairly low and presents no real difficulties. During the spring, however, the creek flow can be sufficient that the road will be closed from time-to-time.
The San Luis Valley is a wide, high plains valley, at nearly 8000 feet MSL. It contains the headwaters of the Rio Grande River.
