PathQuest

Crestone Needle

Location: Saguache County, CO, US

Elevation: 14,195 feet

0 recorded summits

Current Conditions

Weather: Clear sky

Temperature: 25°F

Wind: 21 mph

Humidity: 53%

7-Day Summit Window

Best day: 2026-05-24 (score: 95/100)

  • 2026-05-22: Marginal (55/100) - Clear skies, strong winds, cold
  • 2026-05-23: Good (80/100) - Clear skies, breezy, cool
  • 2026-05-24: Excellent (95/100) - Clear skies, calm winds
  • 2026-05-25: Good (80/100) - Partly cloudy, calm winds, cool
  • 2026-05-26: Marginal (52/100) - Precipitation likely, breezy, cool
  • 2026-05-27: Excellent (85/100) - Clear skies, calm winds, cool
  • 2026-05-28: Excellent (85/100) - Clear skies, calm winds, cool

Avalanche Forecast - CAIC zone

  • Alpine: Low
  • Treeline: Low
  • Below Treeline: Low

<p>Most slopes are safe from avalanches. Even a small pocket of unstable snow can be enough to knock you off your feet and take you for a ride. Watch for drifted areas on protected high alpine slopes or the snow surface becoming wet and unconsolidated. If you observer these things avoid very steep slopes especially in high consequence terrain.</p><p>With each warming period over the last month we have seen an uptick in avalanche activity and this weekend looks to be another one of those periods. Avalanches are expected to be isolated but remember LOW (1 of 5) danger does not mean no danger. </p>

Air Quality

AQI: 14 (Good)

Snow Conditions

Trend: stable

  • South Colony: 0" depth, 0.3" SWE
  • Medano Pass: 0" depth, 0" SWE
  • Ute Creek: 2" depth, 0.1" SWE

Stream Flow

  • NORTH CRESTONE CREEK AT BACA NWR NEAR CRESTONE, CO: unknown

Trail Alerts (5)

  • Medano Pass Road OPEN for Season: Medano Pass Road is now fully open for the 2026 season.
  • Air Compressor at Amphitheater Parking Area OPEN for Season: The air compressor and tire filling station at the Amphitheater Parking Area is OPEN for the Season. It is still recommended that vehicle operators using the Medano Pass Primitive 4WD Road be prepared with their own portable air compressor before deflating tires in the area.
  • Speed Limits are Much Lower Inside Park than Surrounding Highways: Speed limits for the park include 30 MPH near the park boundary and Great Sand Dunes Sign, and as low as 10 MPH near the Headquarters and Entrance Station. Speed limits are in place to protect park visitors, pedestrians, and wildlife in the park. Please drive carefully and responsibly.
  • Sand Board and Sand Sled Rentals Not Available In Park.: Sand boarding and sand sled rentals are located in local communities surrounding the park. Visitors are encouraged to arrange rentals BEFORE coming to the park.
  • Piñon Flats Campground, sites can be reserved 3 months in advance for 2026: Due to the need for improvements in Piñon Flats Campground, sites can be reserved 3 months in advance beginning in 2026.

Public Lands

Part of 2 Challenges