Clambering up gypsum sand dunes in White Sands National Park in New Mexico, I half anticipated to see Will Smith dragging an alien in a parachute throughout this other-worldly panorama, like a scene from Independence Day.
The white sand dune area stretches so far as you may see, assembly the darkish line of San Andres mountains on the horizon. The glistening white of the sand makes the sky appear even bluer, making a distinction that’s merely gorgeous. Visiting White Sands National Park in New Mexico was the spotlight of our latest journey to the Southwest and positively one of the crucial stunning locations in New Mexico.
Ever since I heard that you may sled down the sand dunes at White Sands National Park in Southern New Mexico, I’ve waited for the chance to go to. When I made a decision to increase our go to to Arizona with a mother-daughter highway journey to New Mexico, it was the proper alternative.
Where to Stay Near White Sands National Monument
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Since we have been driving over from Tucson, we stayed in Las Cruces, New Mexico. White Sands is about one hour from Las Cruces, an hour and a half from El Paso, Texas, and three hours from Carlsbad Caverns. (See this Carlsbad Caverns information if you wish to add on a go to.)
The smaller city of Alamogorda is close by, however I preferred the lodge choices in Las Cruces higher. We stayed on the Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces, which supplied a restaurant, pool, and a attraction that displays the realm’s Spanish and Mexican Colonial heritage.
If you’re coming down from Albuquerque, it’s a three and a half hour drive. However, you may cease in a single day in Truth or Consequences, a small city recognized for its pure scorching springs.
This is about one hour and 45 minutes from White Sands National Monument. We stayed on the Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa on the evening after we visited White Sands and actually fell in love with this property.
Featured in National Geographic Traveler as one in all ‘150 Hotels You’ll Love’, that is such a captivating and unassuming property. The service is superb, the meals is scrumptious (breakfast is included), and the decor is charming.
It is such a greater possibility than the chain accommodations/motels round and never that costly. They even have a wonderful spa and a 30-minute soak of their indoor or outside scorching tubs is included for every evening of your keep. We additionally splurged on a mother-daughter therapeutic massage after our soak and it was blissful.
What is White Sands National Park?
White Sands National Monument was named White Sands National Park in December 2019. This park is within the Tularosa Basin in Southern New Mexico. The white sands dune area covers 275 sq. miles, making it the most important gypsum dune area on this planet. The National Park preserves greater than half of this dune area.
At one level in historical historical past, this space was lined by the Permiari Sea. When that sea receded, it left deep layers of gypsum. Mountains fashioned and raised the gypsum, however the receding of the glaciers after the Ice Age dissolved the gypsum and returned it to the basin.
Over the ages, wind and water have damaged down the gypsum to create sand. A gentle southwest wind retains shaping and reshaping the dunes.
Things to Know Before Visiting White Sands National Park
1. Check Before you Go
If you’re driving from Las Cruces or Interstate 25 within the west, you have to to undergo the White Sands Missile Range. When they conduct missile assessments, the highway is definitely closed to site visitors for as much as three hours and White Sand National Park can also be closed.
Therefore it’s good to test the web site or name forward to test for closures (575-479-6124) attributable to missile assessments. For Highway 70 closure info, name the White Sands Missile Range at (575) 678-1178.
2. Be Prepared for Random Stops
Also, it’s possible you’ll encounter a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint earlier than you arrive on the Visitor Center. We truly needed to pull over and undergo two of those throughout our time in New Mexico.
We didn’t want to point out any ID or reply questions, however the automotive in entrance of us was stopped for fairly a couple of minutes with quite a lot of forwards and backwards dialogue. It is slightly disconcerting to undergo these when not crossing the border however maybe that’s extra frequent in border states and this lady from the Northeast simply isn’t conscious of it.
3. Beware of the Heat
If you’re visiting through the summer season, like we have been, be ready for the warmth. Temperatures can exceed 100°F through the day and the one shade you’ll discover is in some picnic areas. Plus the sunshine reflecting off of that white sand is highly effective. You might want to deliver a powerful sunscreen, an excellent solar hat, and polarized sun shades — plus a lot of water!
4. Know When to Visit
If you’re visiting in the summertime, or actually anytime between mid-April via mid-October, it’s best to go to White Sands National Park early or later within the day to keep away from the best warmth and solar. When we visited in June, we arrived within the morning and had an pleasant couple of hours earlier than it actually began to warmth up.
Ideally you’ll go to White Sand National Park through the cooler months and have enjoyable enjoying on the dunes all day.
5. Bring your individual Sled (for those who can)
If you’re highway tripping within the space, deliver alongside your individual sleds to avoid wasting cash. However, in case you are flying in like we have been, you should buy sleds within the reward store simply behind the customer heart.
New sleds have been $18 and used sleds (if there are any) are $10. The reward store additionally sells wax for the sleds to make them slide simpler. You can return your sled (and wax) after you’re finished and get $5 again.
6. Take Care Driving via the Park
After stopping on the Visitor Center (make sure you inquire about any Ranger Programs which may be taking place that day), you’ll drive out onto Dune Drive. There are many locations to cease alongside the eight-mile scenic drive. The highway begins out paved however then turns into packed sand so you’ll want to take your time alongside the drive.
Luckily, Dune Drive could be very straightforward to navigate so that you don’t want to fret about getting misplaced or lacking particular sights. Once you get out onto the dunes, then it’s good to listen so that you don’t get misplaced.
7. Find the Steepest Hills off Dunes Drive
There is a loop on the finish of Dune Drive and that is the place you can find the steeper dunes which are nice for sledding. Take your choose of parking heaps, however it’s possible you’ll wish to drop a pin on a mapping app or at the least pay attention to the colour of the flag flying close to the parking zone to make sure yow will discover your method again.
The steepest hills provide the quickest sledding, however search for ones that finish in a gradual slope to make sure a delicate touchdown for these inevitable wipeouts. Remember that strolling up the entrance of the dunes is hard work however definitely worth the enjoyable trip down.
Luckily, the gypsum sand compacts properly and you should have a better time for those who can stroll in another person’s footsteps. Even higher, take the great distance round and stroll up the gentler, firmer slopes to achieve the highest.
8. Give Yourself Plenty of Time
We had initially deliberate on solely spending the morning in White Sands National Park, however we quickly realized that it was not almost sufficient. We had a lot enjoyable climbing and sledding on the dunes that we each needed to remain longer.
There are quite a few picnic areas (however no water, that’s solely on the customer heart), so I might suggest arriving within the early morning and staying via lunch. Or, come within the later afternoon, have a picnic dinner after which benefit from the sundown over the dunes.
Unlike parks like Yellowstone or Grand Teton, in the future in White Sands National Park is loads of time to get pleasure from your go to. There isn’t any have to spend a number of days within the park.
9. Pack a Picnic
Since there isn’t a meals or water within the park, you have to to pack a picnic to get pleasure from a full day within the park. There are many picnic areas, some with shade, so that you can get pleasure from. However, I did see many households, particularly these with RVs, that arrange an space on the high of a dune with folding camp chairs and a pop-up cover for solar safety so they might spend loads of time hanging out whereas the youngsters went sledding.
Just keep in mind to Leave No Trace and convey a rubbish bag to hold out the whole lot that you simply pack in. I’d additionally suggest a cooler with ice and once more, heaps and plenty of water or hydrating drinks.
10. Stamp your Passport
White Sands is a part of the National Parks system and subsequently you should use a National Parks “America the Beautiful” Annual Pass to cowl your entrance charge (this was our first park of the yr for our cross!)
Inside the Visitor Center, yow will discover a stamp to your National Parks passport, which makes a enjoyable memento and option to hold observe of which parks you might have visited.
11. Pack Smart
Be positive to deliver sunscreen, refillable water bottles (the one refill station is on the customer heart), a hat, sun shades, lip balm with SPF safety, a sled (when you’ve got one), a towel to wipe the sand off, and a rubbish bag to hold out your whole trash.
I might suggest carrying snug garments that you simply don’t thoughts getting sandy but additionally received’t get sand caught in uncomfortable locations. Perhaps deliver a change of garments for whenever you go away and put on flip flops or good exercise sandals with straps in order that they don’t fall off.
White Sands National Park is unquestionably one in all our favourite spots within the Southwest and hopefully the following tips will make it easier to put together to your journey!
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