White Sands National Park Guide for First-Time Visitors
Half-Day at White Sands
Though not as famous as it’s more mountainous counterparts, White Sands National Park is a basin of beauty in the southern state of New Mexico. The half-day drive it takes to get there from any major city is well worth the detour. Pristine white dunes and crystal clear skies make for magnificent day-hikes through the lunar-like landscape of this Southwestern gem.
On a Texas trip, we found ourselves in El Paso due to an ill-gotten desire on my part to the drive the whole length of the state. It was a pleasurable hour and a half from the city to White Sands, with wide open highways and sparse traffic. The next closest town, Roswell, is a 2 hour drive, and if you need some nature after sightseeing the “out of this world” attractions there, White Sands is the perfect departure from that “alien” town. If in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, a 4 hour drive will bring you right to the front gates of White Sands.
What to Bring to White Sands
Above all, bring water. Though they do sell it in the visitors center, it is park prices, and you will want to have at least a gallon per person. NOWHERE else in White Sands has water, so do be prepared. The second most important commodity is sunscreen, more so than in most other parks due to the lack of shelter from the sun and intense UV reflection off of the dunes. Sunglasses and a hat are advised, as the lack of shade at White Sands may rank #1 among all National Parks. There is nowhere to hide from the sun, which can get merciless on summer afternoons.
How to Get to White Sands
The parched plains of the region are a faded khaki color, with the rocky terrain of southern New Mexico a tad more barren than the smooth, sandy grasslands of West Texas. As we made our way north towards Alamagordo, the dunes rose slowly out in the distance as the blue sky beat down on the bright desert sand. As we pulled into the entrance road, snow-white mounds of sand flanked us on both sides. We slowed to a crawl as we peered out our windows and gazed across the vast land that stretched out before us. Had it been night, it truly would have felt as though one were on the moon.
Plan for Lunch
More so than any other park, was White Sands was void of any form of food or faire (both in terms of restaurants, and wildlife). It’s beauty is in it’s barrenness, which nonetheless makes you realize how hungry you can become when there is suddenly nothing to eat. We had not brought any lunch to the park, which would have made for a nice little picnic to heighten our day. We were quite famished on the long drive out, and got mild tummy aches from some gas station snacks we bought on the way to hold us over. Bringing a nice picnic for your day trip to White Sands will make your experience that much better. There will be no other options in the visitors center or park.
What to do at White Sands
Be sure to get a sled from the visitors center before heading off into the park. There is virtually zero wildlife to be found in the park, and sledding down the massive sand hills is by far the most fun one will have in the park. One can buy them, and if I recall correctly may be able to “sell” them back for a few bucks, though we kept our as souvenirs before throwing them out early the next morning due to lack of space. When roadtripping in a small car, one has to make tough decisions. Numerous little parking lots are scattered around the main areas of the dunes, where one can park and set out for light, level hiking. A few boardwalks are present in some places, spanning semi-grassy drylands, but for the most part visitors are free to set out across the dunes on their own accord.
Why White Sands is Worth the Trek
Though most deserts often appear foreboding upon entry, the vastness of White Sands enchants more than it intimidates. The pristine facade of every dune and plain sparkles dazzlingly in front of you as the wind and sand howl and nip at your face and legs. If you’re in the area, and have a few hours to kill, White Sands National Park is the perfect place to fill up your day. If you’re not, the park is still worth your time and effort. Warm weather sledding and beautiful panoramas abound, and the ease of exploration cannot be beat.