There are a few essential things that will make your visit that much better, so let’s dive in!
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Go for Golden Hour/Sunset
Check current park hours and closures here.
Once you pass the visitor center at the very beginning of the park entrance, there will no longer be any services. This means that you will not be able to refill water, will not be able to buy snacks, food, or sunscreen anywhere, although there will be bathrooms every now and then.
Many national parks are like Disneyland in that it’s simple to stay on the trail and to know where you are at all times. White Sands is not like that, and you need more preparation to enjoy it. I loved that it was so much more wild and that we were free to explore, but that might not be for everyone.
My experience at White Sands National Park was one I will never forget. The way that the sun hit the dunes, and the abundance of plants out there was amazing to me. This is truly one of the natural wonders of the world, and we are so lucky to have it in the USA!
Bring a Sled/Saucer!
Most national parks are open 24/7, however White Sands is not. It’s usually open for the sunset, and it will often stay open later during the full moon.
Also keep in mind that the desert is a fragile ecosystem, and it’s important to not step on plants, and to leave the most fertile dunes with lots of vegetation alone.
Even if you’re not a photographer, be sure to stay for the sunset, because it is spectacular over those white dunes!
As national parks go, I did not find White Sands to be very crowded. You don’t have to go far to get your own dune.
Check Opening Hours First
This means that you will find wildlife out there, including three kinds of rattlesnakes and scorpions. I still walked around barefoot, as this is the easiest way to climb dunes, and had no problem. I only bring this up so that you know to be aware.
White Sands National Park is just as magical as you imagine it will be. It’s one a few places that I built up in my mind that actually lived up to my expectations. And although it’s in the middle of nowhere, and you will most certainly be making a big detour to see it, it is worth it!
Make sure that you bring a hat for the sun, sunscreen, and all of the water and food that you will need.
The best way to photograph this is with a zoom lens and to have your subject facing west with the sun behind them.
Drive to the End and Face West
We lucked out because our Airbnb had some saucers that we could use, but we also noticed that people left them behind at the picnic area for others to use.
Although White Sands National Park is impressive at any time of day, it’s the couple of hours before sunset that it comes alive with color – yes, color! This is when you’ll see shadows in some of the dunes, the sun casting patterns on them as it sets. If you’re lucky, there will be some clouds in the sky to create even more contrast.
If you’re lucky and you’re visiting in the spring, you’ll see the Purple Sand Verbena in bloom. This plant was used by American Indians as a mild sedative, which had a calming effect and was useful in reducing nervousness, anxiety, and tension. Give it a sniff, it smells just like gardenia!
For this reason, it’s imperative that you leave no trace, and that you orient yourself so that you don’t get lost! I recommend downloading maps.me, which is a free offline map app, before you go so that you can drop a pin where you park to navigate back to.
Bring Water, Food, and Sunscreen
Also keep in mind that the afternoon can be quite windy in the spring, which is when I went. However we did get lucky and the wind completely subsided for the sunset. If you have a camper van or car that won’t drain the battery with an open trunk or something similar to hang out in to wait out the wind, you’ll be happier!
Sledding down the dunes is part of what makes White Sands so much fun, especially for kiddos (you can bring dogs, too!).
This is the worlds largest gypsum in sand dune field spanning 275 miles in the middle of the desert. It might seem like it would desolate, with no vegetation or animals, but that’s not true! There’s a water table directly under the sand, and if you dig a bit under the surface at the low points you will find that the sand is wet!
The Only Shelter is the Picnic Area
The best apparatus is a snow saucer, the kind you used as a kid. It’ll go faster if you wax the underside! And don’t worry, this is condoned by the national park. They even have sleds that you can rent if you can’t find one to bring with you!
I believe this is because that national park is actually within a missile range owned by the US military.
Know the Vastness and the Animals You’ll Share Space With
However it is possible to get a permit to camp in the dunes overnight. At the moment due to Covid, they are not available, but hopefully in the future it will be possible again. I can just imagine how stunning the stars would be out there!
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So find the tallest dune you can, and lean back to slide faster!
We mainly used the sun to orient, but you’ve got to be a bit more experienced with navigation order for that to work.
Otherwise, there are no trees, or shade, to speak of.
I recommend driving to the end of the road at the loop and walking west on the dunes. We did so from one of the picnic areas and that’s how we got all of the photos that you see here. You will see some accessible walking trails and other options earlier on in the park, but the farther in you get the more the dunes are basically one big trail and there is no set route.
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