White Sands National Park is one of several national park sites in New Mexico. It’s a beautiful sight to behold and honestly, quickly climbed to one of my favorite national parks. Here is my White Sands itinerary to help you plan your visit!
Depending on the time of year you go, you should expect to have different amounts of time in the park and to visit the park at different times of day. Because its part of the desert, your best bet to maximize your time there would be to go during the spring or fall. This will allow you to avoid the summer heat. The spring, of course, is also subject to wind which can quickly make sandy places quite uncomfortable. You can use my White Sands National Park itinerary year round, you’ll just need to rearrange it to stay cool. I actually went in July right at the beginning of the monsoons and it was quite lovely. The rains came and cooled everything off. I honestly don’t know if there is much in the world more magical than being rained on in the desert!
Regardless of when you decide to visit, keep in mind that there is extremely limited shade. Save for one covered area of the interdune boardwalk and a few picnic areas, there is absolutely none. No tree cover whatsoever, so plan for that! Also, make sure to bring plenty of water as there isn’t any available once you pass the visitor center. And finally, dress appropriately. You will likely get sand everywhere no matter what you wear, but make sure you wear sunscreen. Plan for lots of sun!
– Take a Drive –
Dunes Drive is the only way into and out of the park. Its about 16 miles and snakes through the White Sands dunes, starting on asphalt but eventually turning into compacted sand. My 2 wheel drive had compact car had no issues. Still – be wary of the sides of the road where the sand is likely to collect in drifts. The dunes are constantly shifting and you don’t want to accidentally get stuck!
At the far end of the loop, you’ll eventually reach a full turn that will then take you back out the same way you came. The views from the car are great and this is an easy way to take in which area you’d like to visit first. You’ll pass several restrooms and a few picnic areas along with the various dunes. This is also a great way to see the beauty of the dunes from your climate-controlled car when its otherwise too hot to be outside.
– Dune Life Nature Trail –
This is a great place to start your White Sands adventure! If you come along this area in the morning, you’re more likely to see some of the white animals that White Sands National Park is home to. Lizards, particularly, are more likely to be out in the morning, so if you’re looking to see one – get out there before it gets too hot! The Dune Life Nature Trail is a mile long and you will need to climb in soft sand and up onto the dunes, so it is considered a moderately difficult trail.
– Sand Sledding –
Sand sledding is a big draw at places with lots of sand. You can rent sleds at the visitor center, along with wax for the bottom. Make sure to wax your sled really well, otherwise it isn’t likely to glide very easily. There aren’t any restrictions on where you can sled (with the exception of the Interdune Boardwalk) but make sure to be mindful of the road. You don’t want to sled into traffic!
– Have a Picnic –
Once you’ve had your fill of sledding, what better way to hydrate and recuperate than to have a picnic? If you brought a blanket with you, you can spread out on one of the dunes and have a snack. Or, if you need some time away from the sun, you can grab one of the protected picnic tables for your spread. There are also accessible picnic areas at the dunes. If you didn’t pack a lunch, make sure to stop to pick up some goodies from the visitor center. As always, the motto is “leave no trace” so make sure to clean up after yourself and dispose of any trash properly!
– Interdune Boardwalk –
The Interdune Boardwalk is the only accessible trail at White Sands, and its a lovely trail at that! There is one section of the boardwalk that functions as a gazebo. You can enjoy some highly valuable shade while reading about various animal footprints and neat facts. There’s also benches placed along the boardwalk, whether you want to take a rest or take in the scenery out of the way of others. This is a great place to spot some of the White Sands wildlife, too, with the morning being the most likely time for an encounter. The boardwalk, itself, is an in-and-out walk of .4 miles.
– Catch the Sunset –
White Sands National Park is quite popular for sunset enthusiasts. All the rolling gypsum hills, with the surrounding mountains, make it a very pretty backdrop for a golden sunset. You can get a pretty good view on any of the dunes, but the ones near the Interdune boardwalk seemed to be very popular. Just make sure that once the sun is down, you are very mindful of the time. The park closes promptly at 9:00 pm during the summer, so you need to be out of the park by that time. Alternatively, if you’re more of a morning person, there is also a ranger-led sunrise walk you can participate in. See the visitor center for more information regarding the sunrise hike.
– Visitor Center –
You don’t need to stop here to pick up your pass, but like any good visitor center, this one comes equipped with restrooms, water fountains, a museum, and lots of souvenirs and goodies. This is where you’ll pick up any sledding supplies and you can also get information about the sunrise tour, making it an essential part of your White Sands itinerary! Make sure you get here early, though, if you want to get your passport stamp. While the park doesn’t close until 9, the visitor center closes earlier between 5 and 6. They also have a really good selection of drinks and snacks!
There’s your White Sands National Park itinerary! The nearby town of Alamogordo offers hotels and eateries. For more information on this national park, you can find information on the NPS website. Also make sure to read about how to be safe while you’re enjoying the dunes.
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