There are currently 62 national parks in the United States and White Sands National Park is the newest. It received the status of a national park on December 20th 2019. Prior to being a national park, White Sands existed as a national monument since 1933. The park is located in New Mexico, about 180 miles from Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico’s other national park. The park encompasses 275 square miles of white sand, which, in fact, is the largest gypsum deposit in the world. Here are our highlights of visiting the newest national park.
Things to do in White Sands National Park
Visiting White Sands National Park is an other-worldly experience. It’s strange to see miles upon miles of white sand dunes in the middle of the dessert. The landscape is uniquely beautiful, the deep blue sky in stark contrast to the white sands and green vegetation. At times, it seemed to me like I was at the ocean and would see water any time. At other times, I had the impression that I was looking at fields of glaciated snow. In fact, many people must feel that way as one of the popular things to do while visiting the newest national park is to sled down the dunes.
Go sledding
Evidently, sledding is the thing to do in White Sands National Park. Even though we did not partake in the activity, we saw a lot of people who did. The area right by the Interdune Boardwalk was especially popular, so I assume that’s where the best dunes for sledding are.
Hike the designated trails
There are several designated trails that you can hike in the park. The Dune Life Nature Trail as well as the Alkali Flat Trail are great and offer beautiful views of the San Andreas Mountains and the Tularosa Basin. The vegetation you see is spectacular as well, especially since they seem to just grow out of the white sand.
Admire waves and ripples in the sand
If you hike far enough from the parking lot areas nearby which most people congregate, you’re going to be able to see amazing waves and ripples in the sand. The dune patterns, unspoiled by human footprints, are gorgeous. They also make for beautiful pictures. We took several enjoyable hikes through the desert and easily found some pristine dunes.
Do a sunset stroll with a ranger
Although we decided to explore the newest national park on our own, we saw a sizable group of people do a sunset stroll with the ranger. The walk takes approximately an hour and is offered daily. You can inquire about the time and location at the Visitor Center.
