Recently, we visited White Sands National Park, a beautiful and scenic place nestled in the heart of the New Mexico. The landscape of this park is enchanting, with dunes of pristine white gypsum sand in every direction. It is a wonderful place for those of us who enjoy nature and being in a serene and captivating setting. We feel so blessed to have a park like this here within the states to visit.


When driving down the road into the park, you will notice the sand dunes on the sides and mountains in the far distance. The further you drive into the park, the more beautiful it becomes. You might find the road covered with white sand, as while the road is bladed, the sand drifts across the road. There are also areas where the sand is quite high on the side of the road, appearing more like snow piled high from a recent snowstorm. It is a beautiful sight to see.

This was not our first visit to White Sands National Park. It is a place we enjoy visiting when we are in the area and is always a beautiful and captivating sight. The day we were there was warm, and yet comfortable, and we spent much time walking and enjoying the beauty of the park and just being in nature.
A Little About the History of White Sands National Park
White Sands was once part of the ancestral lands of the Mescalero Apache Nation and the Visitor Center offers exhibits that help provide some insight into the past culture of the area. When visiting a few years ago, it had been designated a National Monument, which was done in 1933 to help protect the gypsum dune field, which we understand is the largest in the world. Then when we visited a couple of years ago, we found it had been designated a National Park.
Good to Know
We noticed that there were people sledding down some the dunes, which looked like a fun thing to do. Sleds available for purchase at the Visitor Center, which offers many different items for purchase as souvenirs as well as snacks, and drinks, etc.

Since this is a National Park, appropriate park passes and fees would apply here. I wanted to mention that it can be really hot during the summer months, so it is a good idea to visit during moderate or cooler weather. And it is always a good idea to make sure you have plenty of water as this area is considered desert and it is easy for one to get dehydrated. There are picnic areas for those who would like to enjoy a lunch while visiting. And there are several hiking trails that vary in length for those who enjoy hiking. Restrooms are available. For more information about White Sands, you can visit their website here.
We hope you will visit White Sands National Park as it is truly a beautiful area with panoramic scenes in every direction and one of our favorite National Parks.