NPS Website; Local Website
WHAT IS IT?The world’s largest gypsum dune field. In other words, nearly 200,000 acres of impossibly white sand dunes that rise to heights as tall as 60 feet.
BEAUTY (8/10)
The dunes are so white that the sky’s reflection becomes purple. Your mind wants to believe that you are looking at rolling hills of snow. The roads are covered in white sand and you expect the car to skid. I am driving on ice, right? But the skidding never happens.
You look around and kids are sledding down these hills, screaming in fun. You even convince yourself that the temperature is colder that it really is. Why am I wearing a sweater, it is 65 degrees and I am hiking. Distances are obscured and the sky is unbelievably huge.
Where am I again? White Sands NM. What a place.
HISTORICAL INTEREST (4/10)
The White Sands NM mentions nothing of historical importance on its brochure, in its introductory video or in its museum exhibits which technically may be the case. Nonetheless, White Sands NM’s borders lay entirely within the White Sands Missile Range. More than half of the sand dunes extend outside the National Monument and into the NO PUBLIC ACCESS zone.
The brochure states that the Missile Range is still used as “an important testing site for experimental weaponry and space technology”. Missile testing prohibits park access for a few hours once or twice every week.
The pamphlet does not refer to the Trinity Site, located within the Missile Range but far to the north of the Monument. The Trinity Site is where the first atomic bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945. It is a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most life-altering places on Earth. The U.S. Army opens the site for tours twice a year in early April and October. Last October 2,039 people attended the open house - 1,661 people & 40 dogs (2 cats) via Stallion Gate & 126 cars in Alamogordo caravan.
CROWDS (8/10)Back to the fun. Imagine if you had found the perfect snow sledding hill. OK, now imagine if there were 100 of those hills and they were right next to picnic benches and a parking lot. Once you decide on your hill, you climb to the top and see everyone else on top of their own private hill sledding down and having a great time. One family was even playing a game a tackle football on top of a sand dune.
The scene at the Visitor Center (before sledding) was even funnier. Two crowded rooms of adults and children were going through the motions, either watching the film or looking at the exhibits. Everybody young and old had the same look, I WANT TO GO SLEDDING. And sled we did.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (2/5)
The White Sands NM entrance is 54 miles northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico just off U.S. Route 70. The area is understandably desolate; the White Sands Missile Range completely surrounds the Monument and covers nearly the entire length of Route 70 from Las Cruces to Alamogordo.
An 8-mile Dunes Drive takes you into the White Sands and ends in a loop with numerous picnic benches. You can hike anywhere into and around the dunes. Remember the way you traveled because the dunes all look the same.
The wheelchair accessible Interdune Boardwalk Trail was closed for repairs during our visit.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (5/5)
The White Sands NM lack of an historical conscience is slightly redeemed by its bookstore. Nearly 50 books are on sale detailing the developed of the Atomic Bomb and/or how it has affected local history. They range from Martin Cruz Smith’s popular fiction, Stallion Gate to Richard Rhodes Pulitzer Prize-winning standard, The Making of the Atomic Bomb. The bookstore also had a Women’s History Month (March) Table which highlighted books lauding the achievements of New Mexican women.
There is a separate concessionaire across the hall from the NPS store that sells a plethora of interestingly designed White Sands NM clothing. If you have forgotten to bring a sled, this Store has round multi-hued saucers on sale for about $12.COSTS (3/5)
Entrance is $3 per adult, free with the National Parks Pass.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (2/5)
There was one Ranger stationed behind the desk at the crowded Visitor Center. So many people had questions that a line had formed. She looked like she needed some help.
TOURS/CLASSES (2/10)
The introductory video was unbearable; it spent over half of its 18 minutes going over park regulations in a slow, new agey amazed female voice. The film had no historical and little educational value. Its purpose was to tell you what to do at the Park and it never mentioned sledding! The theater was stuffed with 30+ people all eager to leave. We all knew what was at White Sands and why we were there. Save yourself the frustration and skip the video. Your kids will thank you.
Mission ’66-era museum exhibits explaining the formation of the dunes are located in a small room next to the bookstore. We found it hard to concentrate on the panels. A daily Ranger Dune Walk leaves just before sunset at 5:00pm.
FUN (8/10)
Thank you Everett. Just before we left El Paso, our host extraordinaire asked us where we were heading. White Sands we answered. Then take this. Seemingly from out of nowhere, Ev handed us a purple flying saucer sled. You will need it.
He was so right. Without a sled, White Sands NM just is not the same. Sure, the dunes are cool to look at but who does not like skimming down a steep hill at tremendous speed? We did our share of sledding until Michael decided to go down the highest dune. About three quarters of the way down, he lost control of his purple vehicle and somersaulted at least three times. He does not remember the details. Gab does. Picture Michael with cartoon stars circling his head, trying to stand and shake the sand out of his clothes, ears, hair. “I’m worse for wear.” Sand is not nearly as forgiving as snow. We had a great time.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (8/10)Sledding in March in southern New Mexico without feeling cold, what could be better? White Sands NM is a beautiful and supernatural place. If you are traveling to Carlsbad Caverns, you should try to visit the white dune field as well.
TOTAL 50/80
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