Making Memories

What do you think is the setting in the photo above? Perhaps you think it was taken during the Winter and that white powdery layer is snow? What would you think if I say it is not snow but sand, and it was in the Spring and not Winter? The beautiful scenery is from the White Sands National Park in New Mexico (USA).

I personally don’t think making a trip to New Mexico just for visiting White Sands NP is worthwhile as there isn’t much to do there. However, this would be a not-to-miss stop if you’re making a road trip either from Texas or nearby states. Stretched along about 8 miles of pure white sands, along the scenic drive on Dunes Drive, there are hiking trails, picnic areas and dunes for sandboarding. Come by the Visitor Center for information on the weather (there should be predictions for wind speed or possible sandstorm) and hiking trails map. The popular trails are Dune Life Nature Trail, Interdune Boardwalk Trail, Alkali Flat Trail, Backcountry Camping Trail.

The White Sands dunes is an ideal subject for landscape photography and a beautiful backdrop for portrait photography. The wave-like dunes with shifting light and shadows make the park a photographer’s paradise, especially with out-of-this world landscape. Try visiting the park early, or if mid-day, then walk a little further, you’ll get the untouched dunes all to yourself. Bring a sled along (or you can purchase it at the gift shop) to play sandboarding. You can also use the snowboards or snow sleds as well. The gift shop sells new and used sleds. If your purchase the sled from the gift shop, you will be given $5 back if you return the sled once finished using (we visited in 2021). I heard that since 2022, they no longer offer $5 cash back, but will give you a koozie instead. Either way, if you travel by air and don’t want additional baggage to take home, then this is an option to get rid of the sled (we just gave ours away to people standing in line to purchase at the gift shop). The sand is powdery and soft, so it’s safe for even little kids to play. There is a camping ground, but we have never camped here so I have no personal experience to share with you. For information on camping at White Sands NP, please visit their website.

As noted above, White Sands NP is ideal to visit as part of a road trip. If you visit just for sandboarding and photography, then I think 1-2 days here would be enough. If you drive from Texas, then you can combine with the visit to Big Ben National Park or Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Or you can visit Taos (New Mexico), which is famous for the ski resort – here, there are activities for all season, not just the winter. The nearest airport to White Sands National Park is in El Paso, TX. Or if you’re visiting from New Mexico, then Albuquerque would be the nearest airport. Las Cruces also has a small airport.

Being a desert, so of course the best time to visit White Sands NP would be in the Spring, Fall or Winter. The temperature goes up to 100°-110°F with more rainfall. We have visited White Sands NP twice, both in March (Spring Break): the weather was warm the first time; the second time was colder and there was also a sandstorm, so it was cold and windy. Being early Spring, the temperature varies by day.

Alamogordo is the nearest city with a wide range of accommodations. The majority of the accommodations here are 2-start hotels. With a large Latino population, the best cuisine to try would be Mexican food. There are a few American chain restaurants such as Chili’s. We found a Thai and a Chinese restaurant, but they were not good.

Permit to White Sands NP is per car, unless you arrive by foot or bicycle, then it is per person. If you have the national park annual pass, then White Sands NP is included. The park’s website has the current ticket prices. There are certain holidays that allow free admission, please check out their website for those dates.

The entire national park is covered in pure white sands, so it is recommended that you dress in vibrant colors. This is not just for cosmetic or photo purposes, but for safety reasons as well. From afar, it would be very hard to spot a person whose outfit blends in with the background. If you plan to go on a long hike, it is recommended to wear supported walking shoes. Otherwise, I prefer sandals or even walking in bare foot. There are a few trees and shrubs, and naturally they will be very dry and pointy, so be on the look-out if you walk bare-footed. Hat, sunglasses, lots of sunscreen and water are recommended; facial masks could be handy as well for days that are windier or with sandstorms. Be advised that phone coverage could be spotty in the park (mostly not working from my experience), so ensure to agree on a meeting point in case someone gets lost, or you cannot find each other. On the main road (Dunes Drive), there are flag poles and some streetlights; you can use as the focal point to guide your way out. The wind easily sifts the lightweight, gypsum sand, which makes the terrain look different than it did earlier, erasing your tracks, and making it easy to get lost.

With second-to-none landscape, having a photoshoot here is effortless. Pack a few flowy, long colorful dresses. Or any edgy outfit with a pop of color would make amazing photos. Although the park’s hours of operation are from 7am – 6pm, request to enter the park for sunrise or stay late for sunset is possible. Reservation must be requested in advance for before and after hour access. There are educational tours for those who want to learn more about the sand dunes and its plants. There are options to picnic, camp, and sandboard. In short, White Sands NP has activities for all ages (as long as you’re able to walk on sand) and is a must-visit park once in your life. It’s already the end of May, and the highest temperature reaches up to 95°F, still bearable for Southern folks like me. I think there are still a few more weeks of bearable weather to visit White Sands NP. After that, it would be too hot, so instead you can start planning for your road trip in the Fall or Winter.