White Sands National Park, NM
We visited White Sands National Park in the summer of 2021. This park had been on my bucket list for over 15 years so when we planned our Colorado trip, we tacked this onto the last leg of our trip. To date, it has been one of my favorite places to photograph. It is just so unique and unlike anywhere else I have ever been. The dazzling white sands shimmer like a mirage and are tucked away in the Tularosa Basin in southern New Mexico. They shift and settle over the Chihuahuan Desert, covering 275 square miles.
We had to stop on our travels there to write up a couple of real estate contracts, so we arrived a little later than we anticipated, coming in at around 6:15. We missed being able to visit the visitor center and rent a sled, but this gives a good reason to return. We did make time to play in the sand though!
There are 5 different trails to choose from - The Interdune Boardwalk, Playa Trail, Dune Life Nature Trail, Back Country Camping Trail & the Alkali Flat Trail.
The Interdune Boardwalk - This short 0.4-mile boardwalk takes you through the dunes and is perfect for anyone who may have a hard time walking on sand.
My son on the dune boardwalk.
We stayed in the park until sunset just exploring. We drove the 8-mile Dune Drive which gets you beyond the scruffier area that is seen from the boardwalk. We took off our shoes and let the sand go in between our toes. It’s amazing how the sand is cool to the touch, even when the sun is baring down!
The patterns and the hues changed minute by minute, making this a paradise to photograph.
One of my favorite images of my son walking across the dunes with the San Andres Mountains in the background.
My husband in the distance exploring as the sun was setting.
We carried our tired bodies back to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Alamogordo where we were able to stay for free with my hotel points. If you want to get a jump start of 80,000 points (which is equal to about 2-3 free hotel stays) visit here to get your own IHG credit card to begin building your points for your next trip.
We enjoyed exploring so much that we decided to get up early the next morning and have one last look at the dunes in the morning light. It was interesting seeing the different insect and wildlife tracks and illusions that were made in the dunes. The image below looks like a deep dark hole.
My two guys at the White Sands National Park. ❤️
We returned to our hotel rooms for a late continental breakfast that was provided and geared up for another day of long travel through Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and returning to Texas. White Sands National Park is a great place to stop and visit in a relatively short time. We cannot wait to return when we have additional time to spend there and in the surrounding areas.
Happy Travels!
