Pure white sand dunes provide the perfect backdrop for kids of all ages to play in the sand. Plan for at least a half day visit. Located about an hour west of Las Cruces, New Mexico, White Sands National Monument showcases the world’s largest gypsum sand dunes covering 275 square miles. Dunes Drive is the sole road through the Monument. Make sure you check the website for closures of the Dunes Drive due to the nearby White Sands Missile Range before your trip. White Sands National Monument entrance fee is $5 per adult and children 15 years or under are free. Federal Park Passes are accepted. ATVs and other off-road vehicles are not allowed in the monument. Start your visit at the Visitor Center, where you can pick up a newspaper which includes a map of the Monument.
The Visitor Center at White Sands is a good place to start your visit
Many people opt to climb and explore the dunes near the road, which is welcome. Kids of all ages bring plastic sleds or coasters to ride down the dunes in the loop portion of Dunes Drive where there is little to no vegetation. Sleds can be purchased and sold back at the gift shop.
Sand dunes and the San Andres Mountains
There is plenty of parking for RV’s of all sizes of off Dunes Drive and several spots at the visitor center. Bathrooms are located at the Visitor Center and vault toilets are located along Dunes Drive. There are ample picnic areas, with canopied shade covers.
Ample canopied picnic shelters are available
The beautiful white gypsum sands
There are several easy trails, including the Interdune Boardwalk, which is 0.4 miles and is wheelchair/stroller accessible. This is an interpretive trail with numerous signs along the route detailing the animals of the dunes. There were two trails, Playa and Dune Life Nature Trail, that were closed during our visit.
Vegetation on the sand dunes
Hiking is a great way to explore the sand dunes
If you want to hike here, know the temperature. It is recommended that you do not start a hike if the temperature is above 85 F. You also need to be prepared with plenty of water. They recommend one gallon of water per person per day minimum. All hiking trails are marked with posts, as navigating on the dunes can be a little tricky. Rangers recommend viewing the next post from your current one and turning around if you can’t find the next post. Wear a hat and sunglasses. The white sands reflect the sun, so sunscreen is recommended year round.
The bright orange posts are your trail markers
There are also more difficult trails including the Backcountry Camping Trail, which we hiked. Backcountry Camping Trail is a 2 mile loop which takes you by ten back country camp sites tucked in among the dunes. The trail is considered moderate and the average completion time is 1.5 hours. It travels through the heart of the dunes.
Looking down from the top of a dune
The Alkali Flats Trail is the longest and most strenuous at 5 miles. This trail and the dunes should not be underestimated. In August 2015, a French couple hiking with their 9-year old son started this trail in the heat of the day with only a small amount of water, and both parents died from heat-related causes less than two miles from the trailhead.
Among the dunes
We had a great visit to White Sands National Monument and recommend it for travelers in the Las Cruces area. Take plenty of water, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and some common sense. We combined this with a trip to Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks National Monument. We stayed in our RV at the Las Cruces KOA.
White Sands National Monument
Winds create interesting patterns in the sand
