Colorado may have the Great Sand Dunes National Park, but New Mexico has the beautiful White Sands National Monument. In many ways the White Sands is even more impressive than the dunes in Colorado, and is home to the world’s 
largest gypsum sand dune field, spanning an incredible 275 square miles!
The stunningly beautiful white sand dunes that the national monument is famous for have been created by the prevailing winds, rippling the sand as they go. Against a clear blue sky the white dunes are most magnificent; all that’s missing are palm trees and the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean!
The White Sands National Monument is accessible by car or RV, and from the visitor center you can take the 8 mile long Dunes Drive to give you some great dune vistas. Be sure to park and venture onto at least one of the four marked trails that allow you to explore the dunes on foot. Unlike some sand dunes you can enjoy these bare footed because gypsum doesn’t heat up like other types of sand do, and families with children can have great fun sledding down the dunes in relative safety!
During the summer months you can sign up for a ranger-led tour and nature walk in which you can find out more about this interesting ecosystem. The sand dunes may seem barren but you will find plants here, such as the yucca, and wildlife too, though you’re most likely to see lizards darting around across the sand, rather than any one of the 44 different species of mammals that live here. And if you’re visiting during the spring and early summer you’ll be treated to blooming wildflowers and cacti!
Quick Facts:
--- White Sands National Monument lies completely within the famous White Sands Missile Range. This means that the park and the highway that access the park can be subject to closures for 1 to 2 hours at a time.
--- White Sands Missile Range is famous for being the testing site of the first atomic bomb. You can visit the actual site, called Trinity Site, at the northern end of the Missile Range.
