White Sands National Monument
The KOA campground in Alamogordo, is about 30 minutes from the White Sands National Monument. I wanted to spend a couple of days in the area but there was only one night available. Other campgrounds in the area were booked for the next week. They told me it was spring break and that this is one of the busiest weeks of the year. I spent time in the morning, cleaning out the car and doing laundry. Checkout was 11:00 am. I pulled out with one minute to spare. I smiled at the 7 3/4 mph speed limit sign as I left.
White Sands National Monument is a protected area located in southern New Mexico, USA. It is renowned for its unique landscape of gleaming white sand dunes, which are made of gypsum crystals. The monument encompasses an area of around 275 square miles of desert terrain, much of which is covered by dunes that can rise to 60 feet in height.
I knew the monument is a popular destination for stargazing and photography, as the darkness around the desert provides excellent visibility to the stars. I inquired about overnighting on the dunes and the ranger told me I had to request a special pass at rec.gov. She also indicated that it can takes months to receive permission.
When I arrived at the park the access road was blocked by four park rangers. They told me there was a missile test occurring “down range” at the White Sands Test Facility and they indicated the park “should” be open by 2:00 pm. I went to the visitors center and watched the National Park Service (NPS) video about the formation of the sand dunes.
I learned that the dunes in the park are a part of the world's largest gypsum dune field, and is one of the most unique geological formations in the world. The white sand is a result of the process of gypsum being carried by water erosion down to the plan and then the crystalization after the water evaporates. As the wind blows, it breaks up the crystals and creates a fine, powdery substance which is carried by the wind to form the dunes.
After the movie, I went back to the car and made lunch while I waited for the park to open. The park opened promptly at 2:00 pm and a long winding line of cars raced to get into the park. I hung out and let them find their way into the park. I decided to ride my bike through the park. The ranger warned me to be extra careful because people don’t seem to pay attention to cyclists. Most people were very respectful. One guy not so much.
My national park pass saved me the $25 entrance fee. The ranger gave me a path guide and checked that I had liquids and snacks. I was surprised that people were already on their way out of the park after 20 minutes. They must have driven to the end of the road and came directly back. I estimated they paid a dollar a minute to say they saw the sand dunes.
The ride in was a little over 8 miles. It was paved for the first 5 miles. The rest of the road was hard packed white sand. The park keeps it plowed and I assume all the cars kept it packed down. There were places were there was a washboard effect which wasn’t very pleasant.
At the end of the road there is a loop with parking lots and picnic tables. I parked the bike in the sand and walked 30 minutes into the dunes to get some photographs. People wrote messages in the sand in various languages. There were hearts and peace symbols.
The monument is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, many of which have adapted to the harsh desert environment. I only saw a few birds flying high overhead. Directly off the road, people hike up the dunes and use rental sleds to get down the steep mounds. Most people only ventured a hundred feet from the road, but there are also hiking trails that traverse the dunes. The trails are mostly on top of the dunes and are well markeed by red markers that are closely spaced.
As the sun began to sink behind the San Andres Mountains, casting a warm glow over the white sands, I knew that was my queue to return to the car. It's hard not to feel a sense of awe and wonder at the natural beauty that surrounds you. White Sands National Park in New Mexico truly is a one-of-a-kind destination.
My next destination is Sante Fe, NM but I decided to stop in Albuquerque to overnight. I stopped at the Planet Fitness to shower and then found a good taco restaurant nearby. I drove to the Cracker Barrel and setup the car so I could sleep.