White Sands National Park
Despite being one of the newest national parks in America, White Sands has long been a popular destination for tourists. The park, which is located in the Tularosa Basin, boasts more than 73,000 acres of white gypsum sand, making it the largest gypsum dune field in the entire world. The park can be explored on foot, by horse, by bike, or by car. Visitors can also slide down the dunes. But keep in mind that when missile tests take place at the park's missile range, Dunes Drive, the park's picturesque thoroughfare, periodically closes.
In the center of the Tularosa Basin in New Mexico, White Sands National Monument protects a 275-square-mile region of wave-like white gypsum sand dunes. The variety of plants and animals that have adapted to these challenging environments will astound you.
You can explore the area on foot, by bicycle, on horseback (in specific parts only), or by car or motorcycle along the 13 km picturesque Dunes Drive after picking up some information or an adventure pack at the visitors center. If you like to hike and camp, you can stay the night at one of the rustic backcountry campsites under the starry desert sky. Enjoy picnics, dune sledding, and shooting stunning pictures of the desert.
Rankings:
- #5 in Best Places to Visit in New Mexico
Location: New Mexico
