favorite itinerary: visiting white sands national park
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kiddo hiking the dunes at white sands national park
white sands national park is exactly what all the bloggers and gram-ers say it is: like being on another planet. it is truly an unreal, bucket-list destination. the sand gets its color from gymsum, which washes into the basin from surrounding mountains. when the water evaporates, brittle selenite crystals are formed. the fragile crystals are easily ground down, creating the sand. while visiting white sands is a bit off the beaten path, it’s also a great park to do in a day or less and easy to visit if you’re passing through on a southwest roadtrip.
we spent about a half-day at white sands and probably could have done just about everything on our list in even less time. though, you could definitely spend a full day at white sands just wandering the dunes and taking it all in. or try camping at white sands national park to get the full experience! be sure to add this destination to your new mexico road trip itinerary!
land of the mescalero apache
the land presently known as white sands national park is the ancestral homeland of the mescalero apache. “the Mescalero people were nomadic hunters and gathers and roamed the southwest… the people were given the name "Mescalero" because they gathered and ate the mescal plant. It was the staple of their diets and could sustain them in good times and bad.”
a bit about the mescalero apache puberty rite ceremony:
"one of the most traditional and sacred ceremonies practiced by the Mescalero Apache is the puberty rite ceremony. it is a four-day “Rite of Passage,” a ceremony that marks the transition of an individual from one stage of life to another, from girlhood to womanhood. a young girl celebrates her rite of passage with family-prepared feasts, dancing, blessings and rituals established hundreds of years ago…
it is said that this ceremony was given to the Apache people by White Painted Woman. when her people, the Apache, were hard pressed by evil monsters, White Painted Woman reared a son to destroy those creatures and to make the earth inhabitable for mankind. she is the model of heroic and virtuous womanhood. for the duration of the rite, the young girl dresses and acts like White Painted Woman. the girl is never referred to by her name, but is known as White Painted Woman.
beginning at dawn on the first day, the young girl is guided and advised by a medicine woman through four days of formal observances and events… the girl is dressed in the buckskin costume that she will wear for the following eight days… by the end of the fourth day, every possible experience… has been mentioned in songs and prayers for the long life and good fortune for the young maiden and for the Apache people.
for four more days after the completion of the ceremony, the young maiden must continue to wear her ceremonial buckskins... at the end of this period the medicine woman washes her hair and body with suds of the yucca root. then she changes into her ordinary clothing, equipped for her new stage in life and her role in the community.”
gypsum dunes of white sands national park
what to bring to white sands national park
like any desert, exploring white sands national park calls for hydration and sun protection, no matter the season. a few things we alway bring for any desert hike:
sunscreen: this one is our favorite. it’s spf 50 and we like the mousse because it’s easy to apply, but you can also get the lotion or the mist.
water bottles: kiddo uses this camelpak on all our hikes. my current favorite water bottle is this one from wondery.
other sun protection: we recently purchased this buff for kiddo as a multi-use item. it protects his neck from sun but can also be worn in a myriad of ways, based on need. we most often use it as a headband! i wear a wide brim hat that i purchased from a shop years ago, but similar styles can be found here and here. also note, sunglasses are an absolute must at this park! the white sand reflects the sun and can really irritate your eyes!
good shoes: this is one of the few times i would recommend hiking sandals over boots, depending on the time of year you’re visiting white sands national park. otherwise, you’re gonna get a whole lot of sand in your shoes!i have these and kiddo wears these. because it was colder during our visit (and i hate getting my feet dusty/dirty), we still wore our boots and did just fun - though we had to dump out the sand at least half a dozen times during our visit! kiddo currently wears these hiking boots. i have high arches and am always alternating between boots. my two favorite pairs these days are these and these.
kiddo with sled for dunes sledding at white sands national park
a note about camping in white sands national park
there are no campgrounds in white sands national park, but there is the option to partake in backcountry camping in the dune field. the stars over the dunes create a memorable experience. permits are required and limited in availability.
white sands itinerary
unless you’re camping in white sands, you really can do this park in a day. we spent about 5 hours in the park and a good amount of that was just wandering around the dunes. it’s definitely possible to have a full experience in this park in half a day or less. however, there are some off the beaten path experiences even within the park, so if you have the time, enjoy 2 days in white sands national park! see some ideas for additional activities below.
kiddo hiking the backcountry loop in white sands national park
one day in white sands national park
visitor center: be sure to stop at the visitor center prior to entering as it’s the only place you can access water in the park. also check out the exhibits about the park’s geology. the white sands are truly unique and the process by which it forms is equally fascinating!
hike the dune life nature trail: kick off your adventure with this short interpretive hike through the dunes. it will give you a great initial sense for the dune experience while also bringing in the opportunity to see the wildlife that inhabits the park.
hike the interdune boardwalk: if you’re not up for hiking the dunes, this is a great accessible option just a little further on from the dune life nature trail. the boardwalk eliminates the need to trudge through sand, but still provides the opportunity to get out into the dune field. there is also a ton of great interpretive information along the way. we did both (along with the playa trail!), and enjoyed them equally.
go dunes sledding: you can’t miss this memorable experience! we first went dunes sledding at great sand dunes national park and it was the highlight of the entire summer for kiddo. so, we knew we had to do it again when the opportunity to visit white sands national park arose. visitors are essentially given free reign to pick explore any spot on the dune field and turn it into a sledding hill. you can spend as long as like and have the energy to keep trudging back up the dunes! note - i highly recommend bringing your own sleds, if that’s an option for you. the sleds available in the gift shop are quite pricey and it wasn’t an option to rent while we were there.
hike the backcountry loop trail: after sledding we took a break for lunch to refuel. there are several picnic areas throughout the dune field, but we chose to pull off in a quiet spot and enjoy the view. from there, we hit the backcountry loop trail! there are diverse options for hiking in white sands national park, from boardwalks, to those with more flora and fauna, to those with endless, pristine dunes. this hike in white sands is of the endless, pristine dunes variety. while the parking area of this hike can get quite busy, you’ll find that the crowds quickly fall away as you proceed on the trail. the trail is well marked, but you also have the option to wander as far as you like. we saw virtually no one else and were completely immersed in the dunes. this was my favorite experience at white sands national park, though be advised it’s over two miles of trudging through sand, up and and down the dunes. it’s an energy zapper, for sure!
kiddo walking across the top of a dune at white sands national park
if you have more time in white sands national park
join the ranger guided sunset stroll - we had planned to do this but had to drive back to camp to get a spot! we’re still bummed we missed it.
hike the strenuous alkali flat trail - this is the longest and most strenuous hike in the dune field
score tickets to the lake lucero tour - this tour only happens a few times a year. we had tickets to go in fall one year and sadly had to bail on that trip. we still hope to go back and do this. if you’re able, try to plan around the rare dates that this tour occurs.
i sincerely hope this guide to white sands national park encourages you to go out wild and explore this otherworldly place. i’ve experienced nothing else like it, despite visiting plenty of other sand dunes. it’s a really special place and a great option for a family vacation. enjoy!