white sands national monument

mandolin33333

I enjoyed the view, the hiking the dunes, walking the boardwalk and reading the tidbits of information posted. The Visitor Center was informative and the staff very friendly. You read or hear about sledding down the sand dunes. It's nothing like sledding down a snow hill. I found it difficult and more work than fun. ***Buy or bring your own plastic saucer sled*** Do not fall for the wax in the gift shop. It doesn't work. One sled is $15. They will give you $5 back with your receipt and resell it for $10. I didn't like that. I was astounded at the $28 coffee mug. I did not enjoy the ridiculous prices. Take water. I'm not kidding. Take water! Overall, it's beautiful like a infinite beach... Clean, amazing sunsets and plenty of dunes to climb and slide down or roll down! Just be ready for insane prices! It's worth the entry fee, which is reasonable.

Teaswood

You have to visit the Dunes and sled! Take your shoes off and burrow your feet into the sand. It's truly amazing. I spent a few hours here with my husband and 4 kids this morning. We did Carlsbad Caverns the day before and I would rate the dunes as awesome IF NOT BETTER than the caverns. If you have kids, this stop is a must! We viewed the film at the tourist center before we went sledding to understand what makes the dunes. Very interesting.

865virginiat

This national monument is surreally beautiful. It seems pretty popular, but the dunes make it easy to escape the saucer-sled weilding families and crowds and find some solitude with a lovely panorama of the mountains to the west and north.

DallasTraveler99

This is a large place. It is excellent for sledding. Definitely drive towards the back for the best sand and dunes. We were there for over three hours just sledding and playing in the sand.

karinaLobao

You are not going to see many animals or do any amazing hiking. It is beautifull. That's it! So if you are nearby, go there... My point was to see sunrise! I guess sun set would be also great!

Flybymight

What a marvel! Heaps and mounds of gypsum dunes. Turn the corner and you are on the moon! The landscape is unworldly, austere and one feels immediately alone. I sat on a dune and wrote in my diary. The weather is perfect in March. Price is right and this natural wonder should no be passed up. I didn't! A photographer's dream location.

jcaynon

White Sands National Monument is a ruggedly handsome place. We drive over from Ruidoso (about an hour by car). If you enjoy nature and the great outdoors, White Sands is a must-do. Pictures don't do justice to the pristine beauty. If you're not an outdoors person it's still worth a drive through. Take some pics from the car and check the box that you were there, but I bet you can't resist getting out and playing in the sand.

StevenP608

It is a nice to place to see its namesake "white sands", but it is mostly a driving experience. Many of the trails were closed. It is not an all day adventure, but worth a stop if you are driving by.

nancyp597

visited while in las cruces; wow what a magnificent natural wonder. the sand so white looked like snow; only there an hour or two so no real time to hike but still a spectacular place to visit. one suggestion is wear sunscreen!

656angelah

Nothing like it. Try not to be near loud people, as it was distracting to us, threatening to take away from the natural beauty. Its amazingness I don't think I could effectively put into words. : )

novastorm19

The Alkali Flat trail offers views of the dunes that stretch for miles. Vistas of blue skies painted with fluffy white clouds against the undulating white dunes are incredible. And the silence as you move along on the trail is exquisite. Treat yourself to the experience of White Sands, it's so worth it.

goonatrip

We enjoyed this a lot. It has appeal for all ages. The park staff were friendly and helpful. Bring water. It is smart that there is no alcohol for Fe thru may. Everyone we observed were enjoying their visit. Sledding is an unusual treat

janetf115

Absolutely breathtaking. Sunsets spectacular. Hiked the backpacking trail; great view of the various dunes and the mountains on the backdrop. Truly a memorable day!

robertsX2001HX

Another great National Monument. Absolutely beautiful. Eight mile round trip to drive thru the dunes. One can rent a round plastic sled at the gift shop to slide down the dunes. Nature at it's best.

Hsphoser36

Don't miss this place if you're near Alamogordo or Las Cruces, NM. We stopped in for just a few hours and left excited to return. Our tour guide walked us through the diversity of the landscape and explained both the plant and animal life. The sand is super soft, fun to explore, and there were a ton of people just sledding on the sand dunes. You could spend an entire day out here. Be sure to check out the website / events calendar in advance to find out about special trips and night events!