Photo By: Jacob Lips
When people hear white sand, they usually think of a beach. But this white sand in New Mexico is one of a kind. The White Sands National Park houses sand dunes made of gypsum crystals. It is the largest gypsum dune field on earth.
History
A fossil trackway at the park is evidence that the area existed as early as 11,700 years ago. The trackway shows prints of ground sloths—extinct large sloths—from the ice age. Its tourism potential was first discovered in 1849 via the Euro-American exploration. The Mescalero Apache was already living in the area at that time.
As early as 1898, there was already clamoring to make the area a national park. On January 18, 1933, President Herbert Hoover signed the document declaring the area as a national monument based on its historical significance. On December 20, 2019, President Donald Trump enacted the bill that elevated the White Sands as a national park.
The area has been a popular place to film westerns as well as the 2007 “Transformers” movie. Other movies that were filmed in the park are “Four Faces West” (1948), “King Solomon’s Mines” (1950), “Hang ‘Em High” (1968), “The Hired Hand” (1971), “My Name is Nobody” (1973), “Bite the Bullet” (1975), “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (1976), “Young Guns II” (1990), and “White Sands” (1992).
Photo By: Jacob Lips
Things to do
There are a lot of things to do and places to see at this national park, but there is one thing people absolutely cannot do: You cannot take home any sand, no matter how small it is.
Scenic Drive
The park has an eight-mile scenic drive known as the Dunes Drive. The route takes people to the heart of the gypsum crystal field, which is just a unique experience. The two-way trip takes only 45 minutes, but since this is an experience like no other, visitors should definitely make time to internalize and immortalize the experience by taking photos or drawing / painting the area. People should get down from their vehicles and walk the dunes.
Sledding
This is the most-favored activity in the park. The gypsum dunes are just like snow without the icy temperature. There are sledding gears available at the gift shop. Most people use waxed or plastic snow sauces.
Hiking
There are five well-maintained hiking trails in the gypsum dunes. The act of walking on dunes is exciting enough, but the trails also lead to stunning vistas of mountains and other scenic regions in New Mexico.
Cycling
For those who prefer a more challenging scenic drive, they can do so through cycling. Bicycles, though, are only allowed on Dunes Drive and not on the undulating dunes. Not that the route is not challenging enough, but the area is usually hot and only the first five miles of the road is paved.
Backcountry camping
There are 10 camping sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The permit to do some backcountry camping is available at the entrance.
Flora and fauna
The park is basically a desert, so one can expect flora and fauna to be those usually found in similar topographies. At least 800 different species of animals have been recorded in the park. There are coyotes and foxes, but they are not easily seen by tourists. Resident mammals include badgers, bobcats, porcupines, and rabbits.
As for birds, there are 220 species recorded in the park. Among the most common of them are larks, mockingbirds, ravens, and wrens. There are also some roadrunners and raptors like vultures. There are also different varieties of snakes and lizards, as well as amphibians. Several white animals camouflage themselves in the white sands. Among them are lizards, mice, moths, and other insects. For those who don’t get a chance to see wildlife, they may be able to track from paw prints and footprints of the animals that roam the dunes.
Since the park is a desert, plants are sparse but really interesting because unlike most deserts, the sand is made of gypsum. The flora in the park is significant because the varieties provide food for wildlife, and some are important plants for the production of cloth and medicine.
The cacti and succulents in the park are beautiful and colorful—not just the common green ones that populate deserts. The grasses grow in small bunches and the sparse trees are tall. There are also some beautiful wildflowers around the park.
Photo By: Jacob Lips