White Sands National Park is a hard-to-describe experience. Your eyes are telling you “snow” as you’re surrounded by miles and miles of waving, rolling dunes of pure white. However, you are not cold. In fact, being at the northern end of the Chihuahuan desert, it can be quite the opposite. Of all the National Parks we’ve been to, this is one of the most memorable.
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The sand at White Sands National Park isn’t normal sand one can find at a beach. The sand is made of ultrafine particles of gypsum, the same stuff that is used to make drywall. Because of this, the sand isn’t coarse like one would expect, but smooth and crunchy. In fact, a popular activity in White Sands National Park is sledding! Further adding to the snow/not snow confusion.
Sledding in Summer Clothes?
While we were at the park, we were able to learn a lot about how the area was formed. We also took a walk around a dry “playa,” a kind of seasonal lake. There are a lot of informational plaques about how many desert creatures have adapted to the unique biome present at the park.
Before we visited the park, we read Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages. The story follows a fictional family during the historic events surrounding the development of the nuclear bomb and eventual test at what is now known as the Trinity Test Site. It’s important to note that “Ground Zero” is on the military base, and not open to the public. Additionally, due to the proximity to the test range, White Sands National Park is sometimes ordered to close during military tests. Luckily, the closures are well-communicated, and one isn’t likely to be caught unaware as long as you look before you go.
White Sands National Park is definitely a sensory experience that we’ll treasure for many years, and so far the only park that The Boy has actively campaigned to return to.