"The Sa ..." a White Sands National Monument Travel Page by mrclay2000

The town of Alamogordo (17 mi from the park) is generally known for less inviting things than a national park (i.e. monument, as White Sands is designated). On top of this there is an Air Force Base surrounding the park which conducts occasional weapons and missile testing, which sometimes shuts the park down altogether. The park service radio warns against quicksand, rapid suffocation, getting lost, being competent with navigation and compass, and the need for extra rations and cautions when venturing into the dunes.

All this said, this place is a wonderful place. White Sand -- isn't that what we dream of on the most perfect beaches? The sand is cool even under a blazing sun. The dunes stretch over a natural sandbox called the Tularosa Basin of 275 square miles, ringed by slate blue mountains. The park road weaves into this desert only 8 miles, about midway through its length, when its width is much more considerable. There is very little to see or do here, but the sand is immeasurably entertaining for a few hours. You can see the active effects of wind erosion, and little animal tracks of the normal residents of the area. In a word, while my personal aversion for New Mexico is extremely high, this extraordinary and unique desert is my highly-touted, extra-enjoyable 'garden spot' of the Land of Disenchantment.