Summer Sled at White Sands National Park in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission from the discount codes used or when a link/ad is clicked. All purchases made will come at no extra cost to you, and I only include products and services that I have personally used and would recommend. Also, Two Worlds Treasures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Thanks to our two friends who recommended the White Sands National Park, we could sled in our summer road trip a few years ago. Summer! Not winter. And it’s on gypsum, not sand! “What?” you might wonder.
Summer Sled at White Sands National Park
When you ask your friends about their memorable experience in White Sands National Park, sledding on sand will be the answer. It was so fun, even adults like to do it. Because, where else you can sled on a gypsum, right?
It’s late in the afternoon when we arrived at the White Sands National Park Visitor Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. We were doing National Parks hopping in the southwest, and White Sands was our second parks after Carlsbad Caverns National Park in White City, also in New Mexico.
In about half hour, the Sunset Stroll was about to begin. After reading the program’s brochure, we decided to join in to learn about the white sands and enjoy the sunset at the end of the program.
But first, we went to gift shop to rent the waxed snow-saucer for sledding. When my husband walked to the back of the gift shop, he found used snow-saucers that were for sale. He bought one and we’re ready to sled and explore!
The Sand is Gypsum!
When we followed the ranger into the park and turned our head to look around, it’s all white all the way to the horizon. The brilliant white sands in the park are not like sands on the white sandy beaches. White Sands National Park was made of about 98 percent pure gypsum sand. It is a common mineral that is used in a variety of products like drywall for your house or toothpaste in your bathroom. Besides rarely found in sand form, it’s even rarer to find gypsum sand in the form of dunes, making this 275-square mile dune fields a one-of-a-kind natural wonder.
As I mentioned above, we joined the Sunset Stroll, which was a leisurely, ranger-guided stroll through the gypsum sand dunes. It didn’t require much of climbing, approximately one mile (1.6 km), and took about 45 minutes to one hour.
I remember our ranger was a rookie, but he explained the uniqueness of the geology, plants, and animals of the area well. And without we knew it, we’re already at the end of the stroll. When I looked to the horizon, the sun was almost set. Before leaving, the ranger reminded us to stay on path when we scattered around to enjoy the sunset.
We picked one dune where we could see the road from the top and had fun sledding; laughing, screaming, back and forth until we couldn’t see the light at the horizon anymore. The sand felt cool to the touch and yes, we made sand angel, too. It was really awesome and the sunset itself was fantastic.
What to Know About Sledding by Yourself
The next morning our son begged to go back to the park for more fun. Of course we couldn’t say no because we wanted to sled again, too. But first, we stopped at the Interdune Boardwalk to learn more about the park’s visitors and found several animal tracks around it; nocturnal animals or morning animals?
Then we drove to amphitheater and sled and played in the sand for a couple of hours. What a fun and memorable morning!
One thing to know when you go back for sledding by yourself, always pick a dune by the road. Or at least you can see the road from where you stand. Wind can change the shape of the sand easily, so it’s not uncommon visitors will loose direction. Remember that!
In my opinion, you don’t have to walk further into the park just for sledding. White Sands National Park is not like the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado where you can see the Visitor Center from the top. Here at the White Sands, the Visitor Center is by the entrance. Once you enter the park, you won’t see it anymore. All you see is white sands. Most of the road views are covered by sand dunes. So, choose a dune by the road.
One other good thing about the sand, it doesn’t stick on our body. When we’re done sledding and ready to go, all we needed to do was just shake it before we climbed to the car. Then we left to the next destination with excitement.
Tips when visiting White Sands National Park
– Read and follow the safety rules of the park. Don’t underestimate the safety rules and overestimate yourself.
– Programs may be canceled due to weather or missile range activities.
– Lots of hotels and restaurants to choose from that fit your budget in Alamogordo.
Park Entrance Fees
- Per vehicle: $25, valid for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase.
- Per person: $15, charged only when there is only one adult (16 years and older) in the vehicle. Valid for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase.
- Per motorcycle: $20, also valid for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase.
- Annual Vehicle Pass: $45, admits the pass holder and three persons (16 years and older) in a private, non-commercial vehicle. Good for one year from the date of purchase. You can only buy the pass at the White Sands NP entrance station. You can’t use it for camping and ranger programs fees.
- America the Beautiful – Annual Park Pass: $80.
Address:
Highway US-70 between the cities of Alamogordo and Las Cruces. The entrance to the monument can be found between mile 199 and 200.
Before we continued our adventure to Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona, we made a quick stop at McGinn’s Farm to see the World’s Largest Pistachio Monument. If you like pistachio, or even if you don’t like it, you must stop here. It’s a fun visit.
The drive from White Sands National Monument to Saguaro National Park took less than 5 hours. First, we drove to Las Cruces, then turned to I-10 that took us all the way to Tucson, Arizona. When you happen to be in Las Cruces during lunch time or supper, I’ve got you cover here. We all know New Mexico is famous for its chiles. So, what’s better than having Mexican Food with green or red chiles, right? Try them at one of these best Mexican Restaurants in Las Cruces before you continue the drive to Arizona.
White Sands National Park looks like a fun spot for kids of all ages. Sledding on sand is definitely something we would visit for. And of course we would want to leave our imprint with a sand angel. Good to know they had saucers both for rent and for sale. We will definitely be careful to benchmark our spot so we don’t get lost.
It is really a fun place. One of our friends who recommended the park was a couple in their mid 60s. 😉
I grew up in Minnesota so I’m a pro at sledding in the snow. We’ll have to see whether those skills translate to sand! White Sands National Monument has been on my bucket list for a long time and you’ve definitely spurred me into planning a trip there ASAP. Just another reason to love New Mexico.
Go there ASAP so you can see if the sled on the snow is the same with the one on sand! All I know, both are bringing nothing but fun!
Sounds like a great experience, especially for kids! We do sand sledding here in Dubai, on the yellow desert sands , in summer as well as in winter. A little strange for me to hear that its not actual sand in White Sands National Monument but gypsum. Looks quite similar though and seems the experience is great nevertheless!
Strange but real. I wonder if there are other places like this in the other part of the world.
Who knew you could do all your usual winter activities in the sand?! And I love how reasonably priced it is to visit the White Sands park. Obviously it has to be a blast if you chose to visit multiple days in a row!
For sure! And I’ve sent a couple of my closest friends to this park after learning about White Sands NM from me.
Whoa!!! What a landscape it is!!! I’d spend a day rolling on it hahaha…. Sand angels are interested.
So true, miles and miles of Gypsum as sand is unheard of!!!
Good to know it’s included in National Park pass
What a great day out for you all! Your son’s face of pure joy was lovely to see. I have never heard of gypsum sand before and amazed how easy it comes off your body, not like ordinary sand. I would enjoy the Sunset Stroll, also being a big kid I would love to sled down the dunes.
When I asked him about the trip, he still wants to go back. What he doesn’t know, I would like to sled down the sand dunes again also.
This place looks beautiful. I wouldnt have thought it would it would be in the USA. This looks like a lot of fun.
Where do you think it would be?
I’ve so been wanting to visit New Mexico, and I can’t wait to add this experience to my “things I must do” list! What a unique experience, I had to keep re-reading and looking at the photos closely because it looks SO much like snow! We tend to think we can only have these experiences outside of the US (such as by visiting the Middle East), but this post is a testament to how much there is to see in our own backyards! What a special memory and moment for your family, and what a great post!
Isn’t it? Our yard is so huge but most of us also crowding the famous ones. We forgot there are so many things to do and see. Finding the treasures, one at a time.
I much prefer the sound of making a sand than a snow angel! This national park is incredible and somewhere I’ve never heard of! It’s also great you can use your member card to get in for so cheap too. I’d definitely like to pay this white sands park a visit if I’m ever in this part of the US.
What interesting is, this park and a few other parts of New Mexico that most European never heard of, is well-know in France. I don’t know why.
Very neat, I did not know that gypsum was so rare. It looks like a lot of fun for kids and adults alike, thanks for sharing!
Oh my goodness! I have ALWAYS wanted to do this!! We haven’t made it to New Mexico yet, but this is definitely on our list for when we do!
I’ve never heard of this place but it does looks like it would be fun. I’d definitely like to visit new Mexico as it’s a part of the state’s I don’t know. I understand also that you can ski there which would be cool
You should visit New Mexico. You can sled on sand on the south, and ski on the north part of the state.
I actually visited White Sands about 2.5 years ago when they had the free week of National Parks. So good! When I was there, there weren’t any guided tours or activities so I was kind of lost as to what to do besides see the museum, walk on a boardwalk, and then take cool photos. Looks like you had a great day!
I wonder why they didn’t have a guided tour. Was it because of the free week or just a bad timing? Anyway, I think we were lucky to arrive before the Sunset Tour about to begin. It was really great!
My kids would have an awesome time doing this. Actually, I would like to try it out myself. White Sands really is white!
We had a blast ourselves! And thinking about stopping there again this summer.
This looks like so much fun! I would love to go sledding in the sand. I remember sledding in snow when I was a kid and it was so much fun. I’ll definitely make a sand angel too 🙂
You will have as much fun as sledding in the snow. I think it’s even more fun because the weather is not cold but the sand cool to the touch.
Wow this sands really looks white!! Also nice to see the interesting gypsum sand in the form of dunes. It really looks like a fun activity! Where can I get an America Beautiful National Park pass?
You can always get the American Beautiful National Park pass at the gate of National Park or National Monument all over the U.S.
This is so different and looks like a ton of fun. I had no idea that this existed in the States. I will need to check it out.
Actually, there’s also one in Texas and a few others in different states.
This is on my travel itinerary for next summer, thanks for the tips!
You are welcome!
What a fun post! I didn’t know that there was such a thing as gypsom sand (or that it’s in toothpaste) so we all learned something! Meanwhile, I really want to try sledding down those dunes!
I don’t mind to go back and repeat the fun sledding down the dunes.
that is super cool! I would love this! I love the idea of sledding but I hate the snow, so this would be perfect for me!
I guess we actually can sled anytime of the season in the country.
This sand almost looked like snow! I would love to sled in the warm, beautiful sand. Looks like your family had a blast 🙂
We did have a blast! But the sand was actually cool to the touch.
This looks like another place to visit while in New Mexico! I love the summertime sledding!!
Yes, it is! The next summer we did summertime sledding at the Great Sand Dune.
We hope to go to New Mexico someday. This looks like a lot of fun. I think my daughter would really have a good time. Oh, who am I kidding? My husband and I would have a great time, too!
Hope you will make it. New Mexico is our new love, after Colorado. There are so much places that we have to discover yet. I’m sure you and your husband will have a great time at White Sands NM.
How fun! Sledding in warm weather sounds perfect 🙂 my kids would love this!
They will love it! And you, too for sure!