Adventures in White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument, is a wonder on earth, is fascinating to study, experience, and explore. White Sands National Monument is in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It’s known for its dramatic landscape of rare white sand dunes. Trails through the dunes include the raised Interdune Boardwalk and the Dune Life Nature Trail, dotted with interpretive exhibits on wildlife and other features. Dunes Drive is a looped road from the White Sands Visitor Center to the dune field.

The drive through is almost like driving through a winter wonderland of snow, but without the cold. Once on the dunes, there is loads of fun. Bring a sled, snowboard or sandboard to have a go down the dunes. It is a chore getting up and down the dunes, but hours of fun in the sun. Take in the vast mounds of white sand, enjoy a picnic and let the explorer in you roam. It’s truly an amazing experience!

So, what’s with the white sand anyway?

The sand in these miles of shifting dunes is not like most inland sand. Interestingly, the sand at White Sands National Monument is almost pure gypsum. Gypsum is different from many other rocks because it is readily soluble. That means it will dissolve in water, just like sugar or salt. When rain falls on the mountains, the layers of gypsum start to dissolve, and the gypsum runs down the mountains as fast as the water can carry it. Since the dunes are fully enclosed, there is no outlet to water of any kind, so the gypsum stays in the monument.