Whimsical Sand Dunes of New Mexico

This marks my third time visiting these sand dunes and they shift my world into a new focus each time. This enchanting land will prize you of a deep connection to yourself and how you’re linked to the earth. The White Sands National Monument in Alamogordo, NM treats you with such care and significance, uprooting strong emotions, simply by existing in its presence. This land monument is for my free souls, meditators, peace-makers, and day dreamers.

All photos are original and captured by me!

Sunset at the White Sands National Monument, Alamogordo, NM.

Personal Experience

Ever since I made my way to the white sands on a solo trip back in 2019, I treat myself with the sunrise and sunset:

Sunrise

Reflecting on my most recent visit in January 2022, we stepped foot on the sands at 7am. The air was shockingly cold, but the sand was much colder. I usually graze the sands barefoot to become more grounded and connected with the earth, but shoes were essential this time. The sand was refreshing with its cool touch and soft grain. The cold air turned our noses faint red. The sun was trying to make an appearance from behind a family of morning clouds. Sun rays lit up the sky, shining in every direction, and beating warmth onto the distant pink mountains. Light orbs and floating rainbows were visible as the sun rose.

The early morning typically ensures moments of solitude before a rush of visitors arrive. We walked along the dunes heading towards the tallest one in sight. With each step I felt at peace. The pillowy sand cushioned our feet and supported us in our path, and the brilliant landscape widened our bright eyes. Pacing ourselves to the tallest dune as we absorbed the breathtaking scene, we found ourselves at the peak. Looking far and wide across dunes of all sizes, we paused.

How is it possible to receive this much optimism, love, and luminous energy from a pinnacle like this? How can so much brilliance and worth be embodied in such a tranquil landscape? The earth brings forth unparalleled value and creation, and through my beliefs, I felt these words: These overwhelming feelings, the brightness, the shock, the unmatched beauty, all comes from within. With an external push from the earth of which we live and love, we are invited to clearly see and feel ourselves in our truest form. Your feelings provoked from the dunes are simply feelings that exist about yourself. You are bright, beautiful, and incredibly unmatched. You are such a lovely entity that is unlike any other.

Sunset

After spending hours on the sands and breaking off for lunch, we came back for the sunset. I always stay until closing time. This is when the air turns cold again and the sky begins changing colors. The mountains on the opposite side of the sunset are reflected bright pink and red compared to the others which remain deep blue. The clouds take a whimsical formation as the sun disappears, wisping above our heads. As the sun finally dissipates from behind the giant mountains, the vibrance of the sunset lingers for awhile. Pink, yellow, burnt orange, lilac, and blue are projected in layers. This is my favorite time of day spent at the White Sands. Eventually the sunset ends and the stars start to peak past the mellowing colors. This is when I’ll find a tall dune, lay in the sand, and rest my head, grazing my eyes into the depths of early night sky searching for stars as they begin to appear. I relax my entire body and mind, only using my eyes, and often gently run my fingers through the sand next to me. I meditate, focus on my breath and my bodily movements, and concentrate on the circulation of energy flowing from the earth, to me, then back to the earth in its beautiful cycle. The sand is cool and soft like a blanket, the moon gleams brightly, and with every minute, more stars come out. The mountains blend with the darkening sky until all that’s left is you, the dune of which you rest, the moon, and thousands of stars and galactic dust speckled all around you.

Leaving is hard. I have fallen asleep numerous times after sunset and find it difficult to break away from such a glorifying, recharging atmosphere. However, the drive away from the dunes is very magical too, riding past tall walls of sand alongside the park’s roads. You’re kissed goodbye with wisps of sand and the moon that wishes you could stay longer. But in the end you must know, the sands will always welcome you back with wide arms, an engulfing hug, and all the love in the world.

7am at the White Sands National Monument, Alamogordo, NM.

Weather & Terrain

Reflecting on my most recent visit in January 2022, the temperatures resided near 30-40 degrees (F) in the mornings and evenings, warming up to the mid-60s during daylight. My visits during November 2021 and February 2019 shared similar temperatures around 40-50 degrees (F) in the mornings and evenings, but rose to the beautiful mid-70s during the day. In all of my visits, the forecast was partly to mostly cloudy during the day, but the sky often clears before evening. I typically walk through the sands barefoot, but my January visit prompted me to wear shoes because of near freezing temperatures. The sand mimics the temperature so it can become very hot or cold.

The sands are always changing formation so no visit is the same. The sand is very fine and soft, stretching for miles. You’ll see small shrubs and other plants in the sand closer to the entrance of the monument, near the parking lots, and around the camping sites. Once you venture far enough from the inner roads, the plants become less popular.

Wildlife

While there are little to no bugs, there are some creatures that share the dunes with us, including snakes, birds, and small rodents. You’ll often find their trails in the sand! Sadly, I have never encountered any animal during my visits.

Mid-day at the White Sands National Monument, Alamogordo, NM.

Visitor Info

The early bird gets the worm in this case! When I arrived at open (7am), there was no entrance fee. Otherwise, adults (18+) pay a $15 admission fee, which is valid for up to a week. To my memory, children under 12 are free, including active or retired members of the Armed Forces. I have witnessed these prices fluctuate during my various visits.

The White Sands is a pet-friendly monument, as long as they’re leashed.

Before you make your way into the dunes area, there is a White Sands Visitors Center with a gift shop and bathrooms. The gift shop has cool stickers, postcards, sweaters, t-shirts, jewelry, pottery, and snacks. You can also rent sand sleds here! The monument also has a local White Sands Museum on site. I went through the museum during my 2019 visit, which helped me get a better understanding of the wildlife, seasonal climates, and how the sand dunes came to be. I recommend checking out the museum before hand if you’re curious about its history.

Upon entering the dunes area, it will take about 10-20 minutes to reach the white sands, depending on how far you venture out. The road is paved at the beginning but eventually turns to sand. Please drive slow and be cautious about pets, children, and other vehicles. There are several parking lots along the dunes which are all open for public use. The camp sites are only designated for those camping and are not available for public parking. If you drive to the end of the roadway, you’re looped back around. Along this loop, there are picnic areas, bathrooms, camp sites, and the Amphitheater.

There is a Sunset Stroll hosted every evening around 5pm at the Interdune Boardwalk. This takes place near the first parking lot in the dunes area. There is no additional fee to attend this, and there is always a decent amount of people and pets that participate. There are also several other hiking trails throughout the monument, which are shown in the map provided upon entry.

Precautions

Visitors receive a pamphlet upon entry to the dunes area, which includes a park map and information on safety, wildlife, and a brief history of the sand dunes. Hiking trails are outlined in the pamphlet as well.

Please take note regarding your parking space and your whereabouts once you venture on foot outside of a hiking trail. There are minimal posts to mark distance or location. Do not rely on retracing your footsteps because the wind or other visitors will likely alter the path or over them up. Bring plenty of water for you, your group, and your pets, especially during hot weather.

The park closes at 6pm. If you have parked further away from the entrance, please leave soon enough to reach the gate on time.

7am with rainbow orbs, White Sands National Monument, Alamogordo, NM.

Overview

Despite visiting these sands three times already, I would certainly visit again. The endless amount of fulfillment and inspiration I receive here is unlike any place. As the dunes continue to shift and reform, each visit makes it seem unfamiliar and unique in the best way. Finding a significant natural landmark like this gives you the opportunity to delve into acknowledging yourself with silence, meditation, exploration, and natural energy. The White Sands welcome you as one of its own.