White Sands National Monument

Bring your sunglasses; White Sands National Monument might be hard on your eyes.

White Sand Everywhere

It was with some trepidation that I planned our journey from Carlsbad, to our next campground at Alamogordo, New Mexico. There was a route that would have only been 125 miles, but according to the locals not only would it be steep but gas stations would be an issue. When towing through the Sacramento Mountains I had to assume that I would get poor gas mileage. If this road was really steep I wasn’t sure I could make it with one tank of gas. The suggestion was to go back toward Roswell and take Highway 380 west to Alamogordo. It would add about forty miles to the trip, but there would be no danger of running out of gas.

Highway 380 is a very nice four lane highway with beautiful views as you cross over the mountains. The road has some nice inclines but they are not as bad as you might think. When we were about thirty miles from the campground we decided to pull into a gas station and fill up, but it wouldn’t have been necessary. Oddly we averaged 12 MPG for the trip to Alamogordo.

The city of Alamogordo was founded in 1898, and is located in the Tularosa basin. Looking to the east you will see the Sacramento Mountains and to the west is the White Sands National Monument. As you drive down from the mountains into the city the sensation is that you are coming down into a large valley.

I knew we had to be getting close when Tammy pointed out the giant pistachio and said she had read about the store. All along the trip from Carlsbad we had seen grove after grove of trees in perfect rows and we were wondering what they were, now it all made sense – they were pistachio trees. This is the worlds largest Pistachio nut at thirty feet tall, and is next to the Pistachio-Land Store. The Pistachio-Land store has its own grove of pistachio trees nearby. The store carries a variety of different flavored pistachios, all flavored on site. We came back the next day and stocked up on a wide array of pistachios. You will not be disappointed if you visit this store.

Giant Pistachio

We chose the Alamogordo KOA as our campground for the next few days primarily due to its location. The owners are hands on in this campground and do everything they can to make sure you are happy. The sites are not very wide but each site has cement patios bordered by a sort of privacy wall.

Alamogordo/White Sands KOA – What a view!

It’s not every morning that you can look out at the mountains over a cup of coffee. The views here are outstanding.

The next morning we set off for White Sands National Monument. It is located 17 miles south of the campground on highway 70. The White Sands National Monument is located in the northern most part of the Chihuahuan desert. With the exception of Christmas, the monument is open year round but their hours of operation vary on the time of the year. Also, you will want to check out their website to make sure no missile testing is taking place as that will result in the facility being closed to visitors for up to three hours.

White Sands National Monument

At the Visitors Center, a Spanish style adobe structure, you will pay an entrance fee of five dollars per adult. In return you get access to the park and receive a map to help in locating trails etc. You can also rent saucers to sled down the hills (which happens to be very popular), or find some souvenirs, snacks and sandwiches to purchase. If you happen to be a tent camper, there are ten camping sites available on a first come/ first serve basis. If interested in very primitive tent camping here, you will need to register and purchase a camping pass at the visitors center.

The Visitors center also has a museum, and an area where you can watch an informative film on the history of the ecosystem here.

Boardwalk at White Sands

The Park consists of a 16 mile loop, that weaves around the many sand dunes. You will find some boardwalk type areas that allow you to walk above the sand and learn about the native vegetation and animals that occupy the terrain. There are also several picnic areas (62 picnic tables) and bathrooms. The vehicle loop is not a paved trail. It is similar to a crushed limestone (perhaps it is just compacted sand) and is very rough at points; so be careful.

The White Sands Loop

To call this sand would be incorrect, it is really a gypsum powder, so the consistency is similar to talcum powder. Even though it is that fine, you will not find walking through it to be very strenuous. Climbing the bluffs, depending on your approach, may be challenging but well worth the effort. Keep in mind there are five walking trails within the park, so there really is something for everyone.