A Road trip to White Sands

According to the White Sands National Monument website: Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dune field. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field, along with the plants and animals that live there.  

The drive was easy from El Paso over the San Agustin pass and down into the Tularosa Basin.  

On The way down into the basin we found a beautiful little mountain campground in Organ Mountain National Recreation Area - Aguirre Spring.  Unfortunately the road is too narrow and serpentine for our size rig and only those less than 26 feet should try to camp there.

Yes. That is snow.

Maybe the name “While Sands” brings something else to your mind.  It is also the site of the government's premier missile testing range which also includes an outdoor display and a museum.

After getting our credentials, which included a background check, we were allowed to enter the military base to view the exhibits.

V-2 rocket

Continuing on up US 70 to the dunes, we also had to go through a Border Patrol station where ALL northbound vehicles had to be inspected and vetted by a sniffing K9.  The nice officer only asked, “US citizens?” and told us to be on our way.  The guy and the dog classed us as WASP snow birds - harmless.  

By the way, hwy 70 can be closed a couple times per week for a few hours at a time as missiles fly overhead.  We weren’t delayed, but that would be interesting to see.  Also the air base near Alamogordo, NM is the home of the US stealth fighter squadron.  We didn't get to see any of those either. Shucks :-(

No. That is not snow.

Having lived in and toured extensively in Michigan, we are no strangers to sand and dunes.  However, these dunes are WHITE, bright white!  

They are made from gypsum (think drywall) which is leached from surrounding mountains and then left behind as the water evaporates in a terminal lake in the basin.  The white sands are more the consistency of talcum power than Lake Michigan dune sand.  It’s even slippery under foot as you walk on the boardwalks to view the dunes.  

Yes. They go sledding on the sand dunes.

The entire ecosystem has adapted to the dune environment by growing longer roots, sprouting taller flower stems, coming out to be active at night and even to being white or lighter colored than the same species in surrounding areas.  It is a very interesting place.