Our first stop was the Visitor Center (built in the late 1930s) where we saw a 17-minute video (well-done overview of this natural wonder) and enjoyed the exhibits.
There is also a lovely gift shop behind the Visitor Center.
Sleds (those round plastic discs) can be purchased here as well for those who want to go sledding on the dunes.
Here is a photo of a family enjoying dune sledding...
The question on my mind was, why doesn't this sand blow away? The answer is that there is no drainage from the Tularosa Basin to an ocean, and the water is trapped here. As the water evaporates, it leaves behind the gypsum. Water, however, is only a few feet below the surface and this is what holds the gypsum in the basin. The gypsum field was initially very small and has grown to its current size over 10,000 years.
After thousands of years of living in the dune field, many animals (mice, lizards, grasshoppers, crickets and others) are a much lighter color than their relatives that live in surrounding regions. The plants that exist here thrive in gypsum soils, tolerate drought, and somehow survive being covered in sand.
There is a 16-mile scenic drive through the dune field. Our first stop was the Interdune Boardwalk, a handicap-accessible trail, where we got our first real look at the dunes.
Upon seeing this area, we both felt like there must be an ocean on the other side of the dune. It's crazy.
We continued on the Loop Drive to the Alkali Flat Trail. There is a large parking area and the trail starts from there. It's a 5-mile loop trail deep into the dunes area. We only hiked about a mile of it.
And what made this landscape just a little more crazy was that there was snow on the sand!
I felt like I was on another planet. And it was so very quiet here.
Can you see the two markers in the center of the photo? These are the trail markers...kind of like buoys in water, you should proceed through the middle of them.
Sand, snow, mountains, and sky. Wow!
Kids at play...John with a snowball and Sadie eating the snow.
The bright white dunes continually change due to the relentless strong southwest winds causing them to advance, covering everything in its path. In some areas the dunes advance 38 feet per year.
Backcountry Camping Loop Trail.
Toes in the sand. Even when it is very hot, you can walk on this gypsum sand barefooted.
This is one of the most amazing places I have ever seen. Visit it if you ever get the opportunity.
Admission is $20/vehicle. John's senior pass got us in for free. This is one of the most unique places I have ever seen. Visit it, if you ever get the opportunity to do so. Check out their website for additional information.
Website: www.nps.gov/whsa
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