Travel. Travel Writing Prompt. New Mexico.
5 Reasons for a Road Trip to White Sands Monument
A fascinating wonderland in the natural desert where life feels otherworldly.
#naturalwonders
When you first see photos of the White Sands Monument in New Mexico, USA, you might think a filter was used on the images or somehow manipulated to look so white, clean, and pristine.
I can tell you from first-hand experience; White Sands Monument really does look that awesome!
The history of this place is truly fascinating. If you ever need a reason to visit it, check out the list below.
- What is that sparkly stuff shining in the hot sun? It looks like sparkly snow, but it’s not. Technically it’s not sand because it is Gypsum made 12,000 years ago. It covers 225 square miles. That’s a lot to see in one day, let alone in a few hours. The area was once home to Lake Otero and teemed with wildlife and humans from the Neolithic era. The climate started to change, and the lake dried up, leaving this unusual “sand” behind. Even though Gypsum is water-soluble, it never disappears when it rains because it has nowhere to go. It sits in a basin surrounded by mountains.
2. Is it hard to find? It’s easy to get to, less than an hour’s drive from the Las Cruces, New Mexico area. The visitor’s center entrance is just off of Interstate 70. It’s also right next to Holloman Air Force Base. It’s a total of 16 miles round-trip and loops around in a meandering way with four stop-off points along the way to get out and hike. At only $3 a person to visit, it’s a very budget-friendly natural wonder to see.
3. Why isn’t it called a National Park? It was named White Sands National Monument in 1933 because a Monument encompasses preserving several nationally significant resources. More than just maintaining the dunes, there exists an entire ecosystem of natural plants and wildlife indigenous to this area of the Chihuahuan desert.
4. Fossilized Footprints? In 2018 people discovered footprints in the sand in an area where tourists don’t usually walk. Researchers determined the footprints were from a female carrying a child during the ice age. They could tell when the child was walking next to her from 2 sets of footprints and when she must have picked up the child and carried it when only 1 set of footprints were visible. Other footprints found where humans from long ago tried to take down a giant Sloth or Mammoth. Nobody knows if they successfully hunted those giant animals, but the footprints tell an incredible story to make you wonder what their life was like in the Neolithic era.
5. It’s a Photographers Paradise. The Sunsets. OMG. The Moon Rises. OMG. Fantastic opportunities abound for the novice to the experienced photographer to capture unique photos like nowhere else. I was there for only a couple of hours towards the sunset and was able to see a full moon rising over the mountains in the distance. It was almost surreal, otherworldly. It’s relatively quiet, too, save for the occasional muted noise from nearby people exploring. In some places, you stop to catch your breath and marvel at what is all around you. You could be off by yourself enjoying the peaceful serenity of the #naturalwonders that abound in White Sands National Monument.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed with up-to-date curations from our editors:👇
We now offer exclusive writing services for our members. Discover how you can take advantage of our editing services and more.
