Best trails to see White Sands’s wonders

White Sands National Park boasts the largest gypsum sand 
dunefield in the world.

Among the best ways to see the top sights of White Sands National Park – America’s newest national park – is via a day hike. Just five short trails will allow you to enjoy each of the park’s highlights: the world’s largest gypsum dunefield; sledding the dunes; desert wildlife; wildflowers; and stargazing.

World’s largest gypsum dunefield
Day hikers can walk across the park’s otherworldly pure white dunes. The 4.9-mile Alkali Flat Trail loops over the western portion of the New Mexico dunefield. It’s one of the few trails in the world that requires a different route every time you hike it – the route changes daily as blowing winds remold the dunes.

Sledding
Sledding on the snow-like dunes is a favorite activity of the park’s visitors with most of them doing so in the Heart of the Sands area. There’s not a trail exactly, but you’ll do a lot of walking – all uphill – as you ascend the dunes and then slide down them. Best of all, though, you can sled without stuffing yourself inside all of those bulky winter clothes. The steepest dunes are halfway along the Heart of the Sands loop as you begin heading toward the park entrance.

Desert wildlife
The vast, inhospitable gypsum dunes of White Sands look lifeless to most visitors. Truth be known, more than 800 animal species call the park home. A good way to learn about some of that wildlife is hiking the Dune Life Nature Trail. The 1-mile lollipop trail sits at the edge of the gypsum dunefield where it meets the surrounding desert scrubland. Fourteen trailside signs tell about wildlife of both the desert and dunes. Even better, each placard has two parts – one for adults and one for kids – making this a great family trail.

Desert wildflowers
Park visitors can enjoy desert flowers on the Native Plant Garden Tour. The short trail – just 150-200 feet tops – is a self-guided walking tour in front of the visitor center. It's best seen mid-April through late November, as desert plants are dormant during winter. Highlights include soaptree yucca, ocotillo, Torrey's Yucca, and several wildflowers.

Stargazing
Among the darkest skies in America’s national parks are at White Sands. For many who’ve never seen the night sky before, the sight is absolutely startling and awe-inspiring with up to 2000 stars visible on the best nights. The park’s 2.2-mile Backcountry Camping Trail is mainly for backpackers, but day hikers can take it as well while still light out. If backpack camping is your thing, though, this is an ideal trail for stargazing.