White Sands National Monument

Ever thought of sledding down a sand dune? Now is your chance. Meet the planet's largest gypsum dune field.

No, that's not snow you're seeing. Those are rolling dunes of gypsum sand that cover 275 square miles. This unique landscape in the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico has created a micro desert. Roadrunners, foxes, and snakes all call the park home.

Start your journey at the Spanish Pueblo-style visitor center. Here, you'll find an interactive museum, an orientation film, and a gift shop. Drinking water isn't available elsewhere in the park, so fill up your jugs here.

Most visitors take in the desert views from Dunes Drive. The round trip is just 16 miles long, and you can either drive or bike. Along the way, you find picnic areas and vault toilets. Other activities include hiking five marked trails, horseback riding (BYOH), touring the desert garden, and—you guessed it—sledding. Purchase your sleds at the gift shop, and remember to wax up your saucer before shredding those dunes.

Aside from the occasional missile testing closures thanks to the nearby range (Check before you travel), the park is open year-round. White Sands boasts 330 days of sunny skies per year, but summer temperatures can exceed 100 F. To avoid the scorching heat (and the rainy season) we recommend visiting from September through November. Daytime temperatures are a comfortable 65 to 80 F with nighttime temps dipping into the 40s.

The national monument has 10 hike-in backcountry sites. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Whether you stay in or around the park, get here early to catch the best sunrise views of your life.