Our May 2015 visit to White Sands National Monument continued with morning views of the gypsum dunes from various locations close to the graded sand portion of Dunes Drive. The approximately 4.5 mile paved portion of Dunes Drive begins at the visitor center, passes the fee collection station and continues past both the Playa and Dune Life Nature Trails before arriving at the Interdune Boardwalk. During our visit and currently, the first 4 miles of Dunes Drive is designated as a Road Safety Corridor with no stopping or slowing permitted. This designation has also closed the Playa Trail and the Dune Life Nature Trail. The pavement ends just beyond the Interdune Boardwalk, but the road continues for about two miles as a graded gypsum sand road through the dunes before branching to form a 2.4 mile loop through the dunes. This road is open to all vehicles without restrictions. We saw everything from bicycles and motorcycles to Class A motorhomes towing smaller vehicles on the road.
The maintenance department at the monument employs an excellent motor-grader operator who regularly grooms the sand portion of the road like an artist. Because of his skill, this was the smoothest dirt road I've ever driven on.
There is no water available beyond the visitor center, but there are covered picnic tables at one location and vault toilets at several locations around the loop.
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| Morning shadows |
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| Wind ripples |
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| Sacramento Mountains (25 miles distant) |
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| Twin Buttes (11 miles) |
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| San Andres Mountains |
An entrance fee of $3 per person is required to enter the dunes. The fee is valid for seven days. Other options include a White Sands National Monument Annual Pass for $20, an Interagency Annual Pass providing access to most national park, national forest and BLM fee areas for $80 and a lifetime Interagency Senior Pass for those age 62 and older for $10. Special events such as Lake Lucero tours, full moon bike rides and full moon hikes require reservations and additional fees of $8 per person.
The park website is http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm.
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