A sea of white gypsum sand stretches to the horizon, interrupted only by wind-hewn wrinkles and the occasional enterprising wispy bush. Be sure to wear sunglasses to avoid going "snow blind," as the white sand is every bit as dazzling as sunshine on snow. Don't think it's a trick of the sun if you see an Arabian oryx plodding over the horizon, as the animals thrive in the area. The monument is a land of contrasts, such as brilliant flowers poking from arid sand, so pack your tent and explore for days.
With a Backpack
- Ten primitive backcountry sites are the only options for camping within the boundaries of White Sands National Monument. The campsites lie along a loop trail varying in distance from the trailhead from 0.7 mile to just over 1 mile. Get a backcountry camping permit at the visitor's center for a small per-person fee to have a campsite assigned to you. A brown marker denotes your site, and you must set up camp within 5 feet of it. Pack in your own water, pack out your trash and bury human waste.
State Park Amenities, World-Class Views
- If a rugged night on the dunes isn't for you, a natural desert experience with a few amenities is available at Oliver Lee State Park, 24 miles from White Sands. Enjoy a hot shower and electricity at the park's 44-site campground. The sites also accommodate RVs, with natural vegetation surrounding them as well as views of the Sacramento Mountains and surrounding desert. Each site comes with a picnic table and fire ring with fold-over grill. The sites are in full sun, so bring an extra shade canopy to keep the sun off your table or tent.
In the Forest
- Seven campgrounds within the Lincoln National Forest sit within a 37-mile drive from White Sands. The campgrounds lie within 2 miles of one another, about 1.5 miles southeast of Cloudcroft. Silver Campground provides hot showers for a fee, and campers staying at the other campgrounds are welcome to use them. The campsites are nestled among tall ponderosa pines at about 9,000 feet, with temperatures that range up to 20 degrees cooler than at White Sands. Tables and grills are found at each site.
Middle Ground
- The Bureau of Land Management's Aguirre Springs Campground lies 39 miles southwest of White Sands, among the sharp spires of the Organ Mountains. The high desert campground is the eastern terminus for the Baylor Pass Trail that passes over the mountains to Baylor Canyon. The Pine Tree loop trail circles 4 miles into the Organ Needles, visiting a ponderosa pine forest before dropping back into the desert. The 57-site campground has sites with shade, tables and grills.
