White Sands National Park | Sledding the Gypsum Dunes, Fossil Footprints & Dog-Friendly Travel

Experience the surreal beauty of White Sands National Park in New Mexico, home to the largest gypsum dune field in the world. In this video, we go sledding down the bright white dunes, explore the park’s unique history, and bring our dog Pete along for one of the most dog-friendly National Park adventures in the U.S.

Did you know White Sands is more than just dunes? This area is famous for 10,000+ year-old fossilized human footprints, its proximity to the White Sands Missile Range and Trinity Site (first atomic bomb test), and its role in protecting a rare gypsum ecosystem found nowhere else on Earth.

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⬇️ Visitor Guide & Travel Tips ⬇️

White Sands National Park:
🔹 Largest gypsum dune field in the world, covering 275 square miles.
🔹 Entire park (except Visitor Center) is dog-friendly — rare for U.S. National Parks.
🔹 Perfect for sledding, hiking, and photography.

Travel Tips:
🔹 Arrive early to beat the crowds and midday heat.
🔹 Sled Rentals: Rent at KOA Alamogordo for $1 instead of $25+ inside the park.
🔹 Roads: Some are unpaved/sandy — drive carefully.
🔹 Amenities: Park offers shaded picnic areas, ranger-led sunset walks, and scenic overlooks.
🔹 RV-Friendly: Large open parking areas without marked spaces — perfect for RVs.

Fun Facts & History:
🔹 Fossilized footprints at White Sands date back more than 10,000 years, showing evidence of early humans hunting giant ground sloths.
🔹 During WWII, the nearby White Sands Proving Grounds became the site of the first atomic bomb test (Trinity, 1945).
🔹 The gypsum dunes are unique because they stay cool to the touch, even on hot days.

📅 Date Visited: January 10, 2025
🚐 Stayed At: White Rock Visitors Center (RV camping available with hookups)

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⏰ Time Codes ⏰
0:00 – White Sands National Park Overview
0:54 – Visitor Center Info
1:32 – Driving to the Dunes
3:12 – Sledding the Gypsum Dunes
4:51 – Lunch at the Park
6:15 – Drive Back to Visitor Center
8:35 – More Sledding + Sunset Views
9:31 – Ranger-Led Info Walk
13:02 – Sunset Across the Dunes
14:51 – Returning the Sleds

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👋 Who We Are!
We’re Derek and Ashley, full-time travelers exploring North America in our Jayco Swift 20TLi RV with our pup, Pete. We share practical travel tips, honest stories, and the highs and lows of van life.

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