We started our day at the White Sands National Monument, which is in between Alamogordo and Las Cruces. It was a gorgeous day to visit White Sands. Plus it was also one of the National Parks free admittance days. White Sands is a gypsum dune field and at over 275 square miles is the world’s largest. It sure is a surreal experience being out in the middle of the desert surrounded by white sand.
We decided to do the Akali Flats trail. It’s labeled as a 5 mile strenuous hike. And contrary to the name, the hike is definitely not flat. You are constantly going up and down the sand dunes. Due to the fact that sand dunes shift you must keep your eye out for the next trail marker. This is a place where it’s easy to get lost if you’re not paying attention. We enjoyed the hike and running down the dunes was quite fun.
If you’re not into hiking, many people enjoy sledding down the dunes. Didn’t do that this time around, but it was a lot of fun the last time I visited White Sands. They also have picnic shelters to enjoy your lunch and a visitor center with some great information. A number of people also take Christmas photos amongst the dunes, check out the dude in the reindeer costume.
Then it was on to the Space History Museum in Alamogordo. The Tularosa Basin area has played a major role in the history of the great space race. The area was picked as a site for both the White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base. It’s a good little museum that has some hands on exhibits for kids. There is also an IMAX theater where you can include one of the movies as part of your museum entrance.
Straight out of the Oliver Lee State Park is the Dog Canyon Trail. This trail is a 10.2 mile out and back trail in the Sacramento Mountains outside Alamogordo. Will and I decided to give this trail a shot. The trail starts gaining altitude right from start and it is pretty much an uphill climb for the first half mile. After getting about 4 tenths of a mile, Will declared it the “worst trail ever” and said he was going back down. Shadow and I decided to continue on and make it to the cabin, which is said to be a good turn around spot.
This trail is beautiful, but start early in the morning as there is no shade. Since we started before the sun had crested the mountain, we were more or less in the shade the whole time going up. The trail is very well marked with markers every quarter mile. It offers great views of the White Sands area and the valley below. You will go through a meadow and down into the canyon where there is a riparian area. In the canyon is also where the remains of a cabin are with partial stone walls and the steel bed frame. This trail is strenuous and we gained over 1,600 ft in elevation in our 2.9 mile one way. I’d like to go back and do the full hike one of these days. However, if you have a fear of heights, probably not the hike for you.
