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State Bucket List
White Sands National Park contains the world's largest gypsum dune field -- 275 square miles of white sand that turns pink and gold at sunset in a display that has no equal in North America. The Alkali Flat Trail crosses the heart of the dune field through a landscape so otherworldly that it has served as a stand-in for alien planets in film and television. The full moon nights, when the white sand glows like snow under a desert sky, are among the most magical outdoor experiences in the American Southwest.
The dunes are accessible year-round, but the shoulder seasons -- spring and fall -- deliver the best combination of comfortable temperatures and dramatic light. Sledding the dunes is a legitimate activity that the park service actively encourages, making White Sands one of the few national parks where you can have a genuinely playful outdoor experience.
This New Mexico adventure is drawn from Outdoor Taste + Tour's reporting on the Southwest's most compelling outdoor destinations.
The world's largest gypsum dune field turns pink and gold at sunset. Sled down the dunes, hike the Alkali Flat Trail, and stay for the full moon nights when the white sand glows like snow.
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