We liked White Sands so much we visited twice in two days! The first day we arrived around 4:00 and took the ranger’s advice to drive the loop during sunset and save hiking for another day. It was cloudy, windy, and cold—but it created a fun illusion that we were driving and walking around on ice.
There are several places to stop along the road and get out to walk on the dunes. One area has an elevated boardwalk and felt a bit more like a visit to the beach.
You might not have a lot of time for exploring before the park closes, but White Sands is definitely worth a visit at the end of the day. The sunset creates some really neat colors and shadows on the dunes.
We went back the next morning with a cloudless sky overhead. And, wow, those sands are bright! Blindingly white!
We passed a few people on the trail, but mostly it felt like we were alone. And it was so quiet out there!
One regret: not buying sleds at the visitor center. Yes, you can go sledding on the dunes! (FYI, frisbees do not work.)
alpaca your suitcase 
Lovely photos! My son and I will be backpacking overnight at White Sands this summer–can’t wait to experience sunset and sunrise from the dunes. Thank you for the sled tip; will remember to buy one at the Visitor Center!
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Oooh, you’ll get to do some epic stargazing! The Visitor Center sells used sleds, so look for those for a better deal. If you guys like space exploration, rockets, etc, there are a couple of good sites near the park—the White Sands Missile Range Museum and the NM Museum of Space History. You don’t need a ton of time at either, but they are fun stops. I think I have a post scheduled for tonight with a bunch of photos.
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We’re so psyched for the stargazing! Thanks so much for the great tip about the used sleds, too. Will definitely keep an eye out for those. I’ll be looking forward to your post–we’ll be in NM for several days and were considering visiting the Space History Museum. Always so helpful to read real reviews…thank you!
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