White Sands National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

e buildings constructed during the Great Depression that adheres to the Pueblo Revival style. At the visitor center, you can visit the small museum, watch the park film, browse through two gift shops, and purchase sleds if you'd like to try sledding on the sand dunes.

Informational panels interpret what the playa looks like, and what kinds of animals it attracts, throughout the seasons. The trail is about a half-mile round trip and flat.

e interdunal area, or the transition zone between the desert scrubland and the sand dunes. Because of a few steep climbs and the general difficulty of hiking through sand, this hike is rated as moderate. But the reward is walking through a unique ecosystem.

This is a must-stop for everyone. The Interdune Boardwalk is an ADA-accessible elevated path through the interdunal area. If you're not able to try the Dune Life Nature Trail, this one's a great alternative. A couple of covered seating areas offer shade on this half-mile round-trip walk.

However, the trail to the campsites is open to anyone. It's a two-mile loop and rated moderate because of the difficulty of hiking up and down sand dunes. However, this trail is a good alternative if you want to experience being out in the dunes without attempting the more difficult Alkali Flat trail.

Alkali Flat is the dried lakebed of the ancient Lake Otero, where the white sands are formed. To reach the edge of the flat, hike this five-mile round-trip hike through the sand dunes. Because of the length, and the continued challenge of hiking through sand, this is rated as a difficult hike.