How to Go Sledding at White Sands National Park

Have you ever gone sand sledding before? Sledding down the soft sand at White Sands National Park in New Mexico is a one-of-a-kind experience. The sand at White Sands National Park is not only super soft, but it doesn’t have silica so it’s always nice and cool on your feet. Therefore, it is the perfect place for sand sledding. Sand sledding is super fun for both adults and children. And the best thing is, you don’t have to worry about the freezing cold. When Dustin and I visited White Sands National Park, we spent half a day sledding down these beautiful sand dunes here.

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Why Should You Go Sledding at White Sands National Park?

White Sands National Park is not the only place in the world where you can go sand sledding. However, unlike other places such as the Great Sand Dunes or the sand dunes in Death Valley, the sand at White Sands National Park is special. White Sands National Park’s unique sand is made of gypsum. Its texture is similar to kinetic sand, very fine and soft, yet doesn’t clump the same way.

Because gypsum sand doesn’t have silica, and also has great water retention, the sand always feels nice and cool to the touch, doesn’t matter if the temperature is super warm out. So, you don’t have to worry about walking across burning hot sand. This also means that you can go sledding at any time, even on the hottest day. Just make sure to use a lot of sunscreen and have a lot of water with you.

What to Expect When You Sled the Gypsum Dunes

If you haven’t gone sand sledding before, it’s quite different than sledding on the snow:

Since the sand isn’t as slippery as the snow, you won’t be sliding as fast. Also, even though most snow-type sleds will work on sand, they won’t go as fast as sand-specific sleds.
Another thing is since there is no hard ground underneath sand dunes, it is a lot softer to fall on the sand than on the snow. Until you get down to the bottom of the sand dunes where the packed sand and hard roads are waiting.
Try not to get sand in your eyes or mouth. Unlike the snow where it will melt, the sand doesn’t and it is very gritty. It’s definitely not a pleasant experience.
As we said above, gypsum sand is very soft and doesn’t get hot like regular beach sand. So it’s very pleasant walking on it.
What comes down, must go up. So, be prepared to walk up the hill so you can launch your sled. Walking up a sand dune is no joke. It’s a lot more tiring than walking up a packed road.

FAQs About Sand Sledding in White Sands NP

How Much Does It Cost to Go Sand Sledding in White Sands NP?
Technically, it is free to go sand sledding at White Sands National Park. However, you do have to pay to enter the park, unless you have America the Beautiful Pass or other accepted passes.
Can You Bring Your Own Sled?
Yes! We brought our own sleds here. And it doesn’t have to be a sand sled. You can also bring sandboards, snowboards, or even a piece of cardboard. Waxed plastic snow saucers work the best. If you don’t have your own, you can purchase them at the Visitor Center. You can also buy them at Walmart, and Big 5 Sporting Goods in Alamogordo.
Do I need special clothing for Sand Sledding?
You don’t need any special clothing. However, since there are no shades and the sun can be quite harsh because it reflects off the white sand, we recommend wearing layers to help with the sun, or at least, applying a lot of sunscreen such as Stream2Sea SPF 30 or All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter. We also recommend wearing a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun.
When is the Best Time to Go Sand Sledding at White Sands National Park?
As we stated above, because the sand here doesn’t have silica, it’s also nice and cool. Therefore, you can go sand sledding year-round. However, we don’t recommend going sand sledding during a very windy day. It’s not that fun since you’ll get sand all over your face. If you can, go after a rainstorm. The best time to go sand sledding is actually after a rainstorm. The rain will pack the gypsum down, making it super slick. So, you’ll go a lot faster.

Where to Find the Best Spots for Sand Sledding?

You can pretty much go sand sledding almost anywhere in White Sands National Park, except for the area around the Interdune Boardwalk trail. Of course, you should use common sense when picking your spot. Make sure that your path is clear of obstructions or vegetation and doesn’t end on the road or parking area where you could get injured by moving vehicles. There are a few spots that are our favorite:

Roadrunner Picnic Area:
This place is a big area with tons of parking and picnic areas. The dunes here are on the shorter side, perfect for families with young children. This place is an excellent place to go sledding if you’re planning to hang around for a picnic or have a lot of people in your group.
Alkali Flat Trailhead:
If you’re looking for taller dunes, the Alkali Flat Trailhead parking area has some of the tallest dunes to go sledding in White Sands.
Backcountry Camping Trail:
This is another popular spot for sand sledding. And if you’re done sledding, hiking this trail is another experience unto itself.

Tips on How to Sand Sledding Successfully

Here are a few tips that we learned from experience so you can make your first-time sand sledding successful.

Plastic snow saucers work the best. You can use wax to make your sled go faster. We recommend warming up your wax a little for easier application. After slathering it on, buff your sled by rubbing it in the sand. The Visitor Center sells wax if you don’t have one.
Choose a dune with a gently slopping face and level run-off at the end so you can come to a halt safely.
Even though the sand is soft, the area at the base of the dune can be very hard. So make sure to be aware when you come closer to the end of your run.
It’s a no-brainer, but make sure your sledding path is clear of vegetation, hard clumps of sand, or other obstructions and doesn’t cross the roadway or parking areas. You’ll want a lot of room around you.
Make a path! We learned that the more packed down your sledding path is, the faster you go. So, by using the same path, it will get better and better. The first couple of runs are always the slowest.
To slide down the dune, the best posture is to either sit or lay on the sled, feet pointing downhill. It’s quite easy actually, you just sit on the sled and scoot down until you get some glide. Then, you lean back, hold on, and take the ride!
If you want to go faster, try to keep your weight to the back and avoid digging into the sand.

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Recommended Gear

These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.

Bring lots of water and snacks. It can get warm here. For healthy and easy snacks, check out some of our recipes.