We came out yesterday, and had a wonderful time. So much so, that we came out again today! ‍…read more Bring shade! A tent, umbrella, some type of protection from the hot sun, because it is !! Parking is $10, by reservation only, on the weekends, and Monday-Thursday is first come first served, but also $10. If you have an established residence, second home, it's $10 for the entire season. Ignore the ticket taker's attitude as you drive in. We have been here three times, morning, and evening, and she's always here! Lol! She is extremely rude! She evidently hates her job because she is unfriendly and grills everyone to the third degree! Like I said, ignore her, and have fun! Registration is online at the Ruidoso Parks and Recreation website. The water park, known as The Wibit, is $20. This is a main attraction for family-fun. Life vests are required at all times while swimming, and using the water park, but they rent you one as part of the $20. Food and drinks are allowed, but of course, no alcohol is ever permitted. We most definitely will be returning, and highly recommend it!

Even though the wind harshed my picnic, making me retreat to inside my car to finish, still…read morefantastic.

First tip - bring sunglasses. Serious sunglasses. Like the kind you wear after your pupils get…read moredilated at the eye doctor. The sand reflects the sun and makes everything brighter Second - heed the heat warnings. We visited on an 85 degree day. But out on the sand dunes it is hotter. There is no shade. And the white sand reflects the heat making it 10-15 degrees hotter. We actually saw a man being rescued off the Dune Life Nature Trail with heat stroke. This is only a 1 mile loop trail. That being said - this is a pretty quick visit. We drove the 16 mile scenic loop. (Any car can make the drive). Stopped quite a few time for photos. Stopped to climb the dunes. And took a walk down the Playa trail. I think we were in and out in about 2 hours. We wanted to take the Nature Life trail - but didn't want to interfere with the emergency vehicles. And the boardwalk is currently closed. If we had done one of those - that would have added an hour. But White Sands is truly an extraordinary sight. From about 10-15 miles away - you can see the white sand dunes in the distance. As you drive into the park, you see scrappy green and brown vegetation growing out of the gypsum sand and you wonder how but about 4 miles in, most of the vegetation just disappeared and you just see miles of white sand. It's crazy. It's a quick visit, but definitely a visit worth making.

This was a terrific 1/2 day stop. There is a fee but no one…read morein toll booth so no pay. I had never been here , def if you have time, go to the Visitor center to understand the 10,000 year life s span from start to present There is a mile nature walk on the your car loop you drive around. First lot. Farther in is a 3&5 mile loop with markers. No water or cell service past the toll booth. There Are bbq and picnics small set ups with shade. Once you leave the car and follow the markers, the white is endless. AND there is NO sound. 255 acres of white sand from parking to the mountain range. Shocking !!! The white sand is actually fine grain gypsum. Like in drywall , but not from here .