White Sands National Park is the largest gypsum sand dune field in the world, covering approximately 275 square miles.
Over two hundred million years ago, this area was a shallow sea with large deposits of gypsum crystals on the seabed. Subsequent geological activity caused the region to uplift, with some areas collapsing to form basins. Rainwater filled the basins, forming lakes that eventually evaporated. The gypsum crystals accumulated over time, resulting in the unique "white desert" landscape we see today.
📍For direct navigation, search for "White Sands National Park".
According to Google Maps, the park closes at 6 PM, and there are also travel guides on Little Red Book that mention visitors being asked to leave at 6 PM. However, after checking the official website, it was found that the closing time varies depending on the season, with the park closing at 9 PM during the summer. It is recommended that visitors who wish to see the sunset at different times should check the park's schedule individually. We entered the park at around 7:30 PM on the same day.
👉To catch the sunset, it is recommended to enter the park 2-3 hours before sunset and head straight for the Alkali Flat Trail. Park your car here and explore the trail to find the perfect spot for photography. Arriving a bit earlier will give you enough time to walk deeper into the park and find a secluded location for taking photos. (In the summer, it's cooler during sunset time. On the day we visited, there were quite a lot of visitors, so we had to walk further to find a spot without people for photography.)
🌟It is suggested to wear a black or red dress to create a strong contrast and capture stunning photos. The sunset will paint the sky in a pinkish hue, creating a great atmosphere, and the soft lighting will make portrait photography look even more beautiful.
Once you've found your spot, take multiple shots and capture your own beauty.
👉😶Some additional thoughts:
- If you're not just interested in photography, arrive a bit earlier to experience sand sledding. They sell sand sleds at the visitor center, and it's sure to be a joyful experience. Unfortunately, we arrived too late and missed out on it. Even if you're not taking portraits, the scenery here is also incredibly beautiful and worth appreciating slowly.
- It's not advisable to arrive at the park too early, as outdoor temperatures in New Mexico can get extremely hot. If you come around noon, it'll be too hot to walk the trails and you may even risk heatstroke.
- There are several trails in the park, but during the hot summer noon, it's not recommended to explore them.
- Remember to bring water with you, as there is no water available inside the park.
- Although the desert trail is marked, it can be easy to get lost, especially for newcomers like myself who have never walked a desert trail before. When coming to take photos during sunset, it's important not to venture too far in search of fewer people, to avoid getting lost after sunset.
(Note: The translation provided is a direct and factual translation of the content provided. Some expressions or idioms may be lost in translation.)