Trip Ideas

Mountains, Trails & Sunshine

West Texas boasts wild beauty in parched frontiers, disparate from the grassy flatlands and maple dressed hills throughout the east Texas landscape. Far west from flattened, saturated green slopes, sky islands compete for water with the Chihuahuan floor. Scoring over a mountain valley, El Paso ranks as the 20th largest city in the nation. Dubbed the last of Texas’ wildest cities, it encompasses three state parks within county lines that lay well-managed and preserved for enthusiasts thirsting after adventure. Park excursions attract mountain bikers, trail runners and competitive rock climbers throughout the nation, but recreational activities circumvent a natural wonder to those living within the region. Though all three parks are located within the same region, each contribute a unique locale of outdoor pursuits.

White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park
US-70
575-479-6124 

Located between Doña Ana and Otero County, The White Sands National Monument is without a doubt, the Chihuahuan Desert’s best-known tourist attraction. Appearing as a bright white spot in the middle of an otherwise beige landscape, the dunes are as beautiful as they are enigmatic. Visitors are free to admire all 225-square miles of the park from the comfort of their cars, on numerous wood plank paths, or even in the dunes themselves. In addition to strolling about, you can bring sleds or snowboards and slide down the sandy hills–seriously! If one day simply isn’t enough, you and the whole gang can stay overnight at the camping site. While there’s no wrong time to visit White Sands, we strongly recommend that you catch either a sunrise or sunset, there’s really nothing quite like it. Make sure to check out the museum and gift shop before you leave!

White Sands National Monument
White Sands National Monument
19955 Hwy 70 West
(505) 479-6124 

At the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert lies the world’s largest gypsum dune field. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this gypsum dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment.

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