Now that White Sands has officially become a national park, you might be wondering about the lovely sights you’ll have the opportunity to see here. Whether you’ve visited a dozen times or planning your first trip, the Interdune Boardwalk Trail is one route you’ll definitely want to check out.
Did you know it’s a great location to embark on a hike?
Kent Kanouse/Flickr
This park is home to five different hiking trails, each showcasing the unforgettable glimmering landscape in varying difficulties. However, today we’re going to check out one trail that everyone in the family will be able to enjoy, including those in strollers, wheelchairs, and even four-legged friends.
This is the Interdune Boardwalk Trail, an accessible trail that measures just 0.4 miles round-trip.
Sarah Nichols/Flickr
Short yet scenic, this trail gives everyone the opportunity to see the dunes and the fragile nature that lives in the soil and basins between dunes.
The boardwalk stands just inches above the land and slowly meanders across the terrain with educational signs about the environment…
White Sands National Park/Facebook
…and even has a shady area for anyone needing a short rest.
Jasperdo/Flickr
What makes this trail so special? Aside from the accessibility and ease of walking the landscape, it introduces visitors to and preserves the delicate interdune nature.
Jasperdo/Flickr
This area between dunes is a haven for plants, which thrive off the cyanobacteria living in an extremely thin layer of the crust. Cyanobacteria is a blue-green algae responsible for helping to provide nitrogen to the plants here and protecting the landscape from erosion.
In fact, this area is so delicate that a boot print in the crust can still be seen five years later!
Sarah Robertson/AllTrails
This is why it’s important to stick to the designated trails when visiting.
Have you been on this super short trail before? What did you enjoy learning about the area?
White Sands National Monument/Flickr
The Interdune Boardwalk Trail is located at White Sands National Park, approximately 4.5 miles from the fee station.
Google Maps
The trail measures 0.4 miles round-trip and takes about 20-30 minutes to complete when reading all the informational signs along the way. You can learn more about the trail and the national park by visiting the website or AllTrails page.
Website: National Park Service
Trail: AllTrails
Facebook: White Sands National Park
Phone: (575) 479-6124
Looking for another great little hike to take here in New Mexico? Check out some of our favorites for a short winter hike in 7 Cool And Calming Hikes To Take In New Mexico To Help You Reflect On The Year Ahead.
Address: White Sands National Park, New Mexico, USA