Photos from White Sands (UPDATE: THEY BECAME PARK AS OF FRIDAY)

[theking]

It's beautiful and one of the more unique places I've visited ..

Arrival and entrance:






Driving through miles and miles of white sands was breath taking:




Looks like snow:




Plenty of pro? photographers and models doing their shoots there:






The sand is so soft that climbing up can be a nice workout  :




Literally about 100 miles of white sands  :






Picnic area for food and relaxation:




Departure after gaining some wonderful memories there  :

[DuMa]

It is very cool. 

My experiences with these sand dune is to climb it but when I am over it, I am expecting to see either civilization on the other side or a sight of the ocean. 

I guess you can say that such sand dune can be used by hollywood as props location for their movie magic as they do not need to fly to the sahara desert to shoot their film which saves time and resources in doing thus. 

Almost looks like you are on mars.  No critters or anything around.  I lived in the high desert before but at least with that, we have cactus and living matters there. 

[Yebleng]

looks like Mars

[theking]

Almost looks like you are on mars. 

looks like Mars

As I've said, it's one of the more unique places I've visited on planet earth...

[theking]

Transformers movie fight scene at White Sands:



https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryGfys/comments/4vlada/ac_130_bringing_the_pain_to_decepticons/

[theking]

I can see why I saw several photographers and models there when they can produce pictures like this:

[theking]

Oh one important note for those that don't know. The largest U.S. military base is about 30 miles from there so make sure there is no missile testing before you go because if there is, White Sands will shut down for safety precaution  :

[theking]

No critters or anything around.

Speaking of "critters", if you visit during the hot Summer months, look out for these guys, the massasauga (white rattlesnake)..For the most part they are pretty shy so unless you stepped on them, the chance of getting bit is pretty low:




And of course be mindful of the warning in this photo I took..it's still a desert...:

[theking]

This means they'll get more funding and able to create more amenities for visitors :

National Monument Re-designated as White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park becomes the 62nd designated national park

“Our staff are very excited for White Sands to be recognized as a national park and to reintroduce ourselves to the American public,” said White Sands National Park Superintendent Marie Sauter. “We are so appreciative of our partners, local communities, and congressional leaders who made this achievement possible and look forward to continued success working together.”

White Sands National Monument was established on January 18, 1933, by President Herbert Hoover to preserve, “the white sands and additional features of scenic, scientific, and educational interest.” Today’s re-designation recognizes the added significance of the park for its natural and cultural resources. In addition to containing the world’s largest gypsum dunefield, including gypsum hearthmounds found nowhere else on earth, the park is home to the globe’s largest collection of Ice-Age fossilized footprints and tells more than 10,000 years of human presence, all while providing memorable recreational opportunities.