Verses: Genesis 12:17, Psalm 139:17-18
Fun Fact: The dunes at White Sands NP are made of gypsum; it is the largest gypsum dunefield in the world!
Favorite Hike: Dune Life Nature Trail
White Sands National Park is the United States’ 62nd national park! Originally a national monument, it was re-designated in December 2019, the newest national park to make the list! White Sands NP is located in southern New Mexico, about 1.5 hours from El Paso. It’s relatively (~ 3 hours) close to both Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks, so plan a road trip to see a few parks if you are in the area.
White Sands can be seen in a day, or a few hours, but plan accordingly, facilities are limited. There aren’t any hotels, lodging, or campgrounds within the park, however, there are opportunities for backcountry camping. The closest cities are Alamogordo and Las Cruces. The park consists of 1 road, Dunes Drive, an eight-mile scenic drive that leads from the visitor center into the heart of the park. Part of it is paved and part of it is packed sand. There are several parking spots and pull-outs along the way to explore the dunes. Visitors can explore the dunes freely, but should practice leave no trace principles.
The dunes in White Sands NP are made of gypsum crystals. It is home to the world’s largest gypsum dunefield! Although gypsum is a very common mineral, it easily dissolves in water, so it’s rare to see it in such large concentrations. Gypsum has different properties than other sand. For example, it is much cooler, it reflects rather than absorbs the sun’s rays, so even on very hot days, the sand is pleasant to walk on. This makes hiking, sledding, or even making snow angels enjoyable in the desert heat.
The park has five established trails ranging from .5 miles to 5 miles. The trails are marked as either green, blue, orange or red and the symbols from a deck of cards. If you go during a full moon, check out the ranger-led full moon hikes.
The White Sands gypsum dunefield is 275 square miles in size. That is a lot of sand!
If you walk out far enough into the dunes, you can see sand in every direction.
We often see throughout the Bible sand used to describe things that are too great and vast to imagine, immeasurable and innumerable.
We see this first in Genesis 22 referring to the descendants of Abraham.
I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. - Genesis 22:17
This same language is used in Hebrews 11 when talking about Abraham (Hebrews 11:12) and in several other places referring to the nation of Israel, the descendants of Abraham. (See Hosea 1:10, Jeremiah 33:22, and Isaiah 49:19).
Sand, in this context, is a picture of blessing and promise, beyond what we can grasp or imagine. This is more than just promising children and descendants to those old and barren. This is promising the line through which Jesus will come, the Savior, the one who will atone for the sins of the world. This represents a covenant promise the Lord made with Abraham that extends throughout scripture.
This is a picture of the Lord’s faithfulness. Ephesians tells us He is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think (3:20).
The thing is, for the Lord, the sand can be counted. He does know how many grains of sand there are, in White Sands, in the US and in the world. However immeasurable we may think it is, unfathomable, the Lord is greater.
I pray as you visit White Sands National Park, you are intrigued, impressed and in awe of the sand. May you be reminded of the greatness and faithfulness of the Lord. I hope your inability to fathom how many grains of sand there are leads you to worship the One who not only can count it, but created it.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. - Psalm 139:17-18
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