Dune Life Nature Trail, NM

This illustrated and informative Nature Trail out in the White Sands National Monument is worth the hour. It is especially worth the effort if you happen to have some younger adults along on the trip, but even if it is an all adult trek, take the time. The route is a simple one mile loop, but it is set on the boundary of the dunes proper, and the terrain is different than what is to be found out in the midst of the rolling sands. Here there are grassy meadows and interesting distant views of the Sacramento Mountains, all the way over into Texas to the southeast.

And, there is Katy, the Kit Fox.

Katy narrates a series of informational placards scattered around the loop. This loop is all about what Katy has to say... check out some of the bits in the pictures... I only shot the first half... you'll have to go do the loop to see the rest.

If you want to put this loop to a great use, use it as a nice running loop... sprint to each Katy placard, then rest just long enough to read the little bit... then, off again. A quality cardio interval loop.

This loop also makes a very good route for first of day and/or end of day photos shoots... with the added aspects of the meadows and both mountain ranges in view, the variety of potentials for light and textures is greater than in many of the other roadside photo opportunity areas.

Combine this informative hike with the boardwalk loop further down the road and you have a couple of easy hikes to get you set for the further adventures to be found deeper into the monument.

Check out the Triplogs.

Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.

2010-02-22 imike