Stats, trail tips and important information regarding this trail are located at the bottom of the blog post. Unless explicitly noted, all pictures in this blog are owned by me and should otherwise not be used without expressed written consent.

When it comes to otherworldly hikes, it’s tough to compete with hiking in White Sands National Park. And Alkali Flat is probably the ideal trail to christen yourself at the park.

The Alkali Flat hike was part of a two-week road trip in 2022 that took us from Austin (TX), to Alamogordo (NM), Tucson (AZ), Morongo Valley/ Palm Springs (CA), Big Bear Lake (CA), San Diego (CA) and Sedona (AZ). Phew, quite a drive huh?

When we arrived at the park on a November afternoon, it was quite busy but manageable. We stopped by the visitors center then headed to the parking lot. Oddly enough, driving to the parking area felt like driving on the Florida Panhandle (e.g., Navarre Beach). This makes sense; both sands are created by crushed quartz.

Here’s a picture of the trailhead, where the coordinates in my trail tips are mapped to.

What you’re going to see here is perhaps some of the most abstract hiking photos I’ve ever taken. It’s unavoidable but striking…

Doesn’t hardly look real does it? There’s a lot more where that came from…

If you take pics close to the ground here, it really shows how it shimmers.

The rippled sand foreground looks like a totally different picture than the sand dunes in the background.

A few curvaceous sand dunes made for an interesting perspective. I’m sure these change often.

Howie was fascinated by the sand but it wore him out quicker than usual.

We were 50 feet tall!

The “striations” in the sand looked like a vanishing point from this angle.

What a rewarding, interesting and abstractly photogenic hike. Go check it out!

Total Distance/Time: 4.81 miles in 1 hr 53 min
Calories Burned: 1.116
Trail Type: Loop
Trail Features: Sand? 😂
Best Time to Hike: Cooler months (November – March)
Difficulty Rating: 7.5/10
Trailhead Coordinates: 32.821, -106.273
Trail Tips:

• Sand Ain’t Easy!: The sand is no joke! It makes the hike a pretty serious challenge. This hike is also strenuous on your fur buddy so be sure to bring plenty of water.
• Be Prepared: Bring water and wear appropriate footwear and pants, as sand may leak into shoes…surely if you’re wearing shorts.
• Have Fun!: If you’re feeling adventurous, bring a sled or board and wax so you can sand surf!