White Sands National Monument - Your Safety (U.S. National Park Service)

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	White Sands National Monument Your Safety

Do not stop on the roadway; pull off the road into an established parking area before stopping.
The gypsum-surfaced portion of the dunes drive can be slick when wet--drive carefully.
Pedestrians in picnic areas should be careful of heavy traffic. WATCH YOUR CHILDREN.
Do not tunnel into sand dunes. Tunnels collapse easily and can cause suffocation. Sand sledding can cause injuries--be careful. Never sand surf near the road.
It is easy to become disoriented when hiking in the dunes. Do not hike alone. When hiking off-trail, take a map and compass and orient youself to surrounding landmarks. Take plenty of water--one gallon per person is recommended.
The white sands reflect sunlight. Use sunblock to cover all areas of exposed skin. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.


			Did You Know? The wind moves small sand grains by bouncing them along the surface in a process called "saltation." Saltating sand grains create a beautiful pattern of ripples on the dune surface. Larger sand grains are struck by saltating grains and slowly roll forward, a process known as "surface creep."

Last Updated: March 27, 2007 at 17:05 EST