A Road Leading to Nowhere

The old clay road was replaced in part due to it being washed out during heavy rains.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

About 1/3 mile along the Backcountry Camping Loop Trail

Amenities

3 listed

Audio Description, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Scenic View/Photo Spot

Take a peek around the surrounding interdune areas, or the flat space between dunes. Is there anything there that looks like it doesn’t belong? After making a note of where the closest trail marker to you is, saunter towards this curious conundrum when you think you've spotted it.

If you’re now standing near the red clay pieces scattered about, you’re not only on the road to successfully finding the focus of this stop – you’re on the road that used to lead into White Sands when it was first designated as a National Monument in 1933. This road served as the main access point to the Monument for most of the 1930s, and was finished just in time to welcome an estimated 776 cars on Opening Day. That was nearly five thousand people, all exploring where you are today!

While the road added a nice splash of color to the otherwise white dunes, it had a natural inclination to get washed out during periods of heavy rains. Within a few years, the old clay road was replaced by the asphalt pavement you probably rode in on today. But its remaining pieces still caused confusion among new visitors, and countless drivers found themselves lost by following this now destinationless road. To keep people on the right track, Civilian Conservation Corps members eventually removed most of the old clay road in the 1940s.

As it is in all National Parks, these fragments of history are protected by law. Please take care to Leave No Trace and take nothing from the dunefield, including sand, plants, and pieces of this historic road.