Mesilla and White Sands National Monument

Tue Apr 5
This morning we spent a few hours visiting the historic old town of Mesilla in Las Cruces. There was a lot to see and a lot of history to review. Many western legends were in and around the area long ago including Billy the Kid, Kit Carson, General Douglas McArthur and Pancho Villa to name a few.



The Catholic Church and Plaza

Courtyard Behind Art Gallery

The Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces are very beautiful.


Organ Mountains With Soaptree Yucca in Forground

We then headed for Alamogordo and stopped at the White Sands National Monument. The 8-mile loop drive and three different hikes took until after dark. This was one of nature's most unusual and surreal places we have ever visited. It is like a winter fairyland at 85 degrees.

The roads look for all the world like they were plowed by a snow plow with huge drifts along the sides and on out into the distance. The road surface even appears to be ice and snow covered after the pavement ends.

The visit finished with a ranger-guided sunset hike where much of the area geology, flora and fauna were explained before we watched a beautiful sunset over the white dunes.

We then continued into Alamogordo to a Wal-Mart where we spent the night.