Slide down yellow sand dunes at heights of 70 feet at Monahans Sandhills State Park, just 30 miles west of Odessa, Texas.
We stopped here on our way to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
A WORD OF CAUTION
Make sure to bring drinking water and use sunscreen since there is little shade out on the dunes. You will get sand on you; we wore sandals. My son also wore sunglasses, which were helpful with the wind that kicks up out here.
SLEDDING OPTIONS
You can rent plastic sand discs or toboggans at the park headquarters. Disc rentals cost $6 and are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also bring your own sleds, boogie boards, or snowboard. We brought our own, but I think we should have rented them since the ones at the park are deeper than the ones we bought online. They might work better than what we used.
VISITOR CENTER
First, we stopped at the Visitor Center, which has exhibits on how the sand dunes were formed and about the park.
An information board displays a map and options for paying the $4 per-person admission fee for the park.
NATURE TRAIL
After checking out the exhibits, I took a short hike on the nature trail near the Visitor Center. You can see the variety of plants that grow here.
First, I walked by the ocotillo plant with its long branches; it is closely related to the tea plant and not the cactus.
Then I came across yucca plants with their long trunks and bladed tops.
After stopping here, we went further down the road to the dunes.
SAND DUNE SLEDDING
Then we stopped at the Monahans Sand Dunes Loop Trailhead lot, where we came across the large dunes.
We first went down the dunes close to the lot and had trouble. Then we went farther along the ridge to higher, steeper ones, hoping this would help.
We tried numerous times but didn’t get too far.
Although it was interesting exploring the dunes.
It was hot out, so we didn’t stay too long. It was a place where we got out of the car and got some exercise before heading to Carlsbad, New Mexico, where we were staying the night before visiting the cave at Carlsbad Caverns National Park the next day.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It would have been nice if we could really have gotten going on the sleds. My son was frustrated. Yet, it was a cool place to explore. I would take this as more of a place to wander around than to sled. Small children might like it more since they can go farther. Just make sure to bring plenty of water, and it can be very hot in the summer out on the dunes.
NOTE: The best time to sled here is in the morning after a fresh rain, which helps to dampen and compact the sand.
HISTORY OF THE AREA
Native Americans were present in this area as far back as 12,000 years. Various tribes, most notably the Apache and Comanche, used the area as a temporary campground and meeting place. They found game, abundant freshwater beneath the sands, and acorns and mesquite beans, which they ground into a paste with stone tools.
More than 400 years ago, Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to report the vast sand dunes.
ANIMALS AND PLANTS FOUND IN THE PARK
Miniature forest
Shin oak (Quercus havardii) is one of the plants that stabilize the dunes. It isn’t a stunted or dwarfed form of a larger tree. When fully mature, it usually stands less than 4 feet tall and bears many large acorns.
Wildlife havens
Fresh water occurs at shallow depths within the dune field. Sometimes it even seeps up through the sand to stand in low areas between dunes.
A quiet vigil near dusk or dawn is the best way to observe wildlife such as badgers, wood rats (pack rats), kangaroo rats, javelinas and feral hogs. You might also see Jerusalem crickets making their way across the sand.
DETAILS:
Camping: There are 25 campsites available if you want to stay longer here.
Park Hours: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Admission: $4 per person; children 12 and under are
Drive: Monahans Sandhills State Park is located about 30 miles west of Odessa, Texas. Take Exit 86, then turn right into the park. We were coming from Dallas, Texas, so we stopped here on our way to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Address: Dunagan Visitor Center, Thorntonville, TX 79756
ON THE WAY: Stonehenge Stop
A replica of Stonehenge is located on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa. It is easy to get to and is a free attraction.
Address: Preston Smith Rd, Odessa, TX 79762
MORE TEXAS ATTRACTIONS
Catch a Rangers Game And See the Skyline at Reunion Tower in Dallas
In Dallas, we had the chance to watch the Rangers at Globe Life Field and take in the views from the top of Reunion Tower.
Road Trip: Natchitoches, Memphis, and Texarkana
See the oldest town in Louisiana, Natchitoches, visit the largest pyramid in the U.S. in Memphis, and stand in two states in Texarkana on a road trip south to New Orleans from St. Louis.
