Where the White Dunes Meet the Desert

Brilliant gypsum dunes meet the earthy grasslands of the Chihuahuan Desert along the Dune Life Nature Trail in White Sands National Park. Hardy shrubs cling to shifting mounds of sand as footprints cross the wind-shaped surface, revealing the remarkable transition between the park’s luminous dunes and surrounding New Mexico landscape.
#WhiteSands #WhiteSandsNationalPark #DuneLifeNatureTrail #NewMexico #ChihuahuanDesert #GypsumDunes #DesertVegetation #SandDunes #Footprints #DesertLandscape #AmericanSouthwest #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #TravelPhotography #EngelPhotography

Photographer James Engel

Date & Time Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at 8:50 AM America/Denver

Focal Length 24mm

Shutter Speed 1/200 sec

Aperture ƒ/11

ISO 64

Location North America, The United States of America, New Mexico, White Sands National Park

Keywords Desert Landscape, Fine Art Photography, Hiking Trail, Landscapes & Nature, National Park, Photography Effects, Photography Genres, Photography Techniques, Scenic Vista

Camera Nikon D850

Lens NIKON 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G ED VR AF-S Nikkor Lens

Approximate Map Location

Latitude: 32.792217
Longitude: -106.212608
Altitude: 1,187.0 meters / 3,894.4 feet