Exploring the National Parks

White Sands National Park — the national park regarded for its rarity. While it looks like a snowfield, the desert sand actually holds quite a bit of history and geological wonder. 

In this episode, we're digging into the White Sands fun facts that rewrite what you thought you knew about New Mexico’s most famous park. From a mineral factory that shouldn't exist to footprints that are quietly rewriting the story of the first humans in North America, buckle up, because this will be a fun one!

In this episode, we cover:

Why White Sands is the largest — and purest — gypsum dune field on Earth

How this park is protected, despite the billions of dollars of raw material sitting under the dunes

The 45+ species of plants and creatures that you can only find in these dunes

Why the dune field itself is a shockingly young 7,000 to 10,000 years old

The 2008 discovery of footprints that pushed back the accepted timeline for how long humans have been in North America

Fossilized proof that humans and Ice Age giants like mammoths and giant sloths shared this exact landscape for thousands of years

Your task for today: Look up a satellite image of White Sands National Park and see if you can spot it from space, the same way astronauts use it as a landmark. Then share what other national park sights you think would be visible from orbit over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page.

Planning your own White Sands National Park adventure?

Episode 154: Exploring White Sands National Park: Best Tips + Activities: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-white-sands-national-park/ 

5 Things You Can't Miss On Your First Visit to White Sands: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-white-sands/

Episode 49: Best National Parks for Young Kids (White Sands National Park makes the list!):  https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-national-parks-for-young-kids/ 

Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/

National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/

Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

Our Halloween tradition continues! This year, we're chasing three cryptid legends through the national parks – Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Lake Clark National Park, and Yellowstone National Park. 

Are these tales from the spookiest corners of the park fact or fiction? You’ll have to tune in to find out! 

In this episode, we cover:

Why old sailors' maps were covered in dragons, sirens, and sea monsters

What actually separates a cryptid from an animal that science just hasn't caught up to yet

Why the national parks make the perfect hiding place for a cryptid legend

Why there might be something lurking outside Guadalupe Mountains National Park (and what that something might be)

What’s lurking in the water on the way to Lake Clark National Park

Just how deep Lake Clark and neighboring Lake Iliamna really go

The Native American legend behind Beartooth Highway in Yellowstone National Park

Your task for today: Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and tell us which cryptid creeped you out the most!

Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/haunted-national-parks-vol-4

Planning your own spooky adventure?

5 Things You Can't Miss On Your First Visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-guadalupe-mountains-national-park/ 

See a full trip planning itinerary for Yellowstone National Park: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/yellowstone-itinerary 

Trip Planning Guide for Alaska’s National Parks (Including Lake Clark National Park): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/alaska-national-parks/ 

Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 

National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 

Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

Picture cloud-white sand surrounding you on every side, with the Sacramento Mountains as your backdrop, and a sunset that turns everything a shade of pink and purple.

THAT’s the awe that is waiting for you at White Sands National Park. Well, that and some other fun activities like hiking through nature trails, and even sledding!

We’ll also take you through all the quirky rules this park has that no other national park does — and what makes White Sands so incredibly unique. 

In this episode, we cover:

The two things that make White Sands totally different from every other national park

The working missile range, located next to the park

A driving tour down Dunes Drive, including the Playa Trail, Dune Life Nature Trail, and Interdune Boardwalk

How to sled the dunes (hint: cardboard boxes don't cut it)

Why so many commercials, movies, and music videos have been filmed here

The best ranger program in the park and why sunset is non-negotiable

Where to stay, eat, and detour in nearby Alamogordo

Your task for today: Have you been to White Sands for sunset? Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page, find your favorite sunset photo from the dunes, and tag us so we can see it too!
Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-white-sands-national-park/

Planning your own White Sands National Park adventure?

5 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to White Sands: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-white-sands/ 

Episode 49: Best National Parks for Young Kids (White Sands National Park makes the list!):  https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-national-parks-for-young-kids/ 

Episode 105: 8-Day Spring Break National Parks Road Trip (that includes White Sands National Park): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/8-day-spring-break-national-parks-road-trip/ 

Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/

National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/

Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

We just spent three days in Zion National Park in the middle of summer, on purpose, in 105-degree heat. Why did we do that, you ask? Because we don’t want you to have to go through all the guesswork that comes with planning a trip to Zion National Park in the summer.

In this episode, we cover:

Why we deliberately visited Zion National Park in the summer, and what we'd tell you before you do the same

Why understanding the Zion Canyon Shuttle and the Springdale shuttle together will save you from many days of frustration

What gear actually works in the Narrows

The new vehicle restrictions through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, and what changed for regular drivers

The bighorn sheep herd, deer, and turkeys we spotted once we slowed down and got quiet

How we weighed location versus price for lodging, and what the South Campground looks like without its shade trees

Your task for today: Have you hiked the Narrows or driven through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel? Tell us about it over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page!

Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/zion-national-park-trip-report-2026/

Planning your own Zion National Park adventure?

Zion National Park Itinerary: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/zion-itinerary 

The Ultimate Zion Trip Planning Guide: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/zion-national-park/ 

Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/

National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/

Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

Tennis-ball-sized hail, 100-degree heat, and a weather warning that caused us to miss the glamping trip we’d been looking forward to for weeks. We (almost) risked it all to make the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

In this episode, we're sharing everything we experienced at the brand-new library in Medora, North Dakota. This is a bit different than our usual content, but if you love Teddy Roosevelt as much as we do, and you’ve been keeping up with our Theodore Roosevelt National Park episodes, you’re in for a treat!

In this episode, we cover:

Why we headed to Medora, North Dakota for the Library's July 4th weekend grand opening

The wild weather (including 60 mph winds and tennis-ball-sized hail) that forced an evacuation of our campground

A first look inside the library, including how the building itself was designed to blend into the Badlands

The Man in the Arena exhibit room, where Nick Offerman voices Teddy Roosevelt himself

The Elkhorn Ranch room and the story of the cabin where Teddy Roosevelt went to heal after devastating loss

The AI Teddy Roosevelt you can actually talk to, plus the AI photo booth that inserts your whole family into his story

The 1,776-drone show that closed out the celebration

Your task for today: Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and tell us which Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library exhibit you'd want to experience first — the Man in the Arena room, the Elkhorn Ranch cabin, or a chat with AI Teddy himself!
Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/theodore-roosevelt-presidential-library-opening/ 

Planning your own Theodore Roosevelt National Park adventure?

Episode 141: Our favorite scenic drive in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and more https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-scenic-drives-in-the-national-parks/ 

Episode 149: Exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Best Tips + Activities https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-best-tips-activities/ 

Episode 150: 5 Fascinating Fun Facts About Theodore Roosevelt National Park https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-fascinating-fun-facts-about-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/ 

8 Things You Can't Miss on Your First Visit to Theodore Roosevelt https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/8-things-cant-miss-first-visit-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/ 

Master Reservation List https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 

National Park Checklist https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 

Trip Packing List https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/