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Over 610 acres of towering sand dunes await your enjoyment. The dunes, made up of quartz particles, are constantly on the move under predominately southwest wind, The wind moves the dunes in a northeasterly direction at the rate of about one foot per year. Among the biggest surprises in the dunes are the mature cottonwood trees. the combination of a very shallow water table and the sand's capacity to hold water allows these trees to thrive in an arid environment. While the road into Mescalero Sands is capable of supporting trucks and buses, the soft sand off established roads and parking lots is not. BLM does not recommend leaving the surfaced areas in any vehicle other than an all-terrain vehicle. The Bowl Parking Area provides access to the northern portion of the dunes which includes the "Bowl." The Bowl is a large depression surrounded by dunes. The Cottonwood Site provides access to the southern portion of the dunes. Trails connect both portions of the dunes. There are picnic tables and shelters at the Bowl Parking Area. The Cottonwood Site has three shelters equipped with picnic table and grills. The restroom is also located at the Cottonwood site. There is no water available at Mescalero Sands. How to get there: From Roswell travel east 45 miles on US Highway 380 and turn south at the sign. From Tatum travel west 27 miles on US Highway 380.
