When you think of Texas, the first image that pops into mind probably isn't of a Desert Oasis or a bunch of Sand Dunes. And with this one exception, you would probably be right. But this small state park holds a few huge dunes that once again show there's a little of everything in Texas.
Like many locations with Sand Dunes, the Monahans Sand Dunes State Park will happily rent you some sleds for some warm weather sledding.
Let's start at the beginning however. Just off Interstate 20, you pass back under the Interstate and find yourself at this entrance. You will have passed a number of oil fields, and the smell of sulfur may still be wafting lightly past you as you prepare to visit.
The visitor center itself is nicely put together, and is landscaped very nicely considering the location.
In back of the visitor center is this trail, and the first inklings that there may be something a bit special nearby.
Driving into the park, the main parking area is landmarked with this Windmill.
You can tell it's a bit windy from the sand blowing off the top of this dune not far from the parking area.
Not all the dunes are purely sand, as these smaller dunes covered in grasses demonstrate.
Though in places it appears the sand is trying to cover over the top of the plants and assert itself.
You will occasionally run into places like this where a little bit of moisture has resulted in hard packed sand.
The wind blowing leaves ripples in the dunes, and cover the footprints you've left fairly quickly.
Climbing a bit and looking back at the parking lot you can get a better view of the picnic facilities here.
Driving further into the park there's another area of dunes, as well as this oil well that demonstrates one of the ways the park funds itself.
The dunes at this lot seem to have seen a lot more sledding action.
So there's a quick tour of this 800 acre state park. If you're in West Texas anyway, this should be a stop on your list!
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