Monahans Sandhills State Park Is A Fascinating Spot In Texas That's Straight Out Of A Fairy Tale
By Katie Lawrence|Published September 14, 2020
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
Otherworldly landscapes can be found in all corners of Texas, but none quite compare to Monahans Sandhills State Park. With towering dunes far as the eye can see, this little-known spot deep in the West Texas desert looks like something straight out of a fairytale.
Spanning neary 3,000 acres, Monahans Sandhills State Park is part of the sprawling Llano Estacado region in West Texas. Although much of the land is private property, it has been open to the public since 1957.
The park is most notable for its lofty sand dunes that tower up to 70 feet high. Consisting of almost 100 percent pure quartz, the dunes change size and shape as the wind shifts directions. It's like an entirely different park each season!
You won't find any marked trails, which means the vast terrain is all yours to explore. Keep an eye out for the plethora of unique wildlife and vegetation that, surprisingly, flourish in such a hostile environment.
Easily the most popular activity at the park is sand surfing. Just grab a disk from the headquarters, and you'll be soaring down the dunes in no time. Whether you're a kid or kid at heart, all ages are guaranteed to have a blast.
Come for the sand, stay for the sunsets. Twenty-six campsites, all with water, electricity, and shade shelters, allow visitors to extend their stay overnight. There's just a certain undeniable magic about West Texas at dusk.
Another perk of camping out is awaking to a spellbinding sunrise over the dunes. Their majestic peaks are illuminated in an ethereal glow that looks like a scene from Disney's Aladdin.
Guests can also enjoy an 800-acre equestrian area in addition to a small museum in the Visitor Center, which details the flora, fauna, and human history of the park. There's something for everyone here!
