Can’t Make It to White Sands National Park? Try This Massachusetts Alternative

Years ago, I spent two weeks exploring New Mexico's mesmerizing landscapes of both desert and mountains. While I was entranced by numerous places we visited, the one place that absolutely blew me away was White Sands National Park. The only place that's come close, in my opinion, is the Province Lands dunes in Provincetown. If you haven't yet seen these dunes towards the tip of Cape Cod, prepare to be in awe when you do.

With its vast sea of white gypsum sand dunes beneath a bright blue sky, I had never seen anything like White Sands National Park in New Mexico before. It's been over two decades since I was there, and I still think of the impact it had on me. I've wanted to go back but haven't had the opportunity to do so yet.

Fast forward years later, when I joined a hike with my dad's Cape Cod hiking club in Provincetown, Massachusetts, one summer, through the vast dunes of the Province Lands. Now, any time I hike through its undulating dunes for miles before reaching the sea, I am reminded of my time at White Sands National Park so long ago. Province Lands may not be exactly like White Sands, but it's a great alternative if you can't make it to the national park in New Mexico.

White Sands National Park and the dunes of Provincetown are quite different, especially when discussing sand composition: White Sands' dunes are made of white gypsum crystals, while Provincetown's dunes are comprised mainly of quartz and look beige as opposed to white. However, there are numerous similarities between the two.

First of all, the 145,762-acre White Sands National Park and the Province Lands of the 44,600-acre Cape Cod National Seashore are both part of the National Park Service. The protected lands of both support unique ecosystems featuring flora and fauna that can survive and thrive in a harsh, sandy, desert-like landscape. Additionally, the dunes of each location are shaped by the wind, causing the landscape to constantly change form. Crescent-shaped, parabolic dunes are also typical within each area, creating a visually stunning scene for those lucky enough to visit.

The dunes of the Province Lands are a natural wonder that evokes a sense of awe in those who traverse their harsh terrain. Hiking through these dunes is one of the activities I look forward to most each summer when I visit my dad on Cape Cod, but it's an intense hike that should only be attempted by those in top physical shape. These dunes are very similar to those found in a desert and will always remind me of the natural wonder that is White Sands in New Mexico.

Have you hiked or taken a tour through the dunes of the Cape Cod National Seashore in Provincetown? If you plan to hike through the parabolic dunes, please do so when the weather is cooler, not on a hot summer day. Trekking through sand can be a strain on the body, and is likened to walking through the desert. Plan on taking more water than you think you'll need and pace yourself, just as you would in a desert. You can check out the Sand Dunes Trail route on AllTrails. Parking is available along Snail Road.