Photographer: Kevin Stillman

4,000 acres of wind-sculptured sand dunes like classical landscape of the Sahara. Park has modern museum and interpretive center, picnicking, camping and sand surfing. Huge sandhills area, only part of which is in park, was formidable obstacle to pioneer travelers and wagon trains. Indians knew it better and frequently camped here because pure, fresh water could be found between certain dunes by scooping a trench in sand. Not apparent to eye is one of largest oak forests in nation, stretching over 40,000 acres of arid land. The "forest" is not apparent because mature trees (Havard oaks) are seldom over three feet high, yet they send down roots as far as 90 feet to maintain miniature surface growth. The unusual park is on I-20/U.S. 80 five miles east. Admission fee.