MONAHANS, Texas — The Monahans Sand Hills State Park is a hidden gem in West Texas where the only limit to your next great adventure is your imagination- and maybe the heat.
"People of all ages love to come out here because you feel like a kid when you're playing in the sand," said Brandi Heasley, Park Superintendent for Monahans State Park.
The park is about five miles outside of Monahans right off of interstate 20, making it an easily accessible trip.
"It's a good family spot. Kids love to slide down the dunes and play in the big sand box that is Monahans."
Around 45-thousand people visit the sandhills every year.
If you decide to go, rangers suggest getting there early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the heat. Not only does this keep you from overheating, but it'll help you when sliding down the dunes.
"Typically it's going to slide better in the morning, or when it's cooler outside, and after it's rained and the sand is more compact, it's going to be, you're probably going to go faster," said Heasley.
They have sand disks for you to rent to slide down the dunes on, and while the sand dunes are why most people visit the state park there's still more to do.
They don't have marked trails so you're free to explore and learn about the wildlife and plants that thrive in the area, but don't worry, you'll have help along the way.
"We've got little plaques telling you what different plant species are and little interpretive displays to help you learn more about our park," Heasley said.
Something many people don’t know about the park is that you'll not only find the sand dunes out there, but it's also home to biggest oak forest in the world!
"We are part of the Shin Oaks. It doesn't look like they're actual trees, but they are. I think being in the largest oak forest in the world out in West Texas is a pretty special reason to visit Monahans."
if you want to visit and stay a while, they have campsites available with water and electricity, but you'll want to reserve those ahead of time. They also have picnic areas with shade and a grill for you to enjoy the day.
A benefit to state parks is that the fee you pay to get in will get you in to other state parks too.
"So getting out here in the morning and sliding down on a sand disk and walking on our nature trail and exploring the park, and then heading out to maybe Balmorhea in the evening or afternoon. You can do that without paying another entrance fee."
A few things to remember are that you can't bring alcohol, and your dog is more than welcome to surf the sand dunes with you, just make sure you clean up after them.
Rangers say you can also help by cleaning up your area: don't leave any trash or litter.
State parks are made to be fun, but they are also meant to conserve lands and resources in the area.
"With most of our state being privately owned, to have 95 state parks devoted to preserving and conserving our public lands and our natural resources for generations to come is insanely important," said Heasley.
We've only touched the surface of what you can do at this beautiful state park, but the best way to find out what else is out there is to go explore it yourself.
If you would like to learn more about Monahans State Park or purchase park passes you can visit the website.