White Sands National Park

About

Entrance / day-use fee applies.

This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here.

At the park

• Wildlife & bird watching scenic feature

Shows and experiences

• Junior Ranger program

Events

• Dunes Discovery Morning Hike
• Drop in Ranger Talk
• Sunset Stroll
• Full Moon Night Concert - Randy Granger
• Moonlight Hike
• Ice Age Life Within Drop-in Program 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
• October Full Moon Night Presentation by David Bustos 06:30 PM–08:00 PM · Full moon night programs are held in the amphitheater (Evening Program Area), which is a 7-mile (11.27 km) drive from the fee station. To get to the amphitheater, drive approximately six miles past the fee station to an intersection just beyond the Backcountry Camping Loop Trail parking lot. Take a right at that intersection and then the second left. Drive approximately one mile further and the amphitheater will be on the right side. The parking lot will open at 4:00 pm.
• Ranger-Guided Walk of Ice Age Trail 10:00 AM–11:00 AM · Meet at the Ice Age Trail parking lot located approximately 2.5 miles from the visitor center.
• Lake Lucero Tour 10:00 AM–02:00 PM · The Lake Lucero tour begins 25 miles (40.23 km) southwest of the park at the Small Missile Range Gate, located on Hwy 70 West between mile markers 174 and 175. Emergency medical response will be delayed due to the remote location. Emergency services can be up to one hour away. Health concerns should be carefully considered before committing to this hike.

Before you go

Limits

Service animals are allowed in all park facilities and on all park trails unless closed by order of the superintendent

Getting there

White Sands National Park is located off of US Highway 70 between the cities of Las Cruces and Alamogordo. The park is about 15 miles west of Alamogordo and 52 miles east of Las Cruces.

Weather & when to go

Temperatures at White Sands vary greatly throughout the year. Summer time temperatures can be very hot. Winters are mild with cool evenings. Spring time is the windy season. Fall is very enjoyable with mild daytime and night time temperatures.

History

Opened

1933

Heritage status

Listed heritage / protected status

• Park opened