| At the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert lies a mountain ringed valley called the Tularosa Basin. Rising from the heart of this basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico.White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this gypsum dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment.Dunes of gypsum sand have covered 275 square miles of desert and have created the world's largest gypsum dune field. The brilliant white dunes are ever changing: growing, cresting, then slumping, but always advancing. Slowly but relentlessly the sand, driven by strong southwest winds, covers everything in its path. Within the extremely harsh environment of the dune field, even plants and animals adapted to desert conditions struggle to survive. Only a few species of plants grow rapidly enough to survive burial by moving dunes, but several types of small animals have evolved a white coloration that camouflages them in the gypsum sand.A visitors first stop should be the White Sands visitor center, which includes a museum, information desk, book store, gift shop and restrooms. Allow approximately 30 minutes for visitor center activities.From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, ranger-led activities are scheduled daily, including nature walks and evening slide programs. Check at the visitor center for the day's activities.For those who would like to explore the dunes on foot, the Big Dune Trail is a one-mile self-guided nature trail. A booklet, available at the trailhead, discusses the plants and animals that live within the dunes. The Alkali Flat Trail, which starts from the end of the Dunes Drive, is a 4.6 mile (round-trip) backcountry trail that traverses the heart of the dune-field. |
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| | | Facilities: There is a visitor center, picnic area, restrooms, and trails at White Sands National Monument for visitor enjoyment.The park does have primitive backcountry campsites for backpackers wishing to enjoy a night on the white sands. The backcountry campsites, located about one mile from the scenic drive, are reached from a trailhead on the drive 6 miles from the visitor center.The campsites are primitive with no water or toilet facilities. No ground fires are permitted at the campsite or anywhere else in the park The backcountry campsites are occasionally closed due to missile testing on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. Best Time To Visit: The monument is open daily, except Christmas Day. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day): Visitor Center 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Dunes Drive 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Winter hours: Visitor Center 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Dunes Drive 7:00 a.m. - sunset. Special Note: Due to missile testing on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range, it is occasionally necessary, for visitor safety, to close the Dunes Drive for periods of up to two hours. US Highway 70/82 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces is also closed during times of missile testing. Visitors on a tight schedule are encouraged to call the day prior to arrival for information on closures.Fees: Entrance fees are collected at the entrance station on the Dunes Drive. Children 16 and under are free. Accessibility: All facilities in the visitor center and picnic areas are wheelchair accessible. The sand dunes themselves are accessible to wheelchairs to a limited degree. The Interdune Boardwalk is a 1/3 mile (round-trip)wheelchair-accessible trail through an interdune area and to the top of a dune. Rules: No ground fires are permitted at the campsite or anywhere else in the park. Backpackers must register for campsites in person (no advance registration) at the Visitor Center by one hour before sunset.Directions: The visitor center is located on US Highway 70/82, 15 miles (24.15km) southwest of Alamogordo and 52 miles east of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Travelers from Carlsbad Caverns to southern Arizona can follow U.S. 82 through the scenic Sacramento Mountains to White Sands National Monument. Map: Click here for a map to White Sands National Monument Reservations: Backpackers must register for campsites in person (no advance registration) at the Visitor Center by one hour before sunset | | |
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| | | | | Address | | P.O. Box 1086 | | Holloman AFB, New Mexico 88330 |
| | | Phone | | General: (505) 679-2599 | |
| | | | | Website | | Email |
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