White Sands National Monument
At the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert lies a mountain-ringed valley known as 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.
Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum cover nearly 300 square miles of desert. The dunes are ever-changing; growing, cresting, then slumping, but always advancing. Slowly, relentlessly, the sand covers all.
White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of the world's largest gypsum dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this harsh environment.
Travelers to southern New Mexico are invited to explore this vast undulating landscape of brilliant white sand.For an in-depth history and detailed tour of the area, click here.
Visiting the Monument
Getting There: White Sands National Monument is located along U.S. Highway 70/82, 15 miles west of Alamogordo and 52 miles east of Las Cruces. The Monument is 100 miles from El Paso, via either Alamogordo or Las Cruces.
Hours of Operation: The Monument is open daily, except Christmas. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day): Visitor Center 8 AM - 7 PM, Dunes Drive 7 AM - 10 PM. Winter hours: Visitor Center 8 AM - 4:30 PM, Dunes Drive 7 AM - sunset.
Park Closures: 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. Visitors on a tight schedule are encouraged to call ahead for information on closures.
Food and Lodging: There is no dining or lodging within the Monument. The nearest restaurants and motels are in Alamogordo, 15 miles east. Refreshments and snacks can be purchased at the Visitor Center Gift Shop from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. (Summer 8:30 AM - 6 PM.)
Disabled Visitors: All facilities in the Visitor Center and Picnic Area are wheelchair accessible. The sand dunes are accessible to wheelchairs to a limited degree.
Picnicking and Camping : Picnic areas with sheltered tables are located at the end of the scenic drive, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. No water is available anywhere along the dunes drive.
There are no campgrounds in the park. Both public and private campgrounds are available in the area. A backcountry campsite is available in the park. Please register at the Visitor Center upon arrival to use this site.
Seeing the Park
Your first stop should be the White Sands Visitor Center, which includes a museum, information desk, book store, gift shop and rest rooms. Allow approximately 30 minutes for Visitor Center activities.
An eight-mile scenic drive leads from the Visitor Center into the heart of the dunes. Wayside exhibits at pullouts along the drive provide information about the natural history of the park.
Numerous parking areas along the drive allow visitors to stop and walk in the white sands. Allow 30 minutes driving time for the 16-mile round trip, plus additional time for walking, photography or stopping at pullouts.
The Big Dune Trail: 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 trail head, discusses the plants and animals that live within the dunes.
Ranger-Led Activities : From Memorial Day to Labor Day, ranger led activities are scheduled throughout the day, including orientation talks, nature walks, and evening slide programs. Check at the Visitor Center for the day's activities. Organized groups can arrange for ranger-led bus tours or walking tours any time of year by contacting the Monument in advance.
Published: 29 Apr 2002
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.
White Sands National Monument Highlights
- The largest gypsum dune field in the world, White Sands National Monument occupies 300 square miles of soft white sand with dunes that rise and change in the prevailing winds. The monument is surrounded by the desert of the Tularosa Basin and is flanked by the Sacramento and San Andres mountain ranges. The visitor center, at the beginning of the 16-mile loop through the park, offers a fascinating introduction to the formation and history of the dunes, as well as to the plants and animals that live among them: spadefoot toads, hognose snakes, kangaroo rats, Cactus Wrens, ocotillo, cholla, and yucca.
- Camping in the park is allowed only at the one primitive backcountry campsite about a mile from the main road. A permit and clearance from park headquarters are required.
- The 180-acre Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, named for a 19th century cattle baron, is just east of White Sands and 12 miles south of Alamogordo. Set in a box canyon where Mescalero Apaches once fought the U.S. Cavalry, the park has tent and RV sites as well as a small visitor center.
- At the remote Aguirre Springs Campground on the east side of the Organ Mountains you'll find sites with picnic tables, fire rings, grills, and pit toilets. The Pine Tree and Baylor Pass trails start here. Area visitors over the years have included a number of famous and infamous westerners, including Pancho Villa and Billy the Kid. Take Highway 70 east from Las Cruces and watch for the signs.
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White Sands National Monument Travel Q&A
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