Photo:
Ben Soyka / CC BY-SA 4.0
White Sands is one of the world’s great natural wonders, a dazzling 275-square-mile sea of pure white gypsum sand rolling across the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico. The largest gypsum dune field on Earth, its wave after wave of blinding-white dunes create a surreal, beautiful landscape where visitors hike, sled and watch some of the most spectacular sunsets and dark skies in the Southwest.
Unlike ordinary sand, these dunes are made of gypsum, which stays cool to the touch and glows brilliant white. Wind constantly reshapes the field, burying and revealing its edges, while specially adapted plants and pale, camouflaged animals, like the bleached earless lizard, survive in this stark environment. Beyond the dunes, desert scrub and the surrounding mountains frame the basin.
Fall through spring brings the most comfortable temperatures for exploring the dunes, with mild days and cool nights. Summer is very hot, so hike early or late and carry ample water. Any time of year, sunrise and sunset set the white sand aglow, and the dark skies make for wonderful stargazing.
The park lies off US-70 between Las Cruces and Alamogordo, and the Dunes Drive loops eight miles into the heart of the field to trailheads and picnic areas. A vehicle is needed to reach and drive into the dunes; note that the park and highway occasionally close for a couple of hours during tests at the surrounding White Sands Missile Range.
Walk the marked dune trails, the Alkali Flat and Dune Life Nature trails among them, and sled down the slopes on a saucer (sold at the visitor center). Drive the scenic loop, join a ranger-led sunset stroll, camp in the backcountry dunes by permit, and stay for the stargazing under exceptionally dark skies.
The featureless white dunes make it surprisingly easy to lose your way, so stay oriented, follow the marked trail posts, and turn back if unsure. Heat and sun are intense with no shade or water, so carry plenty, wear protection, and hike in the cooler hours. Check for missile-range closures before you go.
A park pass is required, backcountry camping needs a permit, and the park can close briefly for nearby missile tests. Check the schedule. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current hours, closures and conditions with the National Park Service before your trip.
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
