White Sands

Overview

White Sands National Park protects the world's largest gypsum dune field — 275 square miles of brilliant white sand in the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico. Unlike typical quartz sand dunes, these are made of gypsum crystals that rarely form dunes because gypsum usually dissolves in water. Here, the enclosed basin traps the mineral, and prevailing winds sculpt it into rolling dunes that glow white under the desert sun and turn pink and gold at sunrise and sunset. Dunes Drive, an eight-mile road that transitions from pavement to hard-packed gypsum, leads into the heart of the dune field where white sand stretches to every horizon. The Alkali Flat Trail, a strenuous five-mile loop through the backcountry dunes, navigates by posted markers across trackless sand — one of the most otherworldly hikes in any national park. The Interdune Boardwalk provides an accessible introduction to the unique ecosystem of plants and animals adapted to life on shifting white sand. Sledding down the dunes is a park tradition — the visitor center sells waxed saucer-style sleds, and families spend hours sliding down the steeper faces near the picnic areas. Full moon nights, when the park stays open late, transform the dune field into a luminous moonscape unlike anything else in the national park system.

Things to Do

• Sled down the gypsum dunes
• Hike the Alkali Flat Trail through the backcountry dunes
• Drive Dunes Drive into the heart of the dune field
• Photograph sunset over the white sand
• Walk the Interdune Boardwalk nature trail
• Visit during a full moon program for nighttime dunes
• Attend a sunset stroll ranger program

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for these animals during your visit:

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Hot summers with highs above 100°F. Winter days are mild (50-60°F) with cold nights. Spring winds create dramatic sand movement. Summer monsoon thunderstorms bring brief, intense rain.