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The monument is open daily year round. The summer hours start May 26th and run through September 3rd. The visitor center is open from 8am to 6pm.

The Dunes Drive may be entered from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. No vehicles may enter the Dunes Drive after 9 p.m. All visitors must exit the park by 10 p.m.

The winter hours take affect September 4th and run thru May 22nd. The visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Beginning November 4th the visitor center is open from 8 am. To 5 pm. The Dunes Drive may be entered from 7:00 a.m. to sunset. No vehicles may enter the Dunes Drive after sunset. All visitors must exit the park by one hour after sunset. The Visitor Center will be closed on Christmas day.

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 three hours. U.S. Highway 70/82 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces is also closed during times of missile testing.

During the summer (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day) the Dunes Drive may be entered from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., except during missile closures. All vehicles must exit the Dunes Drive by 10 p.m.

From Labor Day to Memorial Day, the Dunes Drive may be entered from 7 a.m. to sunset, except during missile closures. All vehicles must exit the Dunes Drive by one hour after sunset.

Formal recognition for the uniqueness of the white sands of southern New Mexico came on January 18, 1933, when President Herbert Hoover, acting under the authority of the “Antiquities Act of 1906″, proclaimed and established a White Sands National Monument. The monument story, however, can be traced to the waning years of the 19th century and is linked to the nationwide growth of the “national park” idea that followed the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872.

The economic benefits to be derived from park status were not lost on early promoters either. Parks brought visitors who would require a variety of services that translated into businesses and jobs. Following the Yellowstone Act, other park proposals proliferated as politicians sought a similar resource for their districts. Southern New Mexico is no exception. As early as 1898, a Sacramento Mountains National Park was suggested, but when organizers learned that their desire for a hunting preserve did not fit with the national park mission the, thrust changed and the area became part of the Lincoln Forest Preserve in 1902.

That potential coincided with the dream of a determined group of local promoters that had long sought to attract some kind of development to the Alamogordo area in order to capitalize on the dunes. Many proposals had been submitted regarding commercial development of the gypsum found in the dunes, but none had come to realization. Seizing on the park idea, Tom Charles, one of the leaders of the boosters, suggested that “gypsum may be divided into two classes – Commercial and Inspirational. The former everybody has, but as for recreational gypsum, we have it all. No place else in the world do you find these alabaster dunes with the beauty and splendor of the Great White Sands”.

Mr. Charles’ enthusiasm for the project was contagious and his perceptions about the value of the dunes also proved accurate. Interest in some sort of national recognition for the resource grew throughout the latter part of the 1920s. Studies were conducted by the National Park Service who determined that while the dunes might not meet the criteria for National Park status, which required a variety of resource values, the setting was ideal for preservation as a national monument. With the full backing of the New Mexico congressional delegation, as well as the support of communities from El Paso to Roswell, success was achieved in the waning hours of the Hoover administration.

In some ways the timing was fortuitous, for the establishment of the monument coincided with the dark days of the Depression and the economic recovery programs of the Roosevelt administration. WPA funds were used to improve many park areas and White Sands benefited by achieving a full measure of development within just a few years of opening. Construction projects included the visitor center/administrative building, maintenance facilities, public restrooms, and park residences. All of these buildings are still in service.

Interest in the monument, as evidenced by visitation numbers, is proof positive of the clear vision shown by the early park boosters. In its first year the area attracted 12,000 people. By 1948 the number increased to more than 100,000 per year. 1957 marked the first year that visitation topped 300,000, and by 1965 more than 500,000 people were coming to the park each year. In four different years total visitation has exceeded 600,000, the last time as recently as 1986.

The Visitor Center building complex at White Sands National Monument is an excellent example of Spanish pueblo-adobe architecture constructed during the years of the Great Depression. Construction began in 1936 and completed in 1938 by various government agencies including the Works Progress Administration (WPA) at a cost of $31,600.

Wall construction of the Visitor Center is of adobe mud bricks throughout. Adobe bricks are usually sixteen inches long, ten inches wide and four inches thick. Ordinarily, two men can mix and mold over one hundred bricks in a day, sufficient to build about one foot of wall. There are various “recipes” for making adobe and most include straw to prevent the adobes from cracking as they dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are not particularly durable unless regularly maintained. If the stucco facing covering the adobe bricks is damaged, the erosive forces of wind and rain quickly destroy the exposed mud bricks. Also, annual rainfall in excess of twenty inches (White Sands averages about eight inches) will endanger the adobe structure since dampness tends to permeate and weaken the base of the walls. Are adobe buildings cooler than other types of buildings? Research indicates that adobe is inferior to modern insulation materials, yet adobe structures seem cooler than other buildings.

The interior of the Visitor Center presents various examples of artistry in construction and furnishings. The ceiling in the main room is of viga and savina construction. The vigas are the large pine logs that form the basis for support of the roof. The decorative carved scrolls on which the vigas rest are called corbels, which serve to distribute the weight of the roof to the walls and to provide decoration.

Running at right angles on top of the vigas are groups of three aspen poles called savinas. On top of the savinas is a split wood covering. For complete authenticity the roof would be made of brush and several feet of compacted dirt—the Visitor Center roof is of modern tar and gravel.

Benches and chairs are typical Indian-Spanish design, being heavily constructed to resist splitting and loosening due to humidity or dryness. Decorative carving on the furniture is modest but typical.

The lighting fixtures are made of tin ware. Tin was a poor man’s substitute for silver on the Spanish-Mexican frontier. Each village had at least one tinsmith and often individuals crafted their own tin ware since all that was needed was a nail to punch holes and something to cut the sheet of tin. Designs on the tin ware in New Mexico show a strong New England influence, probably due to the trade with the United States over the Santa Fe Trail.

One of the most prized articles of trade to reach frontier New Mexico was glass, which was so valuable that it was seldom used for windows. It was used instead for covering pictures of saints or was decorated with painted designs and framed with tin. One of the most common methods of decorating glass was to paint one side of the glass and draw a common hair comb over the painted surface before it dried, thus creating “combed glass”. Examples of combed glass can be seen in the lighting fixtures near the front entrance.

In 1990, the Visitor Center and adjacent seven buildings, also built between 1936 and 1940, were officially designated as the White Sands National Monument Historic district. Set in a landscape of native plants, the historic district preserves this unique architectural style and is a tribute to the plans of the architects and the fine craftsmanship of the WPA workers.

Lyle Bennett, the principal architect for the White Sands Visitor Center, began doing architectural work for the National Park Service in the 1930s. He became a master of the “Pueblo-Revival” style, as demonstrated at White Sands. He also designed the Painted Desert Inn at Petrified Forest National Park, the historic district at Bandelier National Monument, and buildings at Carlsbad Caverns and Mesa Verde National Parks. Bennett’s design of the picnic table shelters at White Sands reflects his preference for the modern architectural style of Frank Lloyd Wright.

To the Indians of central New Mexico, one of the most enduring legends is that of Pavla Blanca, the ghost of the Great White Sands. Hidden behind the swirling eddies of the spectral white dunes, her tragic story provides one of the most fascinating tales of the Southwest.

In early 1540, a valiant, young, Spanish conquistador, Hernando de Luna, left his lovely betrothed, Mañuela, in Mexico City, to accompany the famed explorer, Francisco Coronado. Searching the uncharted lands in present day Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas and Texas, Coronado followed every Indian clue, every tale, looking for the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola and Gran Quivira, where the houses were said to be studded with gold and the streets were afire with jewels.

Ambushed by the fierce, proud, warrior Apaches on the edge of the Great White Sands, the Spanish battled for their life. Exhausted and beaten, the survivors fled southward to Mexico City. It is said that Hernando de Luna was mortally wounded, and perished somewhere in the ever-shifting white sands. Setting out to seek her betrothed, somewhere north of what is now El Paso, Texas, the lovely Mañuela was never seen again. It is said that the ghost of this beautiful, Spanish maiden haunts the dunes of the Great White Sands. She comes nightly in her flowing, white wedding gown to seek her lover, lost and buried beneath the eternal dunes. Some say that the ghostly figure usually appears as the evening breezes sweep and dip over the stark white dunes, just after sunset.

The moderns have it that Pavla Blanca is caused by a prevailing wind sweeping over the hushed and lonely desert in the evening, whipping wraith-like eddies of dust. But the Indians say it is the ghost of Mañuela, still, eternally, seeking her lover.

Fact or fiction, those with imagination, strolling in the silent shimmering dunes after a fiery sunset, may be fortunate enough to witness for themselves the unusual sight. Thus, this legend persists for some, even to this day.

The largest pure gypsum dune field in the world is located at White Sands National Monument in south-central New Mexico. This region of glistening white dunes is in the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert within an “internally drained valley” called the Tularosa Basin. The monument ranges in elevation from 3890′ to 4116′ above sea level.

There are approximately 275 total square miles of dune fields here, with 115 square miles (about 40%) located within White Sands National Monument. The remainder is on military land that is not open to the public. This dune field is very dynamic, with the most active dunes moving to the northeast at a rate of up to 30 feet per year, while the more stable areas of sand move very little. The pure gypsum that forms these unusual dunes originates in the western portion of the monument from an ephemeral lake or playa with a very high mineral content. Many species of plants and animals have developed very specialized means of surviving in this area of cold winters, hot summers, with very little surface water and highly mineralized ground water.

The obvious natural feature of this monument is the pure gypsum dunes, but perhaps less obvious are the sources of the dunes, Lake Lucero and Alkali Flat. These two areas are the result of the gradual drying of an extensive Pleistocene lake that was rich in the mineral gypsum, with the dunes being the result of weathering and wind transport of these exposed surfaces. Along the margins of Lake Lucero, translucent golden-yellow crystals of selenite are exposed on the soil surface. These calcium sulfate (gypsum) crystals grow in saturated mud beneath the remains of Lake Otero and may reach lengths of four feet. When exposed on the surface, these crystals are subject to weathering and erosion and may eventually become gypsum powder and sand grains, which can be carried by winds as dust or sand storms. These wind-transported particles, along with those from Lake Lucero and Alkali Flat, are often deposited to the north as the white sands of White Sands National Monument. “Fossil” dunes found east and south of the main dunefield offer information about historical wind and climate regimes.

The gypsum that forms the white sands was deposited at the bottom of a shallow sea that covered this area 250 million years ago. Eventually turned into stone, these gypsum-bearing marine deposits were uplifted into a giant dome 70 million years ago when the Rocky Mountains were formed.

Beginning 10 million years ago, the center of this dome began to collapse and create the Tularosa Basin. The remaining sides of the original dome formation now form the San Andres and Sacramento mountain ranges that ring the basin.

The common mineral gypsum, a hydrous form of calcium sulfate, is rarely found in the form of sand because it is soluble in water. Rain and snow that fall in the surrounding mountains dissolve gypsum from the rocks and carry it into the Tularosa Basin. Normally, dissolved gypsum would be carried by rivers to the sea. But no river drains the Tularosa Basin. The water, along with the gypsum and other sediments it contains, is trapped within the basin.

With no outlet to the sea, water flowing into the Tularosa Basin either sinks into the ground or pools up in low spots. One of the lowest points in the basin is a large playa called Lake Lucero. Occasionally, this dry lake bed fills with water. As the water evaporates, the dissolved gypsum is deposited on the surface.

Even more gypsum deposition occurred during the last Ice Age when a larger lake, Lake Otero, covered much of the basin. The Alkali Flat area is the exposed bed of this Ice Age Lake.

In wet periods, water evaporating slowly on the playa floor causes gypsum to be deposited in a crystalline form called selenite. Along Lake Lucero’s shore and in the Alkali Flat, beds of selenite crystals – some three feet long – cover the ground.

The forces of nature – freezing and thawing, wetting and drying – eventually break down the crystals into sand-size particles light enough to be moved by the wind. Strong winds blowing across the playa pick up gypsum particles and carry them downwind. As the sand grains accumulate into a dune, they bounce up its gentle windward slope, rippling its surface. At the dune’s steep leading edge, sand builds up until gravity pulls it down the slip face, which moves the dune forward.

Not all sand dunes are alike. Dunes may take many forms, depending on the amount of sand available, the strength and direction of prevailing winds, and the type of vegetation in the area. Four types of dunes can be found in the white sands dune field.

There are four Types of Dunes at White Sands. First there is the Dome Dunes; they were the first dunes to form downwind of Lake Lucero and are low mounds of sand that move up to 30 feet per year. Then there are the Barchans dunes, these crescent-shaped dunes form in areas with strong winds but a limited supply of sand. The Transverse dunes are in areas with ample sand, Barchan’s dunes join together into long ridges of sand. The last are the Parabolic dunes on these dune field edges, plants anchor the arms of Barchans and invert their shape.

White Sands National Monument is located at the northern limits of the Chihuahuan Desert, and as expected, the majority of plants are drought tolerant species. In addition, many of these plants must be adapted to alkaline, nutrient poor soils with high gypsum content. The highly mineralized water table under these soils ranges from about 3 feet below the surface at Lake Lucero and the inter-dune flats to more than 20 feet outside the dune field.

Extreme alkaline conditions and occasional flooding prevent the growth of plant life in Lake Lucero and Alkali Flat except for a few scattered grasses and pickleweed. Salt cedar, an invasive nusiance shrub, has managed to survive in places along the fringes of these two areas.

Plants surviving here must also endure being buried by moving dunes and be able to tolerate extreme fluctuations in temperature, with common sub-freezing winter lows to occasional 100+ summer days.

The majority of plants are found in 6 distinct ecological units, primarily on the basis of soil type and mineral concentration, dune activity, and water availability. A description of each unit, along with examples of plant species found in each, follows:

Barchan dunes present some of the most extreme environmental conditions for plant life on the monument. These dunes creep forward as much as 30 feet per year and even fast-growing plants such as yucca and rosemary mint cannot outgrow them. Occasional pedestals topped with sumac, rosemary mint, or salt cedars are left in the trail of a moving dune. The inter-dune areas may contain sand verbena, evening primrose, woolly paper flower, Indian rice grass, yucca, ephedra, and alkali sacaton.

Parabolic dunes, which extend two to three miles into the dunefield are slower moving, vegetated dunes and are separated by large grassy, inter-dune areas. Grasses found here include several members of the drop seed tribe, gyp grama, little bluestem, sand hill muhly, and alkali sacaton. Soaptree yucca, rosemary mint, skunk bush sumac, Rio Grande cottonwood, and scattered stands of the exotic salt cedar are the primary woody plants found in this area. This area has the most complex and varied plant community on the monument.

The extremely flat area of grey-green vegetation over gypsum/alkali soils extends from the eastern and southern monument boundaries to the edges of the dunefield. This can best be described as a saltbush/alkali sacaton association, dotted with an occasional sumac bush, hedgehog cactus and cane cholla.

Alkali sacaton and a few other grasses are found above the lake floodplain into the margins of the mesquite dunes. They are composed of mesquite hummocks near the edges of Alkali Flat and Lake Lucero and creosote bush on alluvial fans that extend to the monument boundary from the base of the San Andres Mountains.

White Sands offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy. There is Guided Ranger tours, sledding, backpacking, bicycling and much more. There are scenic areas for photography, picnicking, or even take your car for some wonderful sightseeing.

The Sunset Stroll Nature Walk is an easy stroll through the dunes to look at the geology, plants and animals of the dune field. Some climbing on the dunes is involved. The walk is timed to end at sunset in order to provide good photographic opportunities. The Sunset Stroll is held every evening throughout the year, except when staff is not available. The starting time varies. For more information, call (505) 479-6124 x 232.

The Evening Program is a one-hour slide program, video, or other presentation held at the amphitheater near the end of the Dunes Drive. Topics vary nightly. Visitors sit on a sand dune to view the program. Those who don’t want to sit on the sand may bring blankets or folding chairs to sit on. Evening Programs are given on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the summer only. Programs begin at 8:30 p.m. from May 26 through August 19, and at 8:00 p.m. August 24 through September 2.

The Lake Lucero Tour is a ranger-guided trip to the source of the white sands. Reservations are required and can be obtained by calling monument headquarters at (575) 679-2599 or 479-6124, Extension 236. The tour will begin at the Small Missile Range Gate intersection with US Highway 70, 25 miles west of White Sands National Monument headquarters, between mileposts 174 and 175. The trip will return to the Small Missile Range Gate three hours after the start time. Participants will drive their own vehicles 17 miles over paved roads across the White Sands Missile Range to the Lake Lucero trailhead, then hike 3/4 mile to the lake.

Come see the Park by Car. Your first stop should be the White Sands visitor center, which includes a museum, orientation video, information desk, book store, gift shop and restrooms. Allow approximately 30 minutes for visitor center activities.

The Dunes Drive, an eight-mile scenic drive, leads from the Visitor Center into the heart of the dunes. This hard-surface roadway is suitable for cars, trailers and buses. Allow 40 minutes driving time for the 16-mile roundtrip, plus additional time for walking, photography or stopping at pullouts. Wayside exhibits at pullouts along the Dunes 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. Picnic areas and pit toilets are located near the end of the Dunes Drive. There is no water available along the Dunes Drive.

You can also enjoy seeing the park by hiking. Each of the trails in White Sands National Monument is different. You can explore the various areas and features of the dune field, so have an adventure and enjoy one or all of the park’s four trails.

You are welcome to walk anywhere within the park as long as you use an established pullout or parking area. It is recommended, though, that you start with the 6.2 miles (10 km) of marked trails. Before hiking anywhere, orient yourself to natural and human-made landmarks, such as the different mountain ranges and water towers.

The Alkali Flat Trail is seven miles from the visitor center. The length of the trail is 4.6 miles round trip. If you want to see un-vegetated dunes stretching for miles into a beautiful vista and have a wilderness-type experience, the Alkali Flat Trail is for you. This trail takes you through the Heart of the Sands, up and over dunes, and ends at the edge of the Alkali Flat. This trail is approved for foot travel only. No bicycles, horses or motorized vehicles are allowed. The Alkali Flat is the dry lakebed of Lake Otero, a lake that filled the bottom of the Tularosa Basin during the last ice age and covered 1,600 square miles. Please note that you do not have to hike the entire trail to enjoy the spectacular scenery.

The Dune Life Nature Trail is 2.75 miles from the visitor center. The length of this trail is one mile. This is your first opportunity to walk on the sand. The trail is marked by brown posts buried in the sand. This trail is located along the edge of the dune field and is more heavily vegetated than other sections of the dune field. The trail starts down in the plains and is level for the first 1/4 mile before going up a steep slope onto the sand dunes.

Guide booklets are available at the trailhead. You may borrow a copy from the box at the beginning of the trail. Return the booklets to the box at the end of the trail, or deposit 50 cents if you wish to keep the booklet. This trail and guide will introduce you to plants and animals common to the dune field and surrounding desert. This is NOT a play area. The trail is for nature study. You may play out in the Heart of the Sands near the picnic areas, away from plants and away from the road.

The Interdune Boardwalk is 4.5 miles from the visitor center and is 650 yards round trip. This trail is fully accessible for people using wheelchairs and strollers. The trail is an elevated boardwalk. This trail leads you through a fragile interdune area to a scenic view at the top of a dune. Interdune areas are where all plant life in the dune field starts. This is the best place to get a close look at many of the wildflowers that grow here while protecting the park’s resources. There are informational signs and benches located at various points along the boardwalk.

The Playa Trail is 2.5 miles from the visitor center and is 500 yards round trip. This is a short, level trail that leads to a small playa. A playa is a shallow depression or low-lying area that fills temporarily with rainwater from storms. Most of the year, it is a dry lakebed. Playas are common features in desert environments.

Bicycling is allowed along the Dunes Drive. Bicyclists must pay the standard park entrance fee. Helmets are required. No off-road bicycling is permitted. All bicycles must stay on the Dunes Drive or parking areas. Moonlight Bicycle Rides are held in the spring and fall. Reservations are required. On these nights, the Dunes Drive is re-opened for three hours after dark for bicycles only. Helmets and lights are required. Due to the popularity of this event, participants are asked to limit themselves to one ride per year so that others may enjoy this activity. Advance registration required. For reservations please call 575-679-2599 ex 111. Reservations via email will not be accepted.

Photography is best in the morning and evening when low light produces interesting shadows and colors. Photographing dunes can be difficult. White dunes usually come out gray if exposed as indicated by your camera’s internal meter. For manual cameras, if the picture includes mostly dunes, overexpose the shot by one or two stops to bring out the sand’s whiteness. If the subject is a person or a plant, meter off the subject for a proper reading. A polarizing filter will enhance contrast. Commercial photographers need to obtain a Special Use Permit one week prior to their arrival.
How about a picnic in the dunes? There are two shaded picnic tables adjacent to the Visitor Center at the park entrance. There are three picnic areas in the heart of the sands near the end of the Dunes Drive, with a total of 45 tables. Each table is shaded and has an elevated grill. Please do not leave used charcoal in the grills or throw charcoal into trash containers. Take all used charcoal home with you. One group picnic area may be reserved in advance for organized groups.

The dunes also offer sledding. Sledding down the slip face of dunes is a popular activity at White Sands National Monument. Most sledders use waxed plastic snow saucers (which can be purchased at the park gift shop). Choose a dune that is away from the roadway and parking areas and is free of vegetation.

The dark skies of White Sands National Monument are great for stargazing. For an out-of-this-world experience, join a park ranger for one of the following public astronomy programs.

Friday Night Star Talks: Learn to identify the summer constellations. Listen to ancient legends about the stars. Discover what modern astronomers have learned about the universe. It starts at 8:30 p.m.

Summer Solstice Program: “Astronomy of the Ancient Americans”, a slide program on Native American astronomical observatories.

The Eighth Annual White Sands Star Party: Join amateur astronomers for telescope viewing and constellation talks. For more information, see the following web site Alamogordo Astronomy Club.

The Location to all programs is held at the amphitheater at the end of the Dunes Drive. For more information, call 479-6124 or (505) 679-2599, extension 232. Schedules are subject to change.

White Sands National Monument offers primitive backcountry campsites for visitors wishing to backpack into the dunes to enjoy a night on the white sands. The backcountry campsites are reached from a trailhead on the Dunes Drive, about 6 miles from the Visitor Center. It is about a one-mile hike into the campsites.

Today, and for the future, the park staff faces the challenge of meeting the increased demand for services that the ever- increasing visitation requires, while at the same time insuring the protection of the resources for which the Monument was established. Over the months ahead, the park will be revising its management documents in an attempt to come to grips with this “preservation vs. use” dichotomy. Public input will be an important part of this process, particularly on the role of the park in the local economy.

The park will also be examining its role as a laboratory for desert research and the potential for new programs in desert ecology. It will also be looking for new ways to provide for visitor interaction with the desert resources. Further information on this process, and the occasions for public involvement will be forthcoming and local residents are urged to take advantage of these opportunities to help set future directions for this unique and very special place.

The Tularosa Basin, a high desert area, averaging 4,000 feet in elevation, is subject to harsh and sometimes rapidly changing climatic conditions. Spring is a windy season. Summers are hot, averaging 95°F., with highs reading over 100°F. Winters are relatively mild, but night-time temperatures often go below freezing (0°C.) Snowfall is infrequent, but heavy snows have occurred on occasion. Precipitation averages about 10 inches (250 mm.) per year, with most falling during summer thunderstorms, often accompanied by lightning and hail.

Current Park Weather

Planning before you depart is the most critical factor in having a safe trip. Know where you are going, who you are going with, and when you will return. Let somebody know where you will be and when to expect your return. Remember, there is safely in numbers, and having a partner for your outdoor activities will improve safety for both of you. Take maps and a compass, and know how to use them. Talk to experts from land management agencies to learn about local conditions where you are going.

Please take these words seriously. There are real dangers when you recreate on public land, but you can reduce or avoid these dangers by understanding your outdoor environment and planning accordingly. Returning from a trip safely and uninjured will certainly make the trip more rewarding. Be prepared when hiking in the desert. Be sure to take plenty of water and snacks and wear walking shoes, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses when going hiking in the desert. A minimum of one gallon of water per person per day is recommended. There is no water in the park, so be sure to fill up at the Visitor Center before you go. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink — you’re already dehydrated.

Desert heat can lead to dangerous dehydration very rapidly. If you become stranded, conserve your water by traveling at night or during the cooler times of the day or night in the summer and resting in the shade during the hottest periods. It is a good idea to always keep a few gallons of extra water in your vehicle regardless of the weather or time of year. If you are backpacking, carry a water filter since you will not find water that is safe to drink. You can fill your water containers at the spigot outside the Visitor Center.

There is no shade or water along the trails, and summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees F. Heat-related illness is common in warm weather and can be fatal. Hike during cool times. Rest, eat and drink when tired. Drinking water is available only at the Visitor Center. The white sand reflects sunlight. Protect all exposed skin from sunburn. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses. We recommend that you do not hike alone. Pets must remain on a leash at all times.

While a person can live without food for weeks, food is important. Food maintains your energy level, which helps you deal with emergency situations, keeps your morale up and helps you stay warm in the winter. Keep emergency high energy food with you like granola bars or energy bars.
It is easy to become disoriented and lost in the dune field, especially when strong winds erase your footprints and obscure landmarks. A compass is strongly recommended for cross-country or off-trail hiking. And remember to avoid, whenever possible, walking across the fragile crypto biotic crusts in the inter-dune areas!

If you get lost, it is generally better to stay where you are than to wander all over. A mirror or a piece of aluminum foil can be valuable for flashing sunlight toward potential rescuers. Explain to children the importance of staying put and conserving their energy if they are lost, and of not running from strangers. Tell children that “when they are lost”, they need to not be scared of strangers since the searchers who finds them will probably not be someone they know.

All hikers must register at the trailhead and return to trailhead by sunset. Please indicate “time out” so that park rangers know that you have returned safely.

In the desert, temperatures can vary up to 100 degrees between day and night. When you go out in pleasant conditions, cold fronts and precipitation can cause sudden drops in temperature. An extra shirt, sweater, or light jacket and a water repellent layer can keep you comfortable in miserably cold weather. Wool clothes are excellent in rain or snow because wool retains its insulating quality, even when wet.

In the summer, wear loose fitting, light colored cotton clothing. Light colors reflect light and heat. Cotton allows air to pass through so that evaporation will keep your skin temperature down. Splashing a little water on your clothes will provide evaporative cooling that can help keep you comfortable.

It is a good idea to keep rain gear in your vehicle or pack at all times, since staying dry is the most important part of staying warm. A slicker or poncho take up very little space, but is invaluable if a drenching summer thunderstorm occurs.

Take appropriate clothing with you for the full range of possible weather conditions that you may encounter on your trip. Boots will help protect your feet.

Heat exhaustion is very severe. Symptoms include cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; and headaches, nausea, dizziness, weakness and exhaustion. Heat stroke is a severe heat emergency characterized by hot, dry red skin; unconsciousness, rapid weak pulse and rapid shallow breathing. For any heat stress, get the victim to rest in a cool location, and give them a small amount of water or sports drink. Loosen tight clothing and apply cool wet cloth to their skin. DO NOT give salt tablets or salt water. If a heat stress victim refuses water, vomits or loses consciousness continue to cool their body and get them emergency medical care.

Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature that can happen quickly when someone gets wet or when it is very windy. Shivering numbness, a blank look, and unconsciousness are signs of hypothermia. Get the victim out of the cold and out of wet clothes. Dry the person and warm them gradually in dry clothing or blankets. If the victim has lost consciousness or has stopped breathing, get them emergency medical care.

Plan ahead and prepare. It is best to travel and camp on durable surfaces. Please dispose of waste properly. If you find something that is not yours leave it alone. Treat our natural heritage with respect. Leave plants, rocks, and historical artifacts as you find them. Let nature’s sounds prevail. Speak softly and avoid making loud noises. Allow for others to enjoy the peace and solitude of being in the backcountry. Minimize campfire impacts and respect the wildlife. Most importantly be considerate of other visitors.

Know and obey the regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll visit. Be physically and mentally ready for your trip. Know the ability of every member of you group. Be informed of current weather conditions and other area information. Know and accept risks associated with backcountry experiences. Always take responsibility for yourself and your group. Leave an itinerary with someone at home. It is very important to choose proper equipment and clothing in subdued colors. Plan your meals and repackage food into reusable containers.

Campfires are not allowed. Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Always use a lightweight, portable stove for cooking.
While Traveling hike on the open sand along the edge of the dunes. When traveling cross-country, avoid the fragile inter-dune areas with their easily damaged crypto biotic crusts (dark, bumpy surface in these low lying areas). Please avoid walking on vegetation. Do not remove any sand, plants, animals, or other natural and historic objects. They are protected by law.

Be careful when pitching your tent and camp in the camp area indicated on your permit.

Dispose of Waste Properly. There are pit toilets near the trailhead to the backcountry sites. Use them. If there are no pit toilets nearby, urinate or defecate at least 100 feet (35 adult paces) from camp, or trails. Urinate on the sand and then cover it with a layer of fresh sand. Do not urinate on or near plants; it may interfere with wildlife’s use of the plant for food or shelter. Deposit human waste in cat holes dug 6-8 inches deep. Carry a small garden trowel or lightweight scoop for digging. Cover and disguise the cat hole when finished, or pack out solid waste. Use toilet paper sparingly and pack it out along with sanitary napkins and tampons in an airtight container.

When washing your dishes and yourself, use small amounts, if any, of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater. Strain food scraps from wash water and pack them out. Pack everything you bring into the backcountry back out. Inspect your campsite for trash and evidence or your stay. Pack out all trash: Yours and others’.

Alcohol is prohibited within the park from February 1 through May 31. No glass bottles or kegs are allowed at any time. Fireworks are prohibited within the park.

Lightning kills approximately 75 people each year in the United States. Lightning occurs frequently in the desert during thunderstorms, even if no rain is falling. If you see gathering storm clouds or lightning, or hear thunder, there is a growing risk that lightning could strike. Take cover in a vehicle or building if possible. Otherwise, move to low areas like canyon bottoms. Do not take cover under tall trees, but if you are seeking shelter from the rain, choose a tree that tops out below the canyon sides and below other trees. If you are in a barren area and lightning is getting close, lay flat on the ground in a depression. You can tell how close lightning is by counting the seconds between the time you see the lightning and hear the thunder. The lightning is a thousand feet away for each second you count. Take cover when lightning is within three miles (15 seconds). Do not wait for the lightning to get dangerously close before you decide to take cover.

-SAFETY NOTE: The monument is surrounded by an active missile range and missile debris falls into the dune field and gets buried before it can be removed. For your safety, do not touch any such items. Debris from testing occasionally falls into the park. DO NOT TOUCH ANY METALLIC OBJECTS. These can be dangerous. Report any debris to a park ranger.

Respect wildlife and just enjoy the wildlife at a distance. Never feed wildlife. Protect wildlife, store your food and scented items securely. Minimize noise. Please avoid sensitive habitats.

CAUTION: The Dunes Drive is narrow with steeply-sloping shoulders. Bicyclists should be extra cautious of vehicular traffic.
Speed limits are posted and enforced. Driving on the dunes is not permitted. Stay on the road and park only in established parking areas. Keep vehicles locked at all times. The 600-yard long Inter-dune Boardwalk allows wheelchair access to the top of a dune.
Individuals or groups who wish to use the park for special purposes, including commercial photography, scientific research, weddings, large group picnics, sporting events, pageants, church services, public spectator attractions, entertainment, ceremonies , First Amendment activities, or anyone wishing to use a public address system require a Special Use Permit.

All facilities at the Visitor Center, including restrooms, are wheelchair accessible. Along the Dunes Drive, selected picnic tables and pit toilets are wheelchair accessible.

With increasing visitor use, both day and overnight, it is important to minimize your impacts and Leave No Trace of visits to wilderness, parks and other special places. Trips that include awareness and the use of minimum impact practices conserve natural conditions of the outdoors which make the adventure enjoyable and allow others the same experience.

Leave No Trace is simple, whether you are hiking or camping in the park’s backcountry campground. At its heart it is a set of seven principles which can be applied in any natural setting to minimize human impacts on the environment. Following the Leave No Trace principles and combining them with your personal judgment, awareness, and experience will help protect precious park natural and cultural resources and preserve the park experience for you and for future visitors.

Many animals living in the gypsum dunes at White Sands National Monument match the white sands on which they live. Animals reported to be lighter-colored in the dunes than in non-dune populations which include insects, spiders, scorpions, lizards, mammals, and even toads. Although some dune-field animals are lighter colored than individuals in other populations of the same species, most animals that live in the dunes are not unusually colored.

There has been reported that 210 species of birds live within the White Sands National Monument. While few birds inhabit the gypsum dune field, many occur in the surrounding desert plains, playa lakes, and foothill areas of the monument. The Visitor Center area is usually the best place to observe birds.
Forty-four species of mammals, twenty-six species of reptiles, six species of amphibians and nearly 100 families of insects have been recorded within White Sands National Monument. Most animals inhabit the margins of the dune field and the adjacent desert plain.

As in other deserts, most animals that live here are nocturnal. In order to conserve water and avoid extreme heat, many desert animals stay underground during the day, emerging from their burrows after sunset to search for food. Evidence of their activities can be found in the sand the next morning. The Big Dune Nature Trail is a good place to search for animal tracks and sign.

Even at night, dark animals are easily spotted against the white background of the gypsum sand, making them easy victims for predators. Some small animals, including the Apache pocket mouse, the Bleached Earless Lizard, the Cowles Prairie Lizard, and numerous insects, have evolved a white coloration that camouflages them in the dunes.
Animals are rarely seen within the center of the dune field. The extreme temperatures and the lack of food, shelter and standing water combine to restrict their number. But they are here, even in the heart of the dunes. Like plants, most animals are found in the interdune flats. During the day, watch for darkling beetles, lizards and birds venturing onto the sand. At night, pocket mice and kangaroo rats forage for seeds, and kit fox hunt the mice and rats.

The rare White Sands Pupfish, the only fish native to the Tularosa Basin, can be found in Lost River, a stream that originates in the Sacramento Mountains. Lost River enters the eastern part of the dune field and flows through the park about two miles before disappearing in the sand.

The Oryx, or gemsbok, is a large (450 pounds) African antelope that now lives in southern New Mexico. Oryx were introduced onto the White Sands Missile Range by the state of New Mexico to establish a hunting game population. Oryx have successfully adapted to the area and have spread throughout the Tularosa Basin, including White Sands National Monument. The National Park Service considers the Oryx to be a threat to the park’s native plants and animals and has fenced the monument boundary to exclude the Oryx.

Between 1969 and 1977, 93 Oryx were released on White Sands Missile Range. There are now about 3000 animals in residence. Annual hunts for the Oryx began in 1974 on the Missile Range. They stand 47 inches at the shoulder. Both males and females have horns that average 34 inches long. Their brown coloring with distinctive black and white markings allows them to hide among desert shrubs.

Oryx are specially adapted to desert life. They can go an indefinite period without drinking water. In Africa they feed on grasses, forbs, and melons. Here in the Tularosa basin, they eat desert grasses, yucca, buffalo gourds, mesquite bean pods, and tumbleweeds.

In their natural habitat in Africa, lions and other native predators control Oryx population, and only 10% of Oryx calves reach the age of one year. Here in New Mexico, predators such as coyotes and mountain lions are not effective at controlling Oryx at a stable population. Hunting outside the National Monument provides this function but, as in most National Parks, hunting is not permitted within White Sands National Monument.

Rattlesnakes are the only venomous snakes in New Mexico except for the Arizona corral snake. Many harmless and beneficial snakes are killed each year because they mimic coral snakes or act like rattlesnakes. All rattlesnakes are venomous, with larger animals being generally more dangerous because they can deliver more venom. Venoms very in strength among different species, among individuals within a species, and even at different times for an individual snake. Approximately half of the rattlesnakes’ bites are dry, meaning they don’t always inject venom to protect themselves.

This is advantageous to the snakes, since they need their venom to catch food.

Remember rattlesnakes can be found anywhere in New Mexico, from the middle of cities to wild lands from deserts to grasslands to mountains. The best snakebite safety is to avoid being bitten. Always watch where you are walking. Don’t step over rocks or logs or through thick vegetation where visibility is poor. If you see a snake, leave it alone and it will leave you alone. Believe it or not, snakes are more scared of you than you are of them.

If someone is bitten it is important for them to remain calm and seek immediate medical attention. The bite should not be cut into, which can cause far more severe damage to blood vessels, connective tissue and muscles than the snakebite itself. The site of the bite should be kept below the level of the heart. Commercial snakebite kits are fairly worthless or even dangerous, since they contain razor blade that people use to cut into themselves. Also, the suction cup is not strong enough to remove venom, which binds instantly to the victim’s tissues. A restrictive bandage may be used, but never apply a tourniquet unless you are sure it is necessary to sacrifice a limb to save a life. Bring the snake along for identification if you can do so safely, even just the tail end of the snake. Remember that a dead rattlesnake can still give a lethal bite.

Venomous spiders, scorpions and insects are common residents in New Mexico. If you are bitten or stung by one, seek medical attention. Bring the animal along for identification if you can do so safely.

The black widow is the most common venomous spider in this area and is responsible for about half of all venomous spider bites in the United States. It has a large, shiny black body with a red hourglass on the belly, and may have white and red markings on the back. It builds a messy-looking web under rocks, logs and other debris. Other venomous spiders in New Mexico include the brown recluse and many species of small spiders

Scorpions are abundant in the desert. The scorpions in this area do not have the high potency venom of those in some other parts of the world, but a sting can be dangerous to someone who is allergic to the venom. Scorpion stings are generally quite painful for a short time.

The entrance fee is $3 per person which is good for 7 days. Children 15 and under are free. Entrance fees are collected at the entrance station on the Dunes Drive.

NOTE: WSNM cannot accept credit cards for admission fees or passport purchases.

Holders of National Park, Golden Eagle, Golden Age, Golden Access, and White Sands Annual passports are admitted free, along with everyone in their private vehicle.

The Lake Lucero Tour is a ranger-guided trip to the source of the white sands. Reservations are required and can be obtained by calling monument headquarters at (575) 679-2599 or 479-6124, Extension 236. A special use fee is charged for the tour: $3.00 per person ages 16 and older, $1.50 for children and to holders of the Golden Age Pass. National Park/Golden Eagle Passports and the White Sands Annual Pass do not apply for this special tour.
Moonlight Bicycle Rides: A special use fee of $5 ($2.50 children and Golden Age passport holders) is charged for this event. National Park, Golden Eagle and White Sands Annual passes are not honored for this event.

Several public and private campgrounds and RV parks are within one hour’s drive of the park. The closest public campgrounds are Oliver Lee State Park, about 24 miles southeast, and Aguirre Springs Recreation Area, about 39 miles southwest. In the summer, the Lincoln National Forest has several campgrounds in the Sacramento Mountains, about 40 miles east of the Monument.

The campsites are primitive with no water or toilet facilities. No ground fires are permitted at the campsites or anywhere else in the park; however, containerized fuel is permitted.

Anyone wishing to use a backcountry campsite must obtain a permit at the Visitor Center between 8 a.m. and one hour before sunset. Backcountry permits are $3 per person, but are limited and available only in person on the day of use, on a first come-first served basis.

New Mexico Museum of Space History and IMAX Theater is in Alamogordo, 19 miles from White Sands National Monument.

35 miles southwest of White Sands National Monument is the White Sands Missile Range Museum and Missile Park.

Lincoln National Forest is in the Sacramento Mountains east of Alamogordo.

The Alameda Park Zoo is 16 miles from White Sands National Monument.

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is South of Alamogordo, 28 miles from White Sands National Monument.

Mescalero Apache Indian reservation is 40 miles northeast of White Sands National Monument.

39 miles southwest of White Sands National Monument is Aguirre Spring Recreation Area (Bureau of Land Management).

The visitor center is located on U.S. Highway 70, 15 miles (24 km) 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 reach White Sands National Monument.

No public transportation serves the park. Cars may be rented in Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and El Paso.
The closest airport is in El Paso, TX, about 85 miles from the park.

White Sands National Monument
PO Box 1086
Holloman AFB, NM 88330

Park Information
(575) 679-2599

Map