White Sands National Park Guide
One of America’s newest national parks is pretty true to its name: in White Sands, you’ll be amazed by the seemingly endless dunes of white, gypsum sand that you can explore. You might be asking yourself though, what else is there to do besides stare at some hills of sand? If that’s what you’re into though, you’re in luck! If you’d like to do more than that, you’re also in luck! There’s more than meets the eye in this desert park.
When to Visit
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White Sands, if you haven't guessed, is in a desert. Expect hot, hot summers and cool winters here in southern New Mexico. If you do opt to visit in the summer, expect temperatures to be sweltering by midday--and there's absolutely no shade out here either. Otherwise, the end of fall and winter might not be such a bad idea, with cooler weather and far less crowds.
How to Get There
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The closest major city to White Sands is Alamogordo, which is 20 minutes from the park's entrance. You'll find plenty of reasonable lodging options there, but no major airport if you're flying in from out of town. Your best two options for flying in are Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is about three and a half hours away, or the city of El Paso, Texas, which is only an hour and a half away.
In case you forgot the name of the town,
McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch has got you covered.
Things to Do in White Sands National Park
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Playa Trail
Time: 30 minutes.
Distance: .5 miles.
One of the first hikes you'll come across in the park, the Playa Trail is also probably the easiest. The short, flat trail leads you to a seasonal desert lakebed, or "playa." Most of the time, the playa is a dry, brown color, or white if you're visiting in the winter. If you happen to visit after a summer monsoon storm though, you're likely to find water here and a temporary desert ecosystem full of life. Find the trailhead and small pull off on the right side of the Dunes Drive, about 2.5 miles from the visitor center. Oh, and stick to the trail--the playa is fragile and not for stomping on.
The Playa, aka the Playa Trail's namesake.
Dune Life Nature Trail
Time: 1 hour.
Distance: 1 mile.
Playas are cool, I guess, but you came to White Sands for the white sand, right? Why not wet your whistle with the short Dune Life Nature Trail, which takes you out onto the gypsum dunes themselves. It's very possible this is your first trek onto the sand dunes here, and you're about to find out that they're not the easiest to walk up--don't let that deter you though, as the farther you get into this short trail, the better the dunes become. With more plant life than other areas of the park found here, you have a chance at spotting some local wildlife too, including lizards, rattlesnakes, and kit foxes, among others. Dune trails are different than those you might be used to though, since the wind here constantly erases any footprints and you can't exactly blaze a proper trail, hikers need to keep a keen eye out for the blue markers with the black club symbol on them. Like all hikes in White Sands, there's zero cover and you're completely exposes, so mind the temperature and bring the sunscreen. Just past the Playa Trail, take the road on the left along Dunes Drive, where you'll arrive in a large parking area and find the trail's start.
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Hi there, I'm Dan: videographer, travel-addict, and beer-lover. I left corporate life behind to start my own video business and travel the world. Want to know more about me and Dan Treks?
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The start of the Dune Life Nature Trail (above) and in the middle of it (below).
Interdune Boardwalk
Time: 20-30 minutes.
Distance: .4 miles.
Love the white sand but don't feel like getting it in your shoes? Well, why did you come to a park called White Sands then? Anyways, the Interdune Boardwalk is just the trail for you. Venture out into the dunes without having to hoof it up them, as this short trail is not only level, but a raised boardwalk. Stop to read the infographics, spot wildlife, and at the end, find a great view of the dune field with the Sacramento Mountains in the distance. The Interdune Boardwalk is about halfway down the Dunes Drive on the right, where you'll find a large parking lot with bathrooms at the trailhead.
Keep those shoes of yours clean by taking the Interdune Boardwalk.
Alkali Flats Trail
Time: 2 - 3 hours.
Distance: 5 miles.
If you’re looking for (mostly) undisturbed white sand dunes and nothing else, look no further than the Alkali Flats trail. Located at the very back of the park’s only road, this five mile long trail takes you through the heart of White Sands itself. Sun protection and water are a must—it’s all open desert here. You’re rewarded with endless, rolling dunes of white gypsum sand. Some of the dunes in the park are quite tall, and a little tough to climb to the top of. What’s the best way to get back down though? No, not by rolling down--why was that your first thought? The answer is sledding!
If you're looking for white sand dunes and nothing else, head to Alkali Flats at the back of the park.
White Sands National Park Video Guide
See the sunsets, the endless dunes of Alkali Flats, and more as you explore one of America's newest and most unique national parks in this video guide. Welcome to White Sands, New Mexico, with its stark white gypsum dunes and ancient history, you won't want to miss it.
Sunset Stroll
Time: 1 hour.
Distance: .5 miles.
No matter the time of day, the views at White Sands are spectacular, but to see the absolute best, you’re going to want to stick around for sunset. The white dunes light up in a golden color, contrasted by the sections now in shadow—the shadows from the dunes, yucca plants, and even ripples on the sand become much more elongated and dramatic. While there isn’t necessarily a bad spot for sunset, you’ll want to venture about half way down the park’s only road for some of the best views. Around the halfway point, you’ll see a sign for the sunset stroll meeting spot, with a large parking lot. It’s up to you if you want to be a part of this ranger-led hike, or venture out onto the dunes by yourself. You’ll find a decent mix of plant life and bare dunes here. If all you want is dunes though, you might want to venture to the very end of the road in the park, where the trail for Alkali Flats begins. As always, be cautious when venturing out into the sands and keep a landmark as a point of reference—it’s easy to get disoriented and lost. Don’t forget, White Sands, unlike most national parks, has opening and closing times depending on the season, so make sure you have enough time to exit before the gates close.
The sunsets at White Sands are actually this good.
Dune Sledding
Time: Up to you!
Distance: Also up to you!
The dunes in White Sands really do resemble hills of snow, and just like snow, you can sled down them. The visitor center at the park’s entrance sells saucer sleds to visitors who want to try their luck for a ride down the park’s dunes. Just like snow-sledding, it’s best to make a track down the dunes first so your saucer glides down the next time. Oh, and if you’re wondering what to do with your sled once you’re done? You can sell them back to the visitor center—for half price, of course. There's no designated sledding area, but I would recommend venturing towards the back of the park where the larger dunes are; find a parking area, a big dune, head to the top with your sled, and have at it.
Dune sledding is popular no matter the time of year. Credit: National Park Service.
Backcountry Camping
Time: Varies based on campsite.
Distance: Up to 1.1 miles.
White Sands closes each day generally just after sunset. If you’ve seen the spectacular photographs of the park at night, with starry skies and the Milky Way rising over the dunes, now you’re probably wondering “how did they take those pictures?” One way is to apply for a permit to stay past closing, though it costs around $50.00 an hour and you have to apply in advance. Otherwise, you can take a chance at one of the park’s ten first-come-first-served backcountry camping sites. Check for permits and availability and the park entrance station, and then head down the road to the back of the park, where you’ll see signs for the backcountry camping area located on the left. The camping loop trail is 2.2 miles long, so if you want a shorter walk to your campsite with all your gear in hand, it might be best to show up early to snag a site closest to the trailhead. You’ll be rewarded with having the park to yourself after sunset, with some amazing dark skies all around you. In the morning, you’ll have the opportunity to catch sunrise too—something most park goers don’t have a chance to see, since the gates usually don’t open until after the sun is already up.
This could be the view from your campsite. Pretty disappointing, right? Wrong. How dare you.
Explore!
Time: Up to you.
Distance: Still up to you, okay?
White Sands is a unique park in that, while there are a few trails, a lot of it is for you to explore on your own, sometimes off the beaten path. That doesn’t mean you’re free to trample what plant life there is, collect the sand, or harass the animals, but you’re not necessarily restricted to only a handful of dunes; you’re free to explore them as you please. Any footprints you leave behind will be swept away the next time there’s a windy day (which does happen regularly here). So, explore! While they may look the same at first glance, each dune is quite different, and can give you new perspectives of the park. Again, bring protection from the sun, plenty of water, keep your bearings, and enjoy this one-of-a-kind place.
The gypsum dunes of White Sands are mesmerizing.
Alamogordo
Time: N/A.
Distance: N/A.
You may have gathered by now that White Sands isn't the most expansive or diverse of the national parks--chances are, you're going to want some other things to do, and the nearby town of Alamogordo has got you covered. Stop on by the local zoo in Alameda Park, where you'll find a variety of local, as well as more exotic animals. While small, it's only $4.00 per person, and pretty impressive for a small-town zoo. If animals aren't your thing, Alamogordo is also home to the New Mexico Museum of Space, a museum featuring a planetarium with an IMAX theater, numerous exhibits on New Mexico's contribution to the space program, replica rockets, and even more. Lastly, Mcginn's PistachioLand is an Alamogordo classic, featuring a variety of delicious, pistachios, including red and green chili-flavored. It's parking lot is also home to the world's largest pistachio (a record that probably won't be broken any time soon).
Greetings from Alamogordo, New Mexico--and this giant pistachio.
Cloudcroft
Time: N/A.
Distance: N/A.
You've seen White Sands, explored Alamogordo, and now you're just waiting for sunset in the park and have a few hours to kill--so what now? Just 30 minutes from Alamogordo, you can leave the basin and desert all together, and make for the Sacramento Mountains, the Lincoln National Forest, and the tiny mountain town of Cloudcroft. Trade white sand dunes for forest pines, and probably some snow if you're visiting in the winter or early spring. Numerous trails abound through the forest, including one to the Mexican Canyon Trestle, an abandoned 19th century train bridge. If you don't feel like hiking close to it, there's a pull off for viewing just before you enter Cloudcroft, which can best be described as an almost wild-west town, situated up in the mountains. Find an assortment of hotels, gift shops, saloons, and the famous Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue--arrive before 1:00pm or risk waiting in line, or missing out. Once you've had your fill, head over to the local Cloudcroft Brewing Company for a beer.
The Mexican Canyon Trestle (above) and the village of Cloudcroft (below).
Lodging & Camping
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Hotels and Lodges
While there's no park lodge in White Sands, there’s a fair amount of chain hotels, and smaller motels in nearby Alamogordo. Expect to pay around $100.00 or more a night if you want the classic hotel experience, and maybe half that for a smaller motel. Hopefully that continental breakfast in the morning is worth it.
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Airbnb
There’s a fair amount of Airbnb’s in Alamogordo, though we opted for the cheapest experience: a private room residence, as opposed to having the whole place to ourselves. It was only $35.00 for the night, and our host was terrific. Otherwise, expect to pay $90.00 per night and up for your own place, depending on the time of year.
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Camping
Alright, we already went over this up above, but snagging a spot on the backcountry camping loop is the only option if you want to stay in the park. It’s $3.00 per night, but there’s only ten spots, so arrive early if you want to snag one: they’re all first-come-first-serve.