EXTRAORDINARY LANDSCAPES. ENDURING STORIES.

White Sands National Park

Gypsum dunes & changing desert light
New Mexico
Scenic header: Sunsets are one of the most popular times to visit White Sands. Visitors can experience sunset every day of the year. · NPS Photo · Photo credits
TAKE TIME TO DISCOVER

Gypsum dunes & changing desert light

Brilliant white gypsum dunes rise beneath broad New Mexico skies. A scenic drive and short designated walks reveal the landscape’s textures without requiring a long desert hike.

A related destination: White Sands National Park is included for its scenery or history and is identified here by its current designation. It is not counted as a national monument.

White dunes in foreground with sun setting behind mountain.
Sunsets are one of the most popular times to visit White Sands. Visitors can experience sunset every day of the year.
NPS Photo · Photo credits
Aerial of white sand dunes.
The dunes at White Sands cover 275 square miles of the Tularosa Basin.
NPS Photo · Photo credits
BUILD A MEMORABLE VISIT

What to explore

  • 01Dunes Drive
  • 02Interdune Boardwalk
  • 03Selected dune walks

Before you go

Now a national park. Check road closures, including nearby missile-range testing effects, and plan walking around heat and navigation needs.

Give the place time

Choose a manageable walk, viewpoint or tour, and allow time for interpretation. Gateway areas help orient the visit; they are not exact entrance directions.

Make the details easy

Confirm the specific facilities, walking surfaces and vehicle access your group needs. Tours, transport and special access may require separate arrangements.

Official visitor information ↗Plan your visit →

Check the official source for current access, hours, fees, reservations, permits and alerts. Photos may show earlier conditions. Suggested highlights are visit ideas, not a guarantee that every area is currently open.