The National Park Service
White Sands
National Monument
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At the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert lies a mountain ringed valley, the Tularosa Basin. Rising from the heart of this basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico.

Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and have created the world's largest gypsum dune field. The brilliant white dunes are ever changing: growing, cresting, then slumping, but always advancing. Slowly but relentlessly the sand, driven by strong southwest winds, covers everything in its path. Within the extremely harsh environment of the dune field, even plants and animals adapted to desert conditions struggle to survive. Only a few species of plants grow rapidly enough to survive burial by moving dunes, but several types of small animals have evolved a white coloration that camouflages them in the gypsum sand.

White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this gypsum dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment.

VISITATION:
Visitation varies from about 30,000 people in the winter months of November through January to 60 to 70,000 people in March through August. National Park Service Visitor Statistics

LOCATION:
Alamogordo, New Mexico

ADDRESS:
White Sands National Monument
P.O. Box 1086
Holloman AFB, New Mexico 88330

TELEPHONE:
(505) 679-2599 or (505) 479-6124

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
The monument is open daily, except Christmas Day.
Summer hours (Memorial Day through mid-August):
Visitor Center 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.,
Dunes Drive 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Winter hours: Visitor Center 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,
Dunes Drive 7:00 a.m. - sunset.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

DIRECTIONS:
The visitor center is located on U.S. Highway 70/82, 15 miles (24.15km) 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 White Sands National Monument.

TRANSPORTATION:
To Park: No public transportation serves the park. Cars may be rented in Alamogordo or Las Cruces.
In Park: Personal vehicle and bicycle.

FEES, COSTS, RATES:
New Fees at White Sands
The monument entrance fee is $3.00 per person, 17 years of age or older,and is good for 7 days. Entrance fees are collected at the entrance station on the Dunes Drive.

A $50.00 Golden Eagle Passport is available, which allows free admission into all national park areas in the U.S. for one year from date of purchase. Travelers who plan on visiting a number of national park areas will save money by purchasing a Golden Eagle Passport.

The White Sands Park Pass, which allows admission to White Sands only for one calendar year from date of purchase, is available for $20.00.

Permanent U.S. residents 62 years or older may purchase a $10 Golden Age Passport (one time fee), which allows lifetime free admission into all national park areas. A free Golden Access Passport (for disabled U.S. citizens) is also available.

Special Program Fees:

Lake Lucero Tours: $3.00 per person; $1.50 per person for 16 and under and Golden Age passport holders.

Photography Workshops: One-day workshop: $15.00; Two-day workshop:$20.00.

Moonlight Bicycle Tours: $5.00 per person; $2.50 per person for 16 and under and Golden Age Passport holders.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center, Exhibits:
Your first stop should be the White Sands visitor center, which includes a museum, information desk, book store, gift shop and restrooms. Allow approximately 30 minutes for visitor center activities.

Architecture of the Visitor Center

The book store is operated by the Southwest Parks & Monuments Association for the benefit of the Park.

Trails, Roads:
An eight-mile scenic drive leads from the Visitor Center into the heart of the dunes. Wayside exhibits at pullouts along the drive provide information about the natural history of the park.
Map of the park

Numerous parking areas along the drive allow visitors to stop and walk in the white sands. Allow 30 minutes driving time for the 16-mile roundtrip, plus additional time for walking, photography or stopping at pullouts. The Interdune Boardwalk has interpretive exhibits.

TRAILS For those who would like to explore the dunes onfoot, the Big Dune Trail is a one-mile self-guided nature trail. A booklet, available at the trailhead, discusses the plants and animals that live within the dunes. The Alkali Flat Trail, which starts from the end of the Dunes Drive, is a 4.6 mile (round-trip)_backcountry trail that traverses the heart of the dunefield.

Programs, Activities:
From Memorial Day to mid-August, ranger-led activities are scheduled daily, including nature walks and evening slide programs. Check at the visitor center for the day's activities.

Tips for photographers

Special events include full moon programs, Perseid meteor shower watch, Lake Lucero auto caravans, and National Parks Day.

Lodging and Camping Facilities:
There is no dining or lodging within the monument. The nearest restaurants and motels are in Alamogordo, 15 miles east. There is no car or RV camping within the park. A primitive backcountry site is available for backpackers.

Camping in the Park

Food, Supplies:
Refreshments and snacks can be purchased at the visitor center giftshop from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Summer 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m..)

Books, maps, posters, videotapes and audio tapes are sold in the visitor center by:
Southwest Parks and Monuments Association
P.O. Box 1086
Holloman AFB, NM 88330-1086

Accessibility:
All facilities in the visitor center and picnic areas are wheelchair accessible. The sand dunes themselves are accessible to wheelchairs to a limited degree. The Interdune Boardwalk is a 1/4 mile wheelchair-accessible trail through an interdune area and to the top of a dune.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
Sightseeing along Dunes Drive; picnicking in the Heart of the Dunes area; hiking, backcountry camping; observing plants and wildlife along the boardwalk.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS
A primitive backcountry campsite is available on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations, but you must register at the park visitor center.

SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:
Check with park headquarters for planned activities in the park and neighboring communities.

VISITOR IMPACTS:
Park Closures:
Due to missile testing on the adjacent WhiteSands Missile Range, it is occasionally necessary, for visitor safety,to close the Dunes Drive for periods of up to two hours. U.S. Highway 70/82 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces is also closed during times of missile testing. Visitors on a tight schedule are encouraged to call the day prior to arrival for information on closures.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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