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Plan a Road Trip > Explore America > National Parks > White Sands National Monument |
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PO Box 1086, Holloman AFB, NM 88330
Phone: 505-679-2599
Fax: 505-479-4333
Open All Year
Overview. An ancient sea, the uplift of the Rocky Mountains, and the collapse of the land between the San Andres and Sacramento mountain ranges all set the stage for the largest gypsum dunefield in the world. The sparkling white dunes rise as high as 60 feet, and extend over an area of 275 square miles in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico. The constantly shifting dunes are home to a few species of hardy plants and animals that have adapted to the harsh environment.
What to do and see. The Dunes Drive, a 16-mile loop road into the dunes, has plenty of turnouts for viewing the shifting sands, as well as exhibits and explanatory signs along the route. You can park at one of the turn-outs to explore on foot and play in the sand. There are four marked trails accessible from the drive. While there are no developed camping facilities in the park, a backcountry site is available with clearance from the Park Service. If you are fortunate enough to visit during the full moon in summer, the park stays open until 11 PM so you can get an unforgettable look at the white dunes by moonlight. Once a month, the Park Service leads a caravan of cars to Lake Lucero, the source of the selenite crystals that break down into the fine, white gypsum sand. This tour must be reserved no earlier than two weeks in advance by calling the visitor center.
There is a small museum at the visitor center with displays showing how the Tularosa Basin and the sand dunes were formed. In addition to a bookstore and a gift shop, there is a snack bar that sells sandwiches. You can also buy soda and bottled water there. Fill your canteen before you take off into the dunes: there is no water available out there, and you'll find only porta-potties at the few picnic areas along the Dunes Drive. The visitor center is open daily from 8 AM to 7 PM in summer, and to 4:30 PM the remainder of the year. The Dunes Drive is open from 7 AM to 10 PM in the summer, and from 7 AM to one hour after sunset the remainder of the year. White Sands enforces an alcohol ban between February 1 and May 31.
White Sands is only 15 miles SW of Alamogordo and 54 miles NE of Las Cruces. It is an easy 100-mile drive from El Paso, TX.
Seasonal Alert. Temperatures can soar well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Carry water at all times to avoid dehydration. At any time of year, the sun reflected off the white sand can burn and blind. Be certain to wear sunglasses and sunscreen. At the risk of suffocation, do not try to burrow into the dunes.
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Please call ahead to confirm details. We do our best to give you current information, but facts can change. Please let us know if you find something's changed.
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