Located in the Tularosa Basin in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert, between the New Mexico towns of Alamogordo and Las Cruces, is one of the world’s largest gypsum sand dune fields. From sledding down the steep dunes to taking a ranger-led hike, these are the best things to do in White Sands National Park.
With 275 square miles of white sand dunes, White Sands National Park is one of the world’s largest gypsum dune fields and one of the natural wonders of the world. This irresistible, untamed natural playground is one of the most unusual vacation spots in the US. From sledding down the soft sand dunes to hiking in an ever-changing landscape, these are the best things to do at White Sands National Park.
Have You Visited White Sands National Park?
Share your favorite photo with me by tagging @sagescott.kc on Instagram and using the hashtag #everydaywanderer
Important Note: By signing his name to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 in December 2019, President Trump upgraded White Sands from a national monument to a national park. A few years later, you may still see America’s 62nd national park referred to by its former name, White Sands National Monument.
1. Stop at the White Sands Visitor Center
The adobe pueblo building at the entrance of the White Sands National Park is a great first stop. Here you can grab information on daily events, refill your water bottles, stock up on any necessities in its small gift shop, and explore the interactive exhibits in the museum.
The White Sands Visitor Center is also the place to watch “A Land in Motion,” a fantastic 17-minute film about White Sands and the creatures that call it home.
Sage Advice: If you have a National Park Passport, be sure to get a passport stamp at the White Sands Visitor Center.
2. Pick Up an Adventure Pack
Adventure Packs are available for loan on a first come, first served basis at the White Sands Visitor Center. Each pack includes binoculars, an animal track guide, compass, and a bunch of other goodies that make exploring and learning about White Sands fun. When you’re done with the Adventure Pack, simply return it to the White Sands Visitors Center.
Related Article: 100+ Powerful Desert Quotes for Instagram and Photo Captions
3. Become a Junior Ranger
The Junior Ranger program helps kids of all ages engage with our national parks. While some National Park Service locations charge a few dollars for their booklet, the one available at White Sands is free. (Thank you tax payers!)
Activities are broken into different levels:
- A special Pre-K booklet is available for children under six
- And the junior ranger book is available for ages six and up
Take your completed book to the White Sands Visitor Center, and your child can be sworn in as a Junior Park Ranger and receive a White Sands National Park patch to prove it!
Related Article: How to Make the Most Out of Your Trip to a National Park
4. Tour the Native Plant Garden
Learn more about the native plant life in the Chihuahuan Desert by taking a free, self-guided tour of the Native Plant Garden just outside the White Sands Visitor Center. There’s nothing quite like the desert in the spring, when wildflowers and yucca are in bloom, but the plant garden is pretty and full of bright colors nearly non-stop between mid-March and November.
5. Wind Along Dunes Drive
Dunes Drive is an eight-mile (13 km) scenic drive that goes from the visitor center to the heart of the gypsum dunes. It takes about 45 minutes to complete the entire drive, but you may want to allow additional time to explore outdoor exhibits, walk or play in the sand, or take photographs.
Highway 70 is occasionally closed to traffic when the White Sands Missile range is performing a missile test. Depending upon the specifics of the test, Dunes Drive may also be closed at this time. If Dunes Drive is temporarily closed, use this time to explore the visitors center.
To check on road closures, visit NM Roads or call 575.678.1178.
Sage Advice: The White Sands Visitor Center does not sell gas, and the nearest gas station is about 15 miles away in Alamogordo, New Mexico, so plan ahead!
6. Walkabout the White Sand Dunes on a Hiking Trail
In addition to experiencing the white gypsum sand dunes “freestyle,” you can also walk the boardwalk or explore one of four hiking trails.
Interdune Boardwalk. At a minimum, take 20-30 minutes to complete this half-mile (650m) stroll along an elevated wooden walkway through the dunes. The experience will include signs explaining the geology, plants, and animals of White Sands.
Four Hiking Trails. There are several other opportunities to stretch your legs at White Sands:
- Playa Trail
- Dune Life Nature Trail
- Backcountry Camping Trail
- Alkali Flat Trail
Sage Advice: Despite its name, the five-mile Alkali Flat Trail is actually not flat. You’ve been warned!
Regardless of the path you pick, be sure to pack plenty of water and these additional, important items when you venture out along the hiking trails in White Sands New Mexico.
7. Play in the Sand
The texture of pure, gypsum sand is like no other sand you’ll ever experience. Its fine, powder-soft texture is mesmerizing to sift through your fingers and fun to dig.
While the gypsum crystals (and lack of water) don’t make it easy to build a sand castle, being buried in the soft sand can cool you down on a hot day.
8. Go Sand Sledding
If you’re like me and love to sled, but hate the cold, then sand sledding is the perfect solution! But because gypsum crystals aren’t slippery like snow, you will need to wax up your ride.
Sage Advice: Did you head to the Chihuahuan Desert and forget a snow sled? Don’t worry! Sleds and blocks of wax are available in the White Sands Visitor Center.
9. Have a Picnic
There are more than 60 covered picnic tables, each with a grill, available on a first come, first served basis throughout the national park along Dunes Drive. (If you ask me, they look a bit like Fred Flintstone’s rack of brontosaurus ribs at the drive-in.) When enjoying your meal outdoors at White Sands, remember to clean up after yourself and leave no trace.
Sage Advice: White Sands National Park has limited amenities, so be sure to pack adequate food and ample water for your visit.
10. Take Some Photographs
You’ll want to capture the beautiful, unique scenery of White Sands, whether it’s with your phone or a fancy camera. The lightweight, blowing sand can present unique challenges to other stops on your trip. Try to store your camera when you’re not actively taking photos to reduce the amount of sand that ends up in your buttons, dials, and on your lens.
Related Article: Seven Tips for Taking Better Travel Photos
11. Take a Ranger-Guided Tour
Get the inside scoop and explore areas you may not venture to solo by taking a ranger-guided tour. Experienced park rangers regularly lead sunset strolls and other activities including full moon hikes, Lake Lucero tours, and sunrise photography walks.
12. Stay for Sunset
Whether you experience it as part of a ranger-guided tour or on your own, one of the most beautiful ways to see the snowy white dunes is when the sun sets over the Land of Enchantment. So whether you spend a few hours at White Sands National Park or all day, try to stay for sunset. You won’t be disappointed!
Have You Visited White Sands National Park?
What about you? Have you experienced the sandy white dunes of White Sands National Park (formerly known as White Sands National Monument)? Is it on your New Mexico travel bucket list? Share your experience in the comments section below.
Ready to Go?
Use These Helpful Links to Book Your Trip!
- Find low fares with airfarewatchdog and Skyscanner
- Book your plane ticket with Expedia or Kayak
- Or take the scenic route on an epic road trip in a rental car or an RV from Outdoorsy
- From hotels to private homes, find the perfect accommodation with Hotels.com or Vrbo
- Travel in style with a suitcase, carry-on, backpack, or handbag from eBags
- Save on tickets to attractions, sightseeing tours, and more with CityPASS, Tiqets, and Viator
- Don’t leave home without travel insurance from AXA
- Discover the sights, history, and culture of your destination with an interactive scavenger hunt
- Need something else to plan your perfect trip? Visit my travel resources page for more trusted partners. Happy wandering!
White Sands National park is impressive and offers a lot of activities. I love those dunes. You provide great tips on how to spend time in the park.
My family happened to be at White Sands the day this article was published. I would emphasize 2 points: Avoid mid-day in summer months and stay for sunset.
It was about 105 the day we were there and the sun is fierce, but after 5 it is tolerable.
Sledding was pretty cool, but the sunset was spectacular and even my kids appreciated it.
Tip: sleds at the Ace Hardware in Alamagordo are half the price of the ones at the visitor center. They sell the wax you need too.
What a great place to visit! I’m definitely up to see the native plant garden, but also mess about in the sand, maybe some sledding or dune buggy driving!
It is more fun than you can imagine! We can always find a way to spend an entire day there when we visit!
I would be in heaven here. I can just see myself sliding down the sand lol. The adventure packs are a brilliant idea!
I never even heard of this place and now I want to go there on my next visit to the USA. I prefer to see natural things than city/urban life and this is one of them. Would also take my kids to the adventure park, that looks like fun 🙂
Sledding down the natural dune is way better than any amusement park in my book!
New Mexico is on our bucket list, and someday we’d like to make a road trip in that State. We’ve never heard of this sand dune, so we’d definitely want to stop there when we explore New Mexico! Thanks a lot for this inspiring post.
White Sands is a a blast! And don’t miss out on sledding down the sandy white dunes, even if you’re both grown-ups! It’s soooooo much fun!
I recently saw a documentary about White Sands and I have been intrigued ever since. It is amazing how they are formed, how animal species thrive there and people can a good time. Your compilation of things to do is great for a first timer there!
It is a really cool place, that’s for sure!
Maybe one comment: Admission is $20 per vehicle, but there is no admission if you have a US Parks Pass (https://www.usparkpass.com/). Everyone planning to visit other parks within a 12 month period, may save money with the fee of $80.
That’s a great addition!
Did you see any interesting wildlife? Was the sand hot? I’ve heard Jockey’s Ridge dunes in the NC Outer Banks are fun, but it is SO hot when we’re there in the summer that I don’t want to stray too far from the water!
So cool that they have a Jr Rangers program!
Actually, on a second trip to White Sands, my Dad and I walked one of the trails and saw a coyote at just the right distance. Surprisingly, I can’t think of one time when the sand was overly hot. Isn’t that interesting? I never even thought of that until you asked! 🙂
That is neat! Maybe the texture deflects the heat so it stays cooler than regular beach sand.
The sand dunes look amazing, the colours aren’t like anything else I’ve seen, thanks for the great tips on visiting!
I’ve never heard of this place before, but it looks beautiful! I’m saving this as a reference for a future roadtrip. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never even heard of this park! It’s sooooo beautiful. The sand sledding looks like so much fun! And I absolutely love your photo of the rainbow umbrellas.
This place looks so amazing and driving the dunes sounds like so much fun. I would love to do that.
Ive always wanted to visit White Sands! I’ve driven through NM several times but never made it to that part of the state. Looks like an awesome place to visit though!
It’s a great place to stop if you’re in the southern part of the state. Plus also, you’re in the heart of green chile country! 🙂
This place looks so much fun! Especially sliding. 🙂
My in-laws love the White Sands, and now that I live in the South, I am hoping to get there as well. Thank you for the great post!
Is thanksgiving a good time to visit the dunes ? Have been planning for it!
Yes, absolutely! It’s still warm there versus already turning cold here in the Midwest where I live!
I loved my visit at sunset to White Sands and I would love to go back for a visit! And to slide!!
This looks so fun and the place itself is incredible! Great tips and pics 🙂
Driving the dunes and walking the sands sounds so cool! I’m exactly the same – hate the cold but give me the heat anyday lol
This place looks great! Would love to pick up an adventure pack and to drive a remote control truck through the sand dunes! The White Sands National Monument near Alamogordo, New Mexico looks really worth a visit!
I’d love to visit White Sands National Monument! Those sand dunes are wonderful, and I’d like to try driving them and experiencing it for myself. It also seems like a great activity for families too.
Kids of all ages LOVE to sled down the dunes! 🙂
Did not know about the adventure pack, thanks for this information, will make sure to reach visitor center on time to get one.
I’m glad that tip was helpful! Have a fantastic time! When are you headed to White Sands?
Thanks for the shoutout! 🙂
You betcha! Thanks to your blog post, I want to hike one of the longer trails next visit!