White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park, our 62nd and newest national park as of December, 2019, is located in New Mexico at an elevation of 4,235 feet. It comprises the southern part of a 275 square mile field of white sand dunes crystals (calcium sulfate) located in this, the northernmost portion of the Chihuahuan Desert. It represents the largest such field of gypsum on Earth and includes gypsum hearthmounds found nowhere else, and the park preserves a major portion of this unique dune field along with the indigenous flora and fauna living there.

The idea of creating a national park to protect the white sands formation dates to 1898, but it wasn't until January 18, 1933, that President Herbert Hoover, using the 1906 Antiquities Act, authorized White Sands National Monument "to preserve the white sands and additional features of scenic, scientific, and educational interest."

The monument is completely surrounded by military installations and has always had an uneasy relationship with the military due to "misguided" missiles falling on the park and at times destroying visitor areas. Unfortunately, planes still destroy the serenity of the park at times, and the proximity of these military installations are also the reason why it hasn't been named a World Heritage Site. The bases sometimes close the park due to missile tests, so visitors are encouraged to check before heading to the park. 

Footprints of humans and ground sloths dating to the last ice age show that ground sloths lived at White Sands and were hunted by humans at least 11,700 years ago. The park is home to the Earth's largest collection of Ice Age fossilized footprints. White Sands is a living laboratory with new discoveries constantly being made. In fact, park rangers are virtually teachers who invite classrooms of students to come learn about the park and offer materials and lesson plans for teachers to use. 

Gypsum is rarely found as sand because it dissolves in contact with water, but the isolation of the area and the weather patterns of the Tularosa Basin create a unique experience here. The sand is extremely soft and can break down easily, and since the grains reflect light rather than allowing it to pass through, visitors enjoy its snowy appearance. The park considers this to be a "wet environment" with its 100% humidity. The shallow water table beneath the dunes acts like a glue that holds the dunes in place.

With about 600,000 visitors annually (comparably sized Zion National Park receives 4.3 million), White Sands is among the wildest and most pristine national parks. It offers no RV parks, campgrounds, or formal accommodations, although limited backcountry camping is allowed at designated sites in the heart of the dunes and a picnic area is available. In 2017, it spurred more than $31 million in local spending.

Reaching the sites requires a mile-long trek from the only road that runs through the park. 

Visitors can hike trails that range from easy to extremely difficult and they can also attend ranger-led programs. You can even sled down the dunes in certain areas.

In the summer, temperatures drop to the 60s at night and can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. In the winter, the mercury only ranges between 30 and 60 degrees. Constantly blowing dust and sand create frequent white-out conditions and the wind can erase hikers’ footsteps in a matter of minutes. The winds also can cause the dunes to "travel" 12 to 13 feet per year.  Also be aware that GPS signals are sometimes unreliable.

Contact the park:

Mailing Address:

PO Box 1086 
Holloman AFB, NM 88330 

Phone:

(575) 479-6124