White Sands National Monument

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.

P.O. Box 1086
Holloman AFB, NM 88330
(505) 679-2599 - Visitor Information
(505) 479-6124 - Visitor Information

By Plane
El Paso International Airport

By Car
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.

By Plane
To Park: No public transportation serves the park. Cars may be rented in Alamogordo or Las Cruces.

Getting Around
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.

The Tularosa Basin, a high desert area, averaging 4,000 feet (1200+ meters) in elevation, is subject to harsh, and sometimes rapidly changing climatic conditions. Summers are hot, averaging 95°F. (35°C.) highs in July and August, with frequent readings over 100°F. (38°C.). Winters are relatively mild, but night time temperatures often go below freezing (0°C.) and cold spells can send the mercury below zero (0°F., -17°C.). The lowest recorded temperature is -25°F. (-32°C.). Snowfall is infrequent, but heavy snows have occurred on occasion. Precipitation averages about 8 inches (20cm.) per year, with most falling during summer thunderstorms, often accompanied by hail.

Wind is the dominant climatic factor here, especially from February through May. The prevailing southerly winds blow unimpeded across the desert and at times reach gale force. Wind storms can last for days in the spring. This is the time of the greatest dune movement, when living conditions for dune animal and plant communities become extremely harsh.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Auto Touring
• Biking
• Educational Programs
• Hiking
• Backpacking
• Bird Watching
• Nature Walks
• Stargazing

Recommended Activities
Sightseeing along Dunes Drive; picnicking in the Heart of the Dunes area; hiking, backcountry camping; observing plants and wildlife along the boardwalk.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.