page_title: White Sands National Park
section_title: Visitation
hierarchical_section_title: White Sands National Park / Visitation
caption_attribution_description: English: Visitors sledding and picnicking at White Sands National Park, New Mexico, United States
context_page_description: White Sands National Park is an American national park located in the state of New Mexico on U.S. Route 70 approximately 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo and 52 miles northeast of Las Cruces, in western Otero County and northeastern Doña Ana County. The park is situated at an average elevation of about 4,000 feet in the Tularosa Basin and comprises the southern part of a 275 sq mi field of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals. The gypsum dunefield is the largest of its kind on Earth.
  The park was originally designated White Sands National Monument on January 18, 1933 by President Herbert Hoover, and redesignated as a national park when Congress passed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act on December 20, 2019. The park encompasses 145,762 acres protecting 115 sq mi of the dunefield, about 41%, while the remaining 160 sq mi are located to the north within White Sands Missile Range. The depth of gypsum sand across the entire field is about 30 feet below the interdunal surface, while the tallest dunes are about 60 feet high. About 4.5 billion short tons of gypsum sand fill the dunefield, which formed about 7,000–10,000 years ago.
context_section_description: White Sands National Park is the most visited NPS site in New Mexico, with about 600,000 visitors each year. Many visitors arrive during the warmer months from March through August, but sledders and photographers can be seen throughout the dunes year round. March and July are the two busiest months with more than 60,000 visitors each, or about 2,000 per day, while November through February have the fewest visitors with less than 30,000 each month, or fewer than 1,000 per day.
  The Dunes Drive leads 8 miles (13 km) into the dunes from the visitor center at the park entrance. Three picnic areas are available, as well as a backcountry campground with ten sites for overnight camping in the dunefield. Five marked trails totaling 9 miles (14 km) allow visitors to explore the dunes on foot. Ranger-guided orientation and nature walks occur at various times and months throughout the year. Sunset strolls are presented every evening of the year, while Lake Lucero hikes are offered once a month, from November to April, and full moon guided hikes from April to October, on the night before the full moon. The park participates in the Junior Ranger Program, with various age-group-specific activities.
  Both the park and U.S. Route 70 between Las Cruces and Alamogordo are subject to closure for safety reasons when tests are conducted at White Sands Missile Range which completely surrounds the park. Dunes Drive may be closed for periods of up to three hours during missile tests. Park staff is usually notified two weeks in advance of scheduled tests; however, notifications from White Sands Missile Range may be received as little as 24 hours in advance of a test. All activity, including horseback riding, backcountry camping, hiking, sledding, and driving on Dunes Drive is prohibited during all missile tests that require road closure.
caption: Visitors sledding down the dunes
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