White Sands National Park

Fall is a wonderful time to visit as most of our plants with leaves change beautiful colors.
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here.
Map showing location of park.
A recreation.gov logo that is a green box with white lettering that says, "Buy your pass online," followed by a white line underneath followed by "Recreation.gov."
Digital Entrance Passes Now Available at White Sands National Park
Visitors to White Sands National Park can now purchase digital seven-day entrance passes and the White Sands annual pass online at no additional cost.
White Sands National Park to Host Traditional Jazz Band for September Full Moon Night Event.
White Sands National Park will hold September’s Full Moon Night event on Tuesday September 17, 2024, at 7:00 pm featuring a performance by the Rio Grande Revelers Dixieland Jazz Band.
White Sands National Park Seeks Public Comments on Proposed Amenity Fee Increase
White Sands National Park, National Park Service proposes changes to amenity fees for enhanced visitor services including, ranger-guided hikes and the addition of an evening program, as part of its commitment to improving the visitor experience.
Tourism to White Sands National Park Contributes $53.4 Million to Local Economy
A new National Park Service report shows that 729,096 visitors to White Sands National Park in 2023 spent $44.5 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 595 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $53.4 million.
White Sands National Park to Host Presentation on Fossilized Footprints for August’s Full Moon Night Event
White Sands National Park will hold August’s Full Moon Night event on Monday, August 19, 2024, at 8:00 pm. Join Resource Management Program Manager, David Bustos who will explore the fascinating story of prey and predators as he guides you through a journey of life here at White Sands that will take you back to 23,000 years ago.
White dunes in foreground with sun setting behind mountain.
Photo by NPS Photo
Aerial of white sand dunes.
Photo by NPS Photo
Close up view of ripples on a dune.
Photo by NPS Photo
Cottonwood trees with orange leaves.
Photo by NPS Photo
Grey shadows on dunes.
Photo by NPS Photo