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.
White Sands National Park to Offer Special Programs to Celebrate Fifth Anniversary of Becoming a National Park.
Join us as White Sands National Park celebrates the park’s fifth anniversary of becoming a national park by hosting special programs at the visitor center during the week of December 16 – 20, 2024.
White Sands National Park to Honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day
White Sands National Park will honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day by holding a special concert on Thursday October 17, 2024, at 6:30 pm. In partnership with Western National Parks Association, we are pleased to have Randy Granger from Las Cruces, New Mexico perform at the park's October Full Moon Night event.
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