Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
White Sands is the largest gypsum dunefield on Earth, a sea of brilliant white waves that looks like snow until you feel the sun. One long day is enough for most visitors: a hike in the morning, sledding down the dunes at midday, and sunset from the end of Dunes Drive. Spring and fall are ideal. Summer days often pass 100°F, and the park advises against starting a hike at 85°F or above. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen and far more water than seems reasonable.
TRAILS
1 OF 4
Alkali Flat Trail
Difficulty
Hard
Length
5 mi
Elevation gain
Rolling 60 ft dunes
Dunes Drive · Alkali Flat trailhead — The way to feel how big this place is. Red posts with a diamond lead up and over dune after dune, with nothing but white sand and blue sky in every direction, to the edge of Alkali Flat, the dry bed of an ancient lake. Walking in loose sand doubles the effort. Turn back if you can't see the next marker or when your water is half gone.
⚠︎ Don't start at 85°F or above. No water or shade; carry at least two liters per person. Check park alerts for closures.
Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 4
Dune Life Nature Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1 mi loop
Elevation gain
Two short dune climbs
Dunes Drive · Dune Life trailhead — A loop at the edge of the dunefield, where plants and animals have learned to live with shifting sand. Signs explain the kit foxes, lizards and beetles that leave tracks here overnight, so come early to read the sand. Two steep dune climbs make it a little harder than it looks. Blue markers show the way.
Photo: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 4
Interdune Boardwalk
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.4 mi
Elevation gain
Flat
Dunes Drive · Interdune Boardwalk — An elevated, wheelchair-friendly boardwalk across the fragile ground between dunes, with signs about the plants holding it together. It ends at a viewpoint looking out over the white ridges. Perfect for little kids or a first look at the park.
Photo: Stratosphere, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 4
Playa Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.5 mi
Elevation gain
Flat
Dunes Drive · Playa trailhead — A flat walk out to a playa, a shallow lake bed that fills with water after rain and dries into a crust of minerals. It shows how the gypsum that makes the dunes comes out of the water. After a wet spell you may see reflections of the mountains. Early morning is the quietest time.
Photo: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your White Sands trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.