White Sands National Park
275 square miles of gypsum dunes — the largest such dunefield in the world.
- 6named trails
- 9trail miles mapped
- New Mexicolocation
Popular hikes in White Sands
- Interdune Boardwalk · about 0.4 mi · Easy
- Playa Trail · about 0.5 mi · Easy
- Dune Life Nature Trail · about 1 mi · Moderate
- Backcountry Camping Loop · about 2 mi · Moderate
- Alkali Flat Trail · about 5 mi · Strenuous
Best months to visit
- November: Mild temperatures on the gypsum dunes, which reflect sunlight and stay cool to the touch. November sunsets turn the white sand pink and gold.
Permits and reservations
We found no timed entry or entry reservation system. Entrance fee applies.
- Backpacking permit: Overnight backcountry camping permits are issued at the park on the day of camping only.
- Ranger-led programs: Tickets for the most popular ranger programs (like Lake Lucero tours) are sold on Recreation.gov.
Entrance fees
- Private Vehicle: $25
- Per Person: $15
- Motorcycle: $20
- Commercial Entrance - Van: $50
Official park site: nps.gov
All 6 trails in White Sands
- Alkali Flat Trail · 9.44 mi round trip · Easy
- Backcountry Camping Loop Trail · 2 mi loop · Easy
- Dune Life Nature Trail · 1.84 mi round trip · Easy
- Interdune Boardwalk · 0.4 mi round trip · Easy
- Lake Lucero Trail · 1.48 mi round trip · Easy
- Playa Trail · 0.56 mi round trip · Easy
Trailbound shows every one of these on an interactive map with live weather, park alerts and elevation profiles. It's free to browse.