Hiking the Backcountry Camping Loop Trail in White Sands National Park
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Backcountry Camping Loop Trail in White Sands National Park is a favorite among backpackers because it is the only trail within the park boundaries where backcountry camping is allowed.
However, the relatively short 2.0-mile (3.2 km) loop is not only for those who are interested in spending the night in the park, but the trail is also a favorite for day hikers because the Backcountry Loop is seen as an intermediate adventure between both the shorter Dune Life Nature Trail at 1.0 mile (1.6 km) roundtrip and the longer, much more involved Alkali Flat Trail that totals 4.6 miles (7.4 km) roundtrip.
In any case, the Backcountry Loop Trail is a fun adventure beyond just hiking and camping, as the dunes surrounding the trail are also a park favorite to go sledding, as well as enjoy both sunrise and sunset in the heart of the dune field!
Backcountry Camping Trailhead Parking
The Backcountry Camping Loop Trailhead is located about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) away from the visitor center, which is the second-to-last trailhead off of Dunes Drive.
That being said, the large parking area can be a busy trailhead, as many park visitors love the adjacent dunes as an easy-access location to go sledding.
Google Maps Directions: Backcountry Camping Loop Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - White Sands
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in White Sands National Park.
Hiking the Backcountry Camping Loop Trail
From the trailhead, the Backcountry Camping Loop begins at the foot of the dune field, following one main path until the loop splits, about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) into the hike.
Backcountry Camping Loop Trail
From the start of the Backcountry Camping Loop, you can either continue straight or make a hard right turn to hike in the counterclockwise direction.
That being said, I chose to go straight.
Along the loop, the Backcountry Trail will pass by a number of different designated campsites, located just off the trail from these markers.
With that in mind, I’ve written an entirely separate article about my favorite camping gear across all categories, which I highly recommend reading if you’re looking for quality gear without spending an unnecessary amount of money on items that aren’t worth it.
Read My Separate Post: Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear
These Yucca, found throughout the sand dunes, are a favorite in White Sands National Park, as one species in particular, the Yucca glauca, is the state flower of New Mexico.
This is the trail marker for campsite two, which I hiked off the loop to show an example of what one of the ten different sites looks like.
Campsite 2
Campsite two is just one example out of the many that you could choose off the Backcountry Camping Loop, but know that the National Park Service makes it very clear that there is no water or restrooms available anywhere in the dune field.
Additionally, all human waste is required to either be carried out using a wag bag (like the one below) or by hiking to the vault toilets at the trailhead.
Backcountry Camping Loop Junction
This is where the Backcountry Camping Trail returns to the original split, but as the loop begins to get close to the trailhead again, most hikers don’t return to this point.
Instead, it’s more common to start hiking direct toward the parking lot.
