10 Best Things to Do in White Sands National Park
From the snow-white sand dunes that make up the largest gypsum dune field on Earth to clear desert night skies beneath the core of the Milky Way, White Sands National Park is truly a landscape like no other, inviting visitors from around the world to enjoy one-of-a-kind hiking, beautiful photography opportunities, backcountry camping, and so much more!
While most who visit White Sands National Park for the first time come to simply play around and sled in the expansive 115-square-mile (298-square-km) dune field, there really is so much more to enjoy, from learning about the history of the park and how the dunes formed to simply sitting back and catching sunset or sunrise from any number of beautiful places off Dunes Drive!
This is why I personally think that showing up to White Sands National Park with no plan is actually a good plan, as the majority of the best things to see and do are all located off the 7.5-mile (12.1 km) Dunes Drive. I say this because I recommend using the list below as a guide to give you ideas of what to see, with the intention of going off and creating your own adventure from any number of places within the dune field!
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit White Sands National Park?
It’s no secret that White Sands National Park in south-central New Mexico can be dangerously hot during the mid-summer months, with temperatures from June – August often reaching daytime highs above 100° F (37.8° C), sometimes up to 110° F (43° C).
It’s for this reason that White Sands National Park is typically seen as an off-season destination compared to countless higher-elevation parks, like Grand Teton or Glacier, but narrowing down the best time of year depends entirely on what you’re looking to do.
Some things to consider include the temperature in the park, the temperature of the sand dunes, the wildflower season, and the ability to watch the sunrise in the park, which is not as straightforward as you might think.
By all this, I mean that October – March is generally the safest and most comfortable time of year to visit White Sands National Park, based on temperature alone. However, there is a sweet spot in both March and October because they are some of the more comfortable months of the year to hike in the dunes without shoes, which, in many respects, is more practical than hiking with shoes.
In any case, mid-April through May is the best time of year to see wildflowers in White Sands National Park, but as for catching sunrise, there is some seasonal variability, with the mid-summer months (June to August) not being the best because the park gate doesn’t open until 7 a.m., and sunrise occurs well before that.
This is all to say that I believe the best time of the year to visit White Sands National Park is either October or April, based on sunrise and temperatures, with early April being my overall pick because of the chance to catch spring wildflowers!
Hiking Checklist - White Sands
Obviously, for camping, you will need general backpacking gear. For this reason, I wrote a separate post about what backpacking gear is worth the money, from my experience, and what the best alternatives are to save you money.
Read My Separate Post: Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear
In addition, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in White Sands National Park.
10 Best Things to Do in White Sands National Park
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst.
More importantly, I talk about a number of obvious and not-so-obvious tips to know at the end, many of which are things I wish I had known before my first visit to White Sands National Park.
On a different note, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
1. Dune Life Nature Trail
Distance: 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
The Dune Life Nature Trail is a short, easy loop near the beginning of Dunes Drive that I see as the go-to day hike in White Sands National Park to experience the best of the dune field without venturing too far from the trailhead!
By this, I mean that trails in White Sands National Park can be very remote, vaguely marked, and completely exposed, meaning no shade.
This is why trails like the Dune Life Nature Trail are a great choice if you’re visiting the park during one of the hotter times of the year, hiking with young kids, or simply not interested in setting off on one of the park’s more remote trails, like the Alkali Flat Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Dune Life Nature Trail
2. Watch Sunset in the Park
Golden hour in White Sands National Park is, without a doubt, the best and most beautiful time to enjoy the stunning gypsum sand!
I say this because as the light gets softer and softer in the evening, the best of the beautiful pink, orange, and yellow hues light up the white sand unlike any other time of day, which is most beautiful the further and further you go down Dunes Drive.
That said, watching the sunset in White Sands National Park is an entirely different experience from watching sunrise, which is exactly why I separated the two and encourage reading further if you’re interested in seeing both during your visit.
Time and Date: Sunrise & Sunset Times
3. Alkali Flat Trail
Distance: 4.6 miles / 7.4 km
The Alkali Flat Trail is the longest and most remote day hike in White Sands National Park, but I don’t believe its length necessarily means it’s a difficult adventure—apart from choosing to hike into the dune field during one of the hot summer months.
That said, the 4.6-mile (7.4 km) roundtrip loop begins at the furthest trailhead off Dunes Drive and ventures straight into the heart of the dune field through some of the most beautiful, untouched, and pristine sand dunes in the park, leading to the point where the gypsum sand dunes abruptly end and the Alkali Flats begin!
To learn more, I highly recommend reading my separate post, because while I don’t think the Alkali Flat Trail is a challenging adventure physically, it can be challenging directionally, as seen on the windy day I hiked the Alkali Flat Trail in my article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Alkali Flat Trail
4. Sledding on the Sand Dunes
Whether you hike for miles into the dune field or drive up to the Backcountry Loop Trailhead, sledding on the gypsum sand in White Sands National Park is about as old as pastimes get!
That said, waxed plastic snow saucers work best for sledding down sand here and elsewhere, and sleds can be bought in advance to save a little money or purchased upon arrival at the park’s gift shop.
Google Maps Directions: Backcountry Camping Loop Trailhead
5. Interdune Boardwalk Trail
Distance (Roundtrip): 0.4 miles / 0.6 km
The Interdune Boardwalk is a very short educational boardwalk trail designed to show visitors what exists between the giant gypsum dunes—an environment most overlook when visiting White Sands National Park.
The Interdune Boardwalk Trail is the easiest and most accessible trail in White Sands National Park, and as a result, it is one of the more popular day hikes as well.
This is all to say that I highly recommend stopping to check out the quick out-and-back Interdune Boardwalk, as the trail is, without a doubt, the best place in White Sands National Park to learn about the park’s history, its formation, and the landscape that we see today!
Read My Separate Post: Interdune Boardwalk Trail
6. Sunset Stroll
The Sunset Stroll is an easy, ranger-led sunset hike, where visitors have an opportunity to hike and learn firsthand about White Sands National Park from those who know the park best!
To participate, simply arrive at the meeting point no earlier than 30 minutes prior to the posted time, which can either be found at the meeting spot, as shown below, or by asking the staff in the White Sands Visitor Center.
Reservations are not required, and the Sunset Stroll is timed to end at sunset, so that those that participating can enjoy the beautiful sunset over the San Andres Mountains to the west!
Google Maps Directions: Sunset Stroll Meeting Area
7. Watch Sunrise in the Park
The reason why I’ve separated sunrise from sunset is because watching the sunrise in White Sands National Park is an entirely different experience, based entirely around the park’s operating hours from 7 a.m. to sunset year-round.
This means that, outside of backcountry camping, sunrise can only be seen during the winter off-season because each year, around the third to fourth week in March, sunrise is too early to enter the park at 7 a.m. and have time to drive somewhere in the dune field to see it.
When sunrise is later than 7 a.m., it’s typical that cars will sit outside the gate waiting for it to open. Keep in mind that it takes at least 10–15 minutes to drive in, park, and hike into the dunes to actually see it, with trailheads deeper in the dune field, like the Backcountry Camping Loop or Alkali Flat Trail, being the best places to enjoy the sunrise.
Time and Date: Sunrise & Sunset Times
8. Backcountry Camping Loop Trail
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Backcountry Camping Loop Trail is the go-to adventure for visitors interested in spending the night in the park beneath the desert night sky!
That said, the Backcountry Camping Loop is the only trail in White Sands National Park where overnight camping is allowed, but this all goes without saying that the trail is also a favorite among both day hikers and those looking to go sledding!
I say this because the Backcountry Loop Trail is often seen as the intermediate hike between both the longer and much more involved Alkali Flat Trail and the shorter Dune Life Nature Trail, making the Backcountry Camping Loop the perfect in-between adventure for those looking for something longer but not too long.
Read My Separate Post: Backcountry Camping Loop Trail
9. White Sands Historic District
Long before White Sands became the National Park as we know it today, it was designated a National Monument in 1933 under the Herbert Hoover administration.
Shortly thereafter, from 1936 – 1940, numerous buildings were constructed, including the visitor center and the White Sands Trading Company gift shop. These buildings are recognized for their "Pueblo Revival" style, blending aspects of traditional Pueblo and Spanish Colonial architecture.
Today, park visitors are encouraged to stop in to see and learn more about the historic district, get questions answered about White Sands National Park, and fill up on water, as the visitor center is the only place in the park where water is available.
Google Maps Directions: White Sands Historic District
10. Playa Trail
Distance: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
The Playa Trail is a short, easy, out-and-back day hike to a large playa where visitors can learn about the ever-changing desert ecosystem in White Sands that can look very different depending on the time of year.
That said, playas can be found in random areas scattered throughout White Sands National Park, but none are as easy to get to as the one right off the Playa Trail.
This is why, even though the Playa Trail is not what most visitors come to White Sands National Park expecting to see, I recommend checking out the short 0.5-mile (0.8 km) trail because it really is such a quick and easy adventure and a great way to learn about White Sands before driving further into the dune field.
Read My Separate Post: Playa Trail
10 Things to Know Before Visiting White Sands National Park
1. You don’t have to hike far to enjoy the best of White Sands National Park.
Contrary to what you may think before visiting, many of the best spots and most beautiful photos in White Sands National Park are all taken within just a few minutes of walking into the dune field.
While hiking longer trails, like the Alkali Flat Trail, is stunning and a great way to escape the crowds, the best of the park can be seen by simply venturing into the dune field on either side of Dunes Drive, which is especially important to keep in mind if you’re planning your visit during the hotter summer months!
2. The further you go down Dunes Drive, the better the sand dunes become.
As you drive into the park off Highway 70, the dunes may seem small and far away.
However, the further you drive down the 7.5-mile (12.1 km) Dunes Drive, the closer and bigger the sand dunes become!
That said, the pavement ends about 5.0 miles (8.0 km) into Dunes Drive, which is where the best of all the hiking, sledding, and photography can be enjoyed!
3. Bring sunglasses and wear a hooded sun shirt.
Unless you’ve experienced a bad sunburn from the reflection off a glacier, you’re likely unaware of how strong the sun can be—and will be—on a bright white surface like the gypsum sand of White Sands National Park.
I say this to say that if you plan on spending a few hours hiking around the dunes, sunscreen is simply not enough protection.
This is why I cannot recommend a quality hooded sun shirt and good sunglasses enough, as protecting yourself from the harsh reflection is crucial to having a good visit!
4. Be careful at the bottom of the dunes.
On the surface, this one might sound a little strange, but what I mean is that it’s easy to pick up a lot of speed when running or sledding down a dune. However, what’s not so apparent is that the bottom of the dunes can be as hard as concrete, which can easily break an arm, a leg, or knock out teeth!
It’s the feeling of being so free and weightless as you run down a dune, expecting each step to have a little give until all of the sudden it doesn’t, and you’re met with an abrupt rock-hard surface at the bottom that can have all sorts of unintended consequences.
5. The visitor center is the only place to get water in White Sands National Park.
This one is fairly self-explanatory, but be sure to stop to fill up before heading into the park, as there is not running water anywhere outside of the visitor center.
Google Maps Directions: White Sands Visitor Center
6. Longer trails have more variability regarding where hikers go.
In White Sands National Park, it’s very easy to follow the correct trail on a shorter hike, like the Dune Life Nature Trail, but as distances increase, so do the paths that hikers take.
This can be especially challenging on the Alkali Flat Trail, as trail markers often get buried by the dunes or blown over by the wind, making hikers veer in all sorts of directions that can either lead to you and your group getting lost, following footprints that lead nowhere, or creating false trails that subsequent groups may follow by mistake.
This is why it’s always important to choose the right trail for the conditions and time of year, follow the trail markers as best as possible, and hike with an ample amount of water and a headlamp in case of an emergency.
Many hikers have lost their lives in the dune field before, which is why I want to emphasize all these things in order to have a safe visit!
7. Choose your camera lens before entering the dune field.
This one obviously applies only to photographers, but sand dunes, here and elsewhere, are the last place that you want to be switching lenses, as the blowing sand can easily cause permanent damage to your camera.
For this reason, think ahead about what type of shot you are looking to capture before hiking in!
8. Thunderstorms are exceptionally dangerous in White Sands National Park!
It’s widely known that being outside during a thunderstorm is very dangerous, but in sand dunes here and elsewhere, you will almost always be the tallest object around, making them particularly dangerous here over other environments.
This is why it’s extremely important to know the forecast before setting off on any adventure and to know that during the spring, summer, and fall months, thunderstorms can and do show up without warning!
I have personally been caught off guard during a thunderstorm in a dune field, and to date, it is still the worst thunderstorm incident I’ve ever experienced. Take this warning seriously!
9. White Sands National Park closes in the evening.
Unlike many National Parks around the country that remain open 24/7, White Sands National Park opens each day at 7 a.m. and closes each day after sunset.
That said, watching the sunset is by far more accessible, but watching sunrise can only be done during certain times of the year, which I encourage you to learn more about in the section above.
National Park Service: White Sands National Park Hours
10. The pavement on Dunes Drive ends about 5.0 miles (8.0 km) from the visitor center.
Dunes Drive is the only road in and out of White Sands National Park, but as the road gets deeper into the dune field, the pavement ends, as this section of roadway requires constant maintenance to keep it clear of sand.
That said, the unpaved section of Dunes Drive is accessible to 2WD vehicles, but it typically becomes a little more bumpy from the 5.0-mile (8.0 km) mark to the end.
