Best trails in White Sands National Park

Known for its impressive landscape of white, wave-like gypsum sand dunes, White Sands National Monument preserves a massive area of dunes, plants, and wildlife within the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Trails include the Interdune Boardwalk and the Dune Life Nature Trail. White Sands National Park is open daily year-round except for December 25, Christmas Day. Hours of operation vary throughout the year. During the winter and occasionally throughout the year, the park may unexpectedly close due to unsafe road or extreme weather conditions. Also, due to missile testing on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range, it is occasionally necessary for visitor safety to close the road into the park for periods of up to three hours. U.S. Highway 70 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces is also closed during times of missile testing. Please note hours vary depending on time of year. Please not entry to the park is blocked off one hour prior to closure. January 1 – February 1: 7am- 6pm February 2 – March 7: 7am - 7pm March 8 - April 11: 7am - 8pm April 12 – May 23: 7am - 8:30pm May 24 – September 12: 7am - 9pm September 13 – October 31: 7am - 8pm November 1 – December 24: 7am - 6pm December 26 – December 31: 7am - 6pm