White Sands National Park Reviews

This National Park is truly remarkable and unique. We went in the afternoon and chose to walk some trails and drive the dune drive before meeting the ranger for the Sunset Stroll program. Our walk with Ranger Tandi was exceptional and inspirational. She was so intune to the ecology of the area and gave such good information as well as insightful suggestions for us. You could tell she loves what she does and she shared her deep respect for our protected lands. The sunset stroll ended as the sun set over the dunes while the mountains turned shades of pink on the other horizon. It was a National Park visit I will never forget. I highly recommend the sunset stroll with the ranger. It's the best way to end your visit at this awesome National Park.

Great place to explore and have fun sliding down the dunes. Kids had a blast. So much better than beach sand. Still gets on everything but comes off easily. The historic story of this place is truly fascinating.

We had a great experience at White Sands. Definitely do the ranger-led sunset walk, that was the highlight of our time there. The glare off the sand is harsh during the day, but much better in the evening and cooler as well. Worth a drive down and overnight in Alamagordo.

Loads of fun! The sand it’s super soft and a great place for photos ! You can also hike but we enjoyed just exploring the dunes !

Worth the stop. We drove up the road and back shortly after the sun came up and the views were something else. It looked like snow on the ground. The road was packed down and had been plowed.

Fabulous experience as a first-time visitor to White Sands. Experience was one of a kind. The young lady at the entrance was very kind and efficient; we got a free Military pass for my Veteran husband. The park itself is great. Lots of areas to explore and I recommend the boardwalk. We ran into a park ranger who answered all our questions. The sand dune formations are great and a light breeze swirled up clouds in the distance.

Better than expected for all ages. I was worried about having "things to do," but playing in the sand is more than enough. It is really special. Something about this amazing place just inspired fun in my whole family. My gamer teenager even ran voluntarily while here. This was our 6th National Park give or take for the year and the only one with unanimous requests to return to.
Crowded during peak times, but we had no wait to enter before 10 am, after 4pm.
The dog loved it, too.

I got there fairly late. First went to the gift shop before they closed. I didn’t watch the movie because I didn’t want to waste time. The ranger was very nice. They had a lot of books and other interesting things in the gift shop.

The most disappointing thing about this national park is they allow dogs. There were dogs everywhere. Barking and being a nuisance to every other dog around. Not cool. Your dog does not care about sand dunes. Our national parks were created to be protected. Leave the eco-destroyers at home.

First went to the Playa trail. Not impressed. Kinda crappy trail that went to a small lake. Then went to the boardwalk on the Interdune trail. That was ok. I just thought the dunes would be a lot bigger. Plus I was really disappointed that so many people exited the boardwalk to write things in the sand. Not cool. Later I learned that the interdunes are really sensitive and no one should be walking on it at all. Hence the boardwalk. Ugh.

Then the road turned to white sand and I drove around the loop. I actually found a spot that had no other people around Alkali Flat. Didn't do the trail. Just climbed up a dune. At this point I was glad the dunes were not a lot bigger!

Then came down and went to the parking area for the Sunset Stroll which they only do on weekends. Lots of people were there already. Got one of the last parking spaces. And later they said this was a small group! Three idiots brought dogs. Why??? The hike was not too bad. Only about half a mile and not steep. Was able to keep up just fine.

Driving cross country, we chose Alamogordo to spend a night in because White Sands has always been on our list of places we wanted to go to. And it was everything we hoped!

Started at the loop end of the road, and did about an hour “out and back” walk, keeping an eye on the trail markers. We started at 7:30AM and 64 degrees, ended at 73 degrees. The dunes were fun to walk, easy in sneakers or barefoot.

We also walked the short boardwalk and enjoyed the Explainer boards located there.

Two gift shops, so look carefully on your way out (or in).

Beautiful National Park! It is worth the time to view the beautiful landscape and walk the trails. It’s also fun to sled!

White Sands National Park in New Mexico is an interesting landscape near mountains. Ideally book an overnight stay in Alamogordo and visit the National Park early in the morning at sunrise.

Phenomenal place and one of my all time favourite must sees! Spectacular pure white dunes where you can sled down. Numerous beautiful hikes, beautiful sun set!

Me and my husband spent about 4-5 hours hiking and sledding at White Sands. We had a blast and they had great facilities. You could easily bring a picnic and spend all day.

I enjoyed my time at White Sands walking around the dune fields. The Immense sand dunes seem to go on forever with many trails to explore but make sure you follow the markers as you can get lost in the dune fields. It can be very hot and there is no shade so take sunscreen and a hat to wrar.

Unlike any other place. There is family fun like sledding. It is serene in between the dunes, the beautiful sky, the wind blown perfect sand, and so quiet. I recommend it to everyone.

We have been to White Sands several times, but it's always a new experience. Bring your own sleds if you can. The Park Service sells these really flimsy discs and they close the office at five. The park is open until sunset. To get to the really good dunes, keep driving well into the park. Bring a picnic, the picnic tables are like something out of the Jetsons! The visitors center has a good film, and informative displays. Nice gift shop. My biggest recommendation is to go on the 6:30 pm ranger lead nighttime stroll. Full moon if possible. My granddaughter got some amazing sunset pictures. My grandson had researched White Sands and had so many questions for the ranger that he game him a nighttime explorer badge. It was an amazing experience and we always learn something new. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Had a great time at the White Sands. I would recommend going in the evening during the summer time. We use the disc sleds to slide down the dunes. You have to wax your disc really well in order to get it to slide well. I also recommend using a cut out from a cardboard box, this seems to slide better on the sand.

White Sands is a relatively small but distinct and captivating park. There is just a single 8-mile road that goes out into the dunes. About halfway in, it becomes unpaved, packed sand, but it's perfectly driveable with a regular car. There are three short and easy trails along the road with interpretive signs that are worth a stop, as well as several picnic and sledding areas.

If you want a more challenging adventure, check out the 5-mile Alkali Flat trail, which isn't so much a trail as it is a series of stakes marking a path to a dry lakebed. It's very peaceful and scenic, but it is strenuous, requiring numerous steep climbs up and down the dunes. Wherever you go, be sure to bring adequate sun protection and plenty of water, even in the winter.

The visitor center is small, but well done, with lots of information about the formation of the gypsum dunes and the park ecosystem. There is a gift shop with packaged food, but no other dining options. Unlike most national parks, White Sands isn't open 24-7, so be sure to check their website for hours. All in all, this is a beautiful and unique place well worth a day's visit.

The gypsum sand dunes are like being in snow as much as the Sahara. I actually saw a Clint Eastwood movie where he is driving through snow, but they failed to cover up the White Sands sign. It's a nice couple of hours with great photo ops and the sleds are funny. Just make sure you wax up the center.
Be warned you will lose your breat climbing to the top of the hills.

This place is quite a magical place and a must go place. Get some wax at the visitor center , bring your sled and sled the dunes. Several short hikes.

The sands are amazing to see and get photos in. It gets very hot so take sunscreen and water. We saw a lot of people trying to sled with not a lot of luck.

I’m so grateful to live close to this majestic national park!! Amazes me how locals don’t know of it. Gorgeous sunrises and sunsets - walk barefoot enjoy the sand in your toes

Phenomenal views! Geological wonder that is worth the trip! Where else in the southwest can one find miles of white soft fine grained sand reminiscent of the gulf coast? The weather on this day was cool and comfortable low 60’s. A National Park that’s so very different in nature!

A must attend. Absoulutely love the area and got some good insta pics here. Definetly worth the money. Bring sunscrean and sunglasses.''

Definitely worth a visit or two. We went in the evening, a short while before sunset, because I had read that it's a beautiful time to see the dunes and the mountains to the east. It did not disappoint, and we were able to do some sledding without the heat. The park is open until 8 pm, so you can stay and watch the night sky for a bit. We stayed in Alamogordo, 15 minutes away, where our hotel the Desert Aire Hotel offered free sleds. Check with your hotel to see whether you can get sleds. Otherwise, they are available at the second of two gift shops at the front of the park (i.e., not by the front parking lot, but right after that area). Your ticket is good for 7 days, so we went back the next morning after breakfast to see the dunes in a different light. Take the time to go deep into the park. It's very tempting to get out at the first real set of dunes, but just keep going! Don't forget to take lots of water!

My friend and I visited this national park on Monday, October 7, 2024. We watched the video and were ready to enter the park around 10:45 am. Nobody was at the entrance station to take our $25 admission fee (per car). We did not want to just drive through without paying. We parked the car and investigated. My friend tried to use the QR code on the window to try to pay online. Meanwhile, other cars just drove in freely. We even walked back to the gift shop to ask them what to do if there was nobody to take our admission fee. They said "just drive in for free then."

By the time we went back to the car, finally there was a lady with dark, long hair at the station. We paid the $25. I told her two times that there had been nobody here just now. For both times, she TOTALLY IGNORED what I was saying and acted as if I did not exist. This was very rude of her, a public servant. A "sorry" would have been fair to us for wasting all our time, trying to enter the park honestly. Does her supervisor or manager allow or encourage her to behave this way to customers????? Is this the normal way they treat visitors??????

This bad experience alone canceled all the other fun stuff offered by nature there.

Fun experience and easy to navigate through the park. Lots of opportunities to park in different areas. We purchased 1 sled and that was more than enough for 4 people. It was fun but wasn’t super successful (a little overrated).

If it is on the way, stop by for 30 minutes. Do not go out of your way to see this silly place. It is around 8 miles long and 2 miles wide. A NM governor must have had some compromising pics of the president that made this a national park

White Sands National Park in Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, is like stepping onto another planet entirely! The mesmerizing sea of gypsum dunes stretching as far as the eye can see is truly otherworldly. Walking on the soft, cool sand and watching the sunset over the dunes is a surreal experience. The park's natural beauty is simply breathtaking. However, it's essential to be aware that the park can get extremely hot during the summer months. The brilliant white sands reflect the sun's rays, and temperatures can soar to scorching levels, making it quite uncomfortable for extended outdoor activities. So, visiting during the cooler parts of the day or during the milder seasons is advisable to fully enjoy this natural wonder.

It was a long drive (almost 6 hours) from Phoenix but it was worth it! It was amazing to see nature at work - from learning about the minerals to how the powder-like sand eventually formed. Fascinating!

Sledding was fun too! You can purchase sleds at the shop/ visitors entrance.

We were here a few years ago, the park is still well visited but not overcrowded. In particular, you only need to take a few steps into the eternal white and you are alone! In the park itself there is little shade and NO water. So fill up your water bottles at the visitor center at the latest! You should definitely wear sunglasses at all times, the white is really white! Photo tip: Late in the afternoon until sunset

Very beautiful park. Worth seeing during sunrise or sunset timings. Others timings don't give much good views. You can buy sand sleds for kids from nearby Walmart. Buying a online pass saves lot of time during busy times. We went on 12/26 evening, the line was couple of miles long and it took us 45 mins to reach the main entrance. With online pass, we skipped additional 20 mins of waiting time.

Cool Gypsum sands, good hiking, interesting desert creatures and a great sunset stroll with Ranger Tharon (like Sharon but with a Th). Visitor Center staff was friendly and helpful with local intel, and the park film is quite moving - sometimes literally, with the occasional time lapse that showcases dunes on the move. Drink lots of water and pace yourself. The bright sand adds to your heat and fatigue. Really awesome park and the sunset stroll is highly recommended, even offered. Thanks again staff and Tharon for your great history lessons and Q&A.

Gorgeous - it feels like you’re in an otherworldly landscape. I’m glad that my friend and I were able to cross this off our bucket list. It’s $25 per private vehicle and you pay at the station. The visitor center has portapotties and two gift shops (note that the one that the rangers work at is better). Make sure to bring lots of water since there aren’t water fountains at the trailheads. There are a lot of picnic areas. If you want to go sledding, it’s $25 at the gift shop plus extra for wax. If you bring the sled back, you get a gift shop credit of $5. There’s parking in front as well as behind the visitor center. Overall, it’s a super cool national park to visit and you can easily spend a whole day here hiking, taking pictures, and/or sledding.

Really a one of a kind experience. It was really cool climbing the dunes. Do not pay the $25 for a sled and bring your own. Also bring sunglasses because it is bright out there.

I would recommend sunglasses for each member of the family. The sand is amazingly beautiful. I would recommend bringing charcoal and burgers. They have grills set up ready to rock. Make sure you bring a hat as well. We only spent about 45 minutes inside the park. Bring a cooler with water and sodas, no water is available inside. Attention Vets: you get in free with a copy of VA Health card, dd-214, or driver's license with veteran status indicated on it.

An amazing place to view pure white sand(gypsum). Visitor center lots of info. A nice loop drive to explore. The boardwalk gives you a unique experience

This place is awesome! I have wanted to come here for 20 years and finally got the chance (I live in South Dakota). It is so beautiful and a lot of fun to explore.

First if coming from the west (Arizona etc.) get gas in Las Cruces. We were told there was gas within 15 miles of the park and there is.... coming from Alamogordo. This is a long boring 30 or 40 miles from Las Cruces to the park across the White Sands Missile Range. No scenery barely a curve or hump in the road. But worth it. this park was amazing. it was like being in a big snowstorm as the sand is white as snow and drifting everywhere. The roads are even white although they are plowed twice a week. We had a good time here.

This place is WOW! A MUST VISIT! Did not disappoint! We went in March, Spring Break, a lot of people but not overly crowded. The weather was chilly, but with all the running and walking thru the sand, it gets warm. Visit the dunes to the end. Lots of parking. Will be coming back for sure.

This is a very unique place! The white sand is amazing! We drove the loop, went sledding (well my hubby did), and we had a picnic. This is a perfect place for a picnic with shaded tables throughout the park. Make sure and stop at the visitor center on your way in. TIP… Lots of parking behind the visitor center. When we stopped the front parking lot was really congested and full, but behind the center was nearly empty.

We visited during the government shutdown, 11/8 and the whole park was open except for the boardwalk that was already closed as work is being done. Everyone was very helpful at rhe visitors center, all of that was open and sled rentals were also available. Really amazing hikes and walks, totally worth the trip!

Driving to ABQ, we stopped here. Not worth the trip. There was no ranger at the station to accept payment and no Internet to pay there as they requested.

Once in the park, it's just sand. Duh. There are no outstanding, picture-worthy features. You can rent a sled and wax to slide down the hills, but they aren't very high. The one boardwalk through the dunes is closed.

Some influencers say sunrise and sunset are the times to visit the park. Go for it. Maybe they're just making the best of a bad situation.

We have no reason to return.

White Sands is an unusual national park. It’s not very big (the developed portion) with just an 8-mile park road and 5 hikes (4 of them short) and no key points of interest aside from the ever-changing white sands dunes. But the dunes are amazing: fine, powdery sand that is cool to the touch and brilliantly white stretching for miles in every direction. Because the dunes are constantly moving, there’s not even a true trail to follow, or anything specific to see on the main Alkali Flats trail (the Playa trail and desert wildlife trails have informational signage and the backcountry trail is really for campers). You can just walk on the dunes, sled on them, run down them, or play with the sand without any particular objective in mind. It’s a very fun park. The only reason to follow the trail is to not get lost! I was able to complete all the hikes and see the exhibits and park movie at the visitor’s center in four hours. It does get very busy the later in the day you arrive, however, and there was a massive line of cars at the entrance gate as I was leaving at midday.

You only need about 1/2 of a day here. Interesting to walk around on the dunes. Don’t miss the video in the visitors center. I’m sure it gets hot in the summer.

Such an awesome experience! My young girls (ages 4-9) had a wonderful time sledding the dunes. The Dune life Nature trail was the perfect hike for them at the start.

Park rangers are wonderful and friendly. Highly recommend the Junior Ranger program for young kids.

Be sure to prep with sun screen and baby powder (to help get all the sand off). Lots of water and smiles! Get there early for cooler temps and to see the animal tracks before they disappear for the day.

Our family of 4 generations went on a Fall Break road-trip from Texas to Arizona and New Mexico to visit some NPS sites. White Sands is a National Park that all ages can enjoy!! All 7 in our party loved our visit to White Sands! 4 of us in our party do the Junior Ranger Program so I was not able to see all of the Visitor Center because of time restraints but the others in our party enjoyed it very much! We hiked the Dune Life Nature Trail and my grandsons loved running around in the sand! We did not see much wildlife along the hike. We also did the Interdune Boardwalk where we did see quite a few of the Bleached Earless Lizards! White Sands is a must if you enjoy visiting the National Parks!!

I was very surprised at how fine, yet how solid the sand can be here. Sparkling white, you'll need your hat and sunglasses for this one. It's a fair drive in, with the Visitor Center right by the road, then a drive to the sand dunes. Yes, bring the sleds. You can get close to the dunes and have fun without having to walk far. Lots of parking. Yes, there are picnic areas here covered so you have shade. Lovely to walk on. Feel like a kid again and have fun.

Take care not to visit here during very hot temperatures. Otherwise a large public expanse of gypsum sands shrouded by the missile test range. The visitor center offers a film and also has a cast of ancient human footprints. Along the loop road there are several designated foot trails, one a 5 mile deeper desert loop. There are also areas for sand play as well as camping and wilderness trekking. The interdunes trail is a sandy loop marked by poles to facilitate the way around. At times, rangers offer special hikes. Check with the VC. And remember to carry water.

Park is very weather dependent. I wouldn't go if there are high winds. Go early if warm even though the sand doesn't get hot which is wonderful! the sun is still brutal so make sure to have water and sun protection! Very cool to explore. Since it is right next to an Air Force base there are restricted areas that you can't explore due to unexploded ordinance...

so far we thought that there are white sands only in a few beaches in the world. so this park is exeptional. we were in a full moon night, when the park is open until 11 pm, so we enjoyed a beautiful sunset and moon rise.

If you are in the area this is must-see. Regardless of the time of day you go, wear sunscreen and a hat. The sun reflecting off the white sand can still give you a nasty burn. The boardwalk is great. I am a handicapped person in a mobility device. Getting to the boardwalk, through the sand from the car, was challenging. The sand in the parking lot was too deep for the wheels of my scooter. Once on the boardwalk, it was easy going. The views from the boardwalk were very nice, but you couldn't see very far. There is a large, covered area to get out of the sun for a bit and read about desert animals and plants. One of the women in our party was very skilled at spotting lizards. If you are physically able, you can climb the dunes for better views and the experience. The gift shop is very nice with lots of variety. I highly recommend visiting this unique site.

Craig Hockenberry: White Sands National Monument is one of my favorite stops on New Mexico. I have been there 3-4 times and each times it gets better and better. The rangers were amazing, roads, trails, and pull off were perfectly maintained. The weather was perfect and like always we had a great time!

CRAIG HOCKENBERRY Cincinnati Ohio

Traveled with my son to El Paso for a Coldplay concert. The night we flew in ( June 11th, 2025), we drove out to White Sands for a special event due to a special Strawberry moon on that evening. We arrived just before sunset, so had about 30-45 minutes of daylight before night time. It was beautiful and cool in the evening. The next day we drove back out to see it in daytime and do some Sandboarding on the dunes. During that day, extremely hot but stayed about 2.5 hours, drove the entire park and sandboard on a few of the dunes. Well worth the trips on both occasions.

Amazing place for all ages, we also found a nice sand dune to play. Weather was perfect in December.

It’s cool, but the sand isn’t as white as I pictured it. If you go, make sure you go all the way to the back of loop where there is less vegetation. The trails still have lots of vegetation and don’t give you the same effect as nothing but sand and sky. If I went back I would skip trails and just go to the back.

We arrived at 8:00 AM because it was forecasted to be 100 degrees that afternoon. We used our America the Beautiful pass; otherwise it is $25 per carload to get in. The road through the park is paved at the beginning but then it turns to only sand. They must clear the sand off the road throughout the day because it wasn’t deep at all. We drove to the Alkali Flat trail (which is definitely not flat). There is a sign at the beginning stating that water is required for the trail as people have died from dehydration. The white gypsum sand is very cool to the touch, so we walked barefoot most of the time. The sand markers help you navigate the route, so it’s important to follow those. This park is dog friendly, and our dog (and lots of others that we saw) had fun frolicking in the sand.

A bit disappointed on our May 2024 visit. The drive is closed beyond the Dune Life Nature Trail, so we didn't get to see much. The women's restroom at the visitor center has no running water (the sink is gone), and not any hand sanitizer. Signs on the nature trail are blank or unreadable.

Nothing short of marvelous and pheromonal. I had to be convinced to go and once there, wow! When you are there, take off your shoes and run up and down the dunes. It’s so much fun!

This was a breathe taking experience!! We went there right before dusk, and it was so beautiful!! If you are in the area, you really don't want to miss this. It feels so good walking on it barefoot, it's not like beach sand. Take a chair and enjoy!!

Spectacular with both daylight and sunset colors. The Alkali flat trail is a perfect summary of dunes as far as the eye can see. Bring plenty of water, perhaps even stocking up at the visitor center.

The views were great, and the sand is cool to the touch. Our grands had fun sledding and exploring. Note: Go to the Walmart in Alamogordo, and buy your sleds for $6 each. The used ones in the park are $24 each.

If you have seen White Sands on TV it looks very interesting. But to go there is amazing we got the sleds and slide down the dunes it was very fun. And the sand is not hot to the touch.

This is a beautiful park any time of day, but it is especially gorgeous as the sun sets. If you want to rent a sled, you will have to come earlier in the day. We were not interested in sledding. We prefer to hike, so we timed our visit for later in the day. Highly recommend.

Start out early for two reasons....
1. If hiking any of the longer trails it gets hot quickly. Heed warnings about water and heat.
2. The park tends to get busier late morning/afternoon.
Everywhere you look it's beautiful. Nice picnic areas for resting. No water available so take plenty with you. Sledding down the hills is a good time and can be done about anywhere. Good way to tire out the kiddos. The visitor center is interesting. The 15 min video was well done. The bathrooms at the visitor center were dirty and smelly. The pit toilets were better.

These are sand dunes like no others! The whiteness is so beautiful! The sand is so fine. The sand is cool to the feet, which makes it so pleasurable walking through it. Be certain to drive all the way to the back of the loop so you can see the larger dunes and vistas of white upon white upon white with little vegetation. Just make sure that you are keeping track of where you are walking so you can find your way back to your car. You could easily get turned around while walking on the dunes.

My husband and I visited White Sands during a road trip between San Francisco and New Orleans. We have visited many National Parks along these routes over the years since 2016 when we made our first long road trip, but this time we had our two small dogs with us, and dogs are unwelcome at most National Parks. Fortunately, that is not the case at White Sands! We did not have a lot of time allocated for the visit but spent a very pleasant two hours walking around the dunes with our dogs. We did see other groups along the course of our walk, but at times we felt like we had the place to ourselves. it is important to follow signs and pay attention to direction as it would not be difficult to become disoriented if you are directionally challenged as I can be. The scenery is dramatic and unusual, so it is a fun place to take lots of photos of the dues and shadows. We are very glad we made the detour to visit this treasure.

We were very disappointed, when you drive 3000 miles and then can only drive out 2 miles to first parking lot. I feel bad for the people who had to pay 25.00. We had a pass

Cute little place. We arrived around dinner time with subs to eat while we watched the sunset, and beat the heat.
It's our bucket list to complete all US Nat'l Parks. While this was a fun & unique park, and we did partake in sledding, this is not my favorite US dunes.
Still, prettier in person than pictures, and I'd go back if I got the chance, to do a long walk in the late afternoon/evening.

Superb place on the edge of reality and very well designed, especially for picnicking
Walking in the dunes gives a strange feeling
Very warm welcome at the visit center

This is a one-dimensional, beautiful National Park. All it really has to offer is the beautiful ,pristine looking white sand dunes. I'm rating this a 4-Star because, unlike Zion, Mt Rainier, Yosemite or Carlsbad Caverns, this National Park doesn't blow your mind away. It is just beautiful & blissful and bestows a relaxing vibe.

Shades/Sunglasses are absolute must. Going in without Shades can be unkind on your eyes. The Visitor Centre is pretty & has good souvenirs & shirts to purchase. Can rent a sled if you feel like it.

The road, especially the potion of it that has sand-top was fun to ride on and very well maintained.

I wouldn't suggest going out of your way to visit this national park. Unlike a lot of social media posts that inflate this place, this is not really a bucket list National Park, but a decent park for photoshoots & a relaxing unique experience.

A must see. I’m not sure how many other deserts give such great access to dunes like this. We saw old and young alike sledding on the dunes. The little movie played in the visitors center helps with perspective as it explains how climate change a thousand years ago helped create this place. It’s really a cool park.

It’s free with NP pass, $25 without. The visitor center is ok it’s more of a gift shop. The video plays at the top and half hour throughout the day.

Bring lots of water and a snack or two. Bathrooms are scattered throughout the park.

On my bucket list and it was so cool looking, but hot out. All the white was so bright even with sun glasses and a large brim hat. Didn’t sled down the dunes. Walked around some. It is so out of this world experience! Stop off at both gift shops and watch the movie. It explains how this all became and continues to evolve.

Site closed due to a plane crash that happened several weeks ago and prevents access. Too bad.

You need a National Parks Pass to see the actual white sands. The visitors center had an interesting video on how the white sands were formed. Only rest stop and restroom for 100 miles!

Great adventure! So. Much. Fun. The park was super easy to navigate, great maps, and simply amazing to see. We purchased sleds (no used sleds were available when we got there- 10am). The $26+ sled cost seemed high but so worth it. We also bought the sled wax for $3. Sleds worked great for my 100lb daughter, my 250+ sled sunk in the sand- the lighter the better! Amazing.

Absolutely great and fantastic time! Visiting The White Sand was an explosion of love and fun. The breathtaking beautiful snow-white landscapes filled me with awe and rejuvenation. The variety of recreational activities provided unprecedented amusement literally from quite walks, sand surfing to night time star light. It is indeed a paradise for nature enthusiasts and adventure lovers. My heart brims with joy at the memory of quality time spent with family. I passionately recommend this park to anyone seeking a refreshing escape from the daily grind. Prepare to be enamored and to have a great deal of fun without breaking the bank.

It’s a beautiful place. I have never seen white sands in my life. We had a great trip there. Loved the picnic tables arranged at different points. We were there early morning, it was less crowded and we felt like it’s our own private place.

Loved, loved, loved this park. It’s so beautiful, especially as sunset. Make sure you bring plenty of water and sunscreen and stick around for that sunset!!!

What an amazing and incredible beautiful National Park. The White Sand is so pure and pretty. An amazing exhibit of nature. Certainly worth your stop and visit.

The largest gypsum sand dune in the world, the entire snow-white desert is very beautiful!!
Winter time is 7:00-18:00. The sun is very warm and the temperature is not too high. It is very comfortable to step on the cold sand.
It’s just that the temperature difference after sunset is huge, so you need to pay attention to keeping warm at night.
There is a checkpoint US Border Patrol Checkpoint next to the park. You must bring your passport + I20/I797/EAD/green card and other identification documents to pass (you cannot use your driver's license)

Beautiful scenery and excellent paths to hike through and over and around the dunes. We got a little confused where we were at times on the loop and picnic sites, but we figured it out pretty quick. We did not try sliding down a dune, but I saw others doing so. Visitor center was a bit busy and crowded so we didn't visit too long.

There is certainly nothing else like it when you arrive and travel into the park. It is easy to navigate, inexpensive to enter; lots of places clearly marked to stop, get out, and explore. I didn't provide 5 stars simply because I wouldn't say I was blown away by anything, but it is unique and beautiful. I would recommend if you're passing through to give it a look!

Second visit and glad we went back. The Alamogordo KOA let us use disk and wax to slide on the hills. We went back for a Sunset Hike about the dunes. very informative and about 100 people were in our group on a Tuesday. The ranger was very knowledgeable about the dunes. Highly recommend the hike.

After the visit to Mesilla we drive a few hours and arrive in this Park. Since for some days there is strike of all rangers and park guard, we get in for free. Along the way it seems to travel on ice while it is just sand pressed by the cold. A very nice place where you can take off your shoes and walk on some trails, like we did so you can take nice pictures.

We had a delightful half-day visit, I highly recommend a visit. It is one of the most unusual places I've been. The scenic drive is nice...drive real slow to enjoy it thoroughly. A lot of people stay close to the parking lots, but to get the full experience, I definitely suggest hiking out into the dunes where you can get some solitude and see the vastness of the dunes. We hiked the Alkali Flat Trail...about 5 miles total. It included quite a few ups and downs over the dunes, but within a short time we were all alone. Sweet! Felt like we were in the desert. A very unusual type of beauty. Nice visitor center as well with very helpful and friendly staff.

A couple of hints...

1. If you go early in the morning, the shadows are more apparent across the dunes...makes it more scenic.
2. We went in November when it was nice and cool. My guess is it gets quite hot in the summer.

We stopped at White Sands National Park on our way to Las Cruces, NM. What a beautiful park with unique scenery! This is definitely a national park you need to take the time to visit!

What an unique place to visit. The white sands were so cool even in the 100 degree 30 mph weather in May 2022. We went on the walk suggested by the ranger (short one due to the temp/ wind). Then we drive around seeing the large dunes. Very enjoyable.

We even got to see an airshow at Holloman AFB from the dunes.

Very particular park. Expanses of very fine white sand (gypsum crystals), blinding like an expanse of snow. You enter by car and there are several spots for picnics and relaxation. It is surrounded by military and missile bases in the Jornada del Muerto area (desert of the first nuclear test - Trinity), and in some circumstances it is closed to prevent some mischievous missile from slipping into your trunk...

The vastness is worth the trip. Climb up even the smallest dune and get lost in the incredible beauty that is miles of white sand. Agree hot (108!) but starkly fabulous.

Do it! It only takes a short time to do the loop. We were in our RV and no problems. They have RV loops at the viewing points! It’s very cool and I’m glad we choose to make a quick stop!

White Sands had been on my bucket list for years so it was great to finally tick it off. We drove from Las Cruces which isn’t far but you do have to go through a checkpoint. At 11:30 there was a short line but by the time we left around 1pm it was long so be prepared.

Once we arrived, the visitors centre and shop were packed but inside the park was pretty quite as everyone spread out. We bought a sledge and wax from the shop which was expensive at just under $25. If you have the option to buy one elsewhere and bring it with you I would. The ones in the shop are quite thin and too light to slide properly. They should really have the option to rent a sledge because if your not from the US or out of town it’s a waste to buy one. We gave ours to another family on the way out.

The shop also sells souvenirs and food / drinks. Again, I’d bring stuff from home although the souvenirs are nice but pricy.

Inside the park was spectacular, it really feels like your on another planet. Sledding was fun but the ‘sand’ was too hot to get any speed, even with the wax. Apparently it’s better in autumn / winter when it’s not almost 100 out.

I’d recommend bringing sand shoes because I wore crocs and had to take them off because they kept filling with ‘sand’. The gypsum isn’t super hot under-foot unlike real sand at the beach so it wasn’t too bad to walk on.

All in all, I highly recommend a visit to White Sands!

The White Sand Dunes National Park is one of New Mexico's must-see attractions and an absolute highlight.

Here we hiked the 2 mile loop.

You should definitely have enough to drink with you.

I recommend driving all the way to the end (Alkali Flats) for the best view of the gypsum sand dunes. The dunes closer to the park entrance are shorter and have more vegetation.

It is about 8 miles from park entrance to the terminus. Sedan can make the entire journey even though the last part you will be driving over some sand (but it's a hard surface underneath), so there is really not a chance you will get stuck.

Other tips
- check that no missile launch practice is happening and road is open
- go on a non-windy day
- visit early morning or late evening hours
- bring lots of water
- have protective covering to avoid sand blowing into camera

Loved it talk about a white out! The scenery looked like snow it was beautiful! We watched the kids sled down the sands and took many picts!

Amazing place for a sunset BBQ. Sledging on the dunes was fun. BBQ grills, tables and seats and toilets all nice and clean. Fabulous big landscape views and the stars were beautiful once it was dark.

We enjoyed our visit to White Sands. It is like a winter wonderland except it was hot. The weather can change quickly, while we were walking on the dunes enjoying sunset we got hit with a hail storm.

We love going to National Parks and this one is just as beautiful as others. The white sand is very bright, but so cool to the touch. The park is currently open only until Mile 3 due to an aircraft accident. But even with the closure, there was still a boardwalk to walk out on or a bit further up you could climb up on the sand and take a marked mile hike up and down the sand dunes. We saw children sledding down the dunes and having a great time.

Make sure to bring water - there is none past the Visitor's Center. Sunglasses are a must, there is no shade. Stop at the Visitor's Center first. There is a very good informative movie. The gift shops are quite nice too. Rangers were helpful with advice and directions. It is close to Alamogordo and easy to find.

One of my favorite places on earth so far. I am much interested in cultural tourism rather than nature tourism but I cannot stress enough how beautiful this is. We hiked the Alkali Flats Trail in the afternoon 2-5. Sledding down the dunes is fun but the prices of the sleds are unfairly high.

Very nice place to visit. It is amazing to see how white the sand is. Interesting to see how the wind makes designs in it and to think they have to plow the road at times due to the sand drifting like snow!

We brought our own smaller sleds and could never get them to move down the hills, but we had fun trying. Maybe younger kids have more luck as our trip was a 50 year old mom and her 110 lb daughter.

We entered the park at about 8:45 am. We walked around the dunes at the first stop. Fortunately there are restrooms at many of the stops. Bring water, wear a broad brimmed hat and tennis shoes. I saw several people with none of these things, and also they were dressed in black. It is a desert and hot. We stopped at the boardwalk which allows visitors who are unable to walk onto the dunes a chance to see the area.

Like all national parks, this is a must see and it is more unique than most. The white sand dunes on the drive are remarkable and leave plenty to do and see. There was a thunder storm nearby so we did not get out much as the lightning advisories are serious.

If I had to say what’s on the down side, the people working the desk in the visitor center were not rangers and were on their phones. The bathrooms were disgusting. That all said, the park is a must see.

We drove the Dunes Drive Loop. Stopped and walked the Playa Trail and Interdune Boardwalk. We did not do any of the longer hikes. We did pull over at one and climbed up on the dune just to look around. There’s lots of picnic areas. You can buy a disc to slide on at the visitors store. It took about an hour with our stops to do the full loop. Great place to visit and experience.

Bucket list visit that did not disappoint. Cool spot pretty similar to Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. Great time of the year to go, NO CROWDS!!!!

I read that you could buy sleds at the gift shop and was so afraid that my southern kids wouldn’t get there in time to get them. We arrived literally at closing and there were stacks of sleds as tall as me so yay!!
The sand hills are magical and gorgeous and a photo taking dream! It was hit at sunset but so worth it!

Great Park!

Entered in the morning, left for lunch, then came back in the evening. Just Awesome!

The Sand was so white and cool to walk on - on this very hot day. Don't wear your sneakers while walking on the deep sand because you will never get it all out. Wear flip-flops, sandals, slides or walk barefoot.

It was so much fun just driving around the mounds of sand. It looked like snow and you thought it would be cold but it wasn't. It was an illusion.

I climbed up many peaks like a little kid.

There was supposed to be a Ranger-Walk-Talk in the evening, but it was cancelled due to possible weather and thunderstorms. We rode it out and hung a round for a spectacular sunset.

Highly Recommended!

What a beautiful national park! It’s so diverse and we had a great day! We stayed all afternoon. I would suggest going in the off season or early morning or late at night. It was only 70degress and it was already too hot. Bring plenty of water,sunscreen,sunglasses and a hat. Pro tip: stop at the Walmart and buy sleds. They are $7.00 and in the park they rent them for $25 in the overpriced souvenir shop. If you buy something buy at the NP official store and not the one in the back. Everything is really expensive,the $3.50 bag of pistachios from pistachio land are $11.00 there. If you anywhere near this NP make sure to visit! The staff was also really friendly and helpful.

White Sands National Park was very unique and a definite ‘must visit’ experience - a bit smaller than what we expected (as others have mentioned), but that was fine with us. We started by stopping at the Visitors Center which is simply lots of kitschy stuff to buy, but of course we had to look! We then drove the park loop which took us about an hour, as we stopped a couple of times to ooh and ahhh and take pictures. We did not venture onto the dunes or hike. Overall, it was a nice drive and well worth the visit.

You must go here at sunset. The views are incredible around that time. You can park your car and start trekking until you find a good view. Then you can sit, relax and watch the sun set. The sand does not get hot like beach sand does - it feels cools and refreshing.

I visited then White Sands National Monument in June 1973 with my parents. Almost 50 years later I made another visit to the area, a solo trip to see one of the newest National Parks. Drove in in the early afternoon to go to the Visitor Center and just drive through the park. It was in the mid-90's, no time to hike...

But the next morning I drove through the gate at about 7:30AM and it was cool and pretty. Did the Dune Life Trail first off. Hardly anyone there. Could see the tracks from all the various wildlife, the Soaptree Yuccas all were blooming. Spectacular! Next I walked the Interdune Boardwalk. A very clever elevated walkway that makes the park more accessible for handicapped visitors. Allows them to get out into the dune field safely. Drove around the park some more, marveling at the stark white gypsum dunes. Would love to go on the sunset walk with a Ranger...maybe next time. It won't be 50 more years!

The sand was so white it was blinding
Be sure to wear sunglasses
Absolutely gorgeous
Be sure to walk up on the mounds
So very pretty
So unexpected when you first drove in

White Sands National Park is a small park with no camping. There is a scenic drive with lots of spots to stop and do small hikes. BRING WATER!!! It is hot, sunny and dry there with lots of warnings to bring water, wear a hat and sunscreen, but we still saw people hiking with no water. You can get yourself into trouble very quickly. You can see this park in one long day and it is worth a visit.
We stayed at the KOA in Alamogordo not far away. One of the nicest KOA’s I have stayed at. There is shade and stone privacy fences at the sites. It was very clean.

Amazing! It was definitely a wonderful experience.
We are veterans so admission was free.
We stayed about 2 hours.
I took so many pictures, it was fun watching the kids using snowboards going down the sand hills.

The place really has to be seen to be grasped. You can absolutely get lost in the dune field. (Many have -- some have died. That black diamond on the Alkali Flats trail is not just for decoration. Struggling up and down dune of soft flowing fine sand...bring twice the water they recommend and I'll never laugh at those hiking poles again.)

But for all that, this is surprisingly varied terrain, from the tufts where a stunning variety of desert wildlife live, to the playa that preserves mammoth remains and human footprints (alas, that part was not on the current tour) from 10,000 years ago.

Lots and lots of sand-boarders (you can rent them at the visitor center) and families with kids and get an early start; by ten the line of cars is stunning as well.

We visited with some friends and it is amazing, you can rent a sled and go down the hills of sand. The sand is so white, but it is not hot and you are able to take off your shoes and walk on it. It is so beautiful. It only cost to get into the park as do all national parks, They have a gift shop with some history posted and nice clean restrooms.

What a beautiful and other worldly spot. Going out into the dunes is magic! We arrived too late to rent sleds (9am to 3 pm) so we just took the drive and walked up the dunes. Good information and restrooms available at the Visitors Center and a good variety of daily activities. Gift shop. Will return.

The sand is so white! You need sunglasses to fully appreciate the sand dunes and amazing views that you will experience.

We had a great time doing the dune drive route. We got out in multiple areas to climb to the top pf the dunes and then come down. Next time, we will take our horses.

Breathtaking views of white sands! Too old to sled down, but looked like a lot of fun. Nice areas to park and eat lunch. Well maintained. The road does turn to sand approximately half way in so not suggested for smaller motorcycles.

Great place to stay for the day. Lots of fun. Bring a plastic sled. Best to visit when the weather is around 70-80 degrees.

I ran out of oohs and ahs for this place. Stunning! Spectacular! Amazing! If it’s not already on your bucket list, add it.

Stopped at this place on a cross country road trip so the kiss could go ‘sledding’ down the sand dunes. Had to buy the disks at $25 ea. we had planned to give them to someone else when we left but wound up taking them with us since we had the room. The kids had so much fun. The park itself is very nice. I have a National Park Pass but there was no one at the gate at the time we were there

This is a unique place to go sledding in the desert. You can bring your sled our purchase a disc in the gift shop. There are often free days, but general admission is by the car. Lots of hills to chose from whether you want a baby hill or something where you can get some speed. The backdrop is gorgeous for photos. There is a visitor center to get your National Park stamp. Kids love this place. Make sure to bring plenty of fluid, there is no shade. You will get sand everywhere, and your car will need vacuumed after leaving!

A must see when visiting the area. A little cold in November but still worth it. Also, don't miss the Visitor Center.

This has been on my bucket list since moving to AZ in 1999 and so glad I got to check it off my list. Although I enjoyed my visit, unlike other National Parks it isn't one I have a desire to return to in the future. The dunes are absolutely breathtaking. The road is in great shape. If visiting with kids, stop in the visitor center for a sled saucer and let them have fun on the dunes. If hiking in the dunes make sure to have sunscreen and sunglasses as well as a hat and lots of water to prevent dehydration.

I was here about 10 years ago and it was mid-July. I am not exaggerating when I say it was about 120 degrees in the shade. And it was not like shade was easy to find. So the opportunity presented itself to go back when it was 60 degrees in the sun. Besides the fact that early January equaled very few visitors to the park, but the temperatures were perfect! It is such a unique and beautiful ecosystem and there is a lot to learn about this natural wonder. But it’s also a great place to take your shoes and socks off or grab a sled and really reconnect with nature. And if you are a photographer, the contrasts of the white with the greens, browns, and the blue sky then this is also a wonderful destination. Just be respectful, as we all should be, so that future generations can enjoy what we have.

Amazing. Gorgeous.
Worth the drive
Feel like you’re in another world. Sleds are fun w kids.
Bring sunglasses / hat / sunscreen. It’s so bright

The weather was perfect in March: cool and sunny. The park was not super crowded on a Friday. The views are other-worldly and truly amazing. Be prepared to scamper on the dunes. We saw some people trying to "sled" down but the sand is too sticky and soft for that. Perfect for scampering, though. We walked the Interdune boardwalk (meh, 5/10) and then drove farther and walked through the Dune Nature Trailhead (so beautiful and fun! A little strenuous though, 8/10) and finally parked the car along the side of the road and walked around the pristine white dunes to the right of the road, about 1/4mi past the Nature Trailhead parking lot. That was 10/10. All together we spent about 2-3 hours in the park and had a blast.

Gates open at 7am and we were the second car waiting to get in at 6:55 in late May after an hour drive from Las Cruces. We drove all the way to the end (approx. 15 mins) to go see the Alkali trail which was supposed to have the best dunes and least scrub - it also has the mountains in the background. We have a Mini Cooper and it had no problem driving in the park on the road. Also, there’s pretty much zero chance you’ll have people in your photos for how large the place is and if you go early it’s much cooler. Still bright from the reflection though. None of the dunes are too difficult to climb and we didn’t do the 4.4 mile loop - just went out far enough to get some good photos. We spent an hour at the park and would love to return for actual hiking. If you want to do a significant hikes or do sledding activities definitely add in more time. Overall, a great stop no matter your purpose and one we would absolutely recommend.

Visiting White Sands National Park was a fun and unique experience. It is easy to find dunes to sled down. Our Airbnb rental actually had sleds in the garage, we bought wax at the gift shop entrance. There was an excellent educational video about the dunes, be sure to catch this. We enjoyed shopping for authenticated Native Americans souvenirs. We recommend staying for the sunset!

Imagine if you will, white sand under your toes and it is cool to the touch and does not stick to you at all. No not Hawaii or Florida, this is White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Once you enter the park there is an eight mile road and the further you go, the more white sand and less greenery there is. Yes, it is beautiful, but we cannot give it a five as after a while it all starts looking the same, and this is why they say be careful not to get lost out there! We have family in the area and understand the park is magnificent at sunset so next visit we’ll be sure to stop in around then. Is it worth a visit, yes, of course! But at the end of the day it is a four out of five because truly after a while it does all look the same!

White Sands National Park is an amazing thing. We went as we are checking off National Parks and it is definitely one of our favorites. Although we didn’t slide down the dunes (saucers too pricey $25) it was fun watching others do it. Just a fabulous experience!

Very beautiful Spot! The sand was a gorgeous solid white and the ripples and movement from the wind made it looks so interesting. It was so much fun to walk around and take photos and explore. We purchased a sled and would suggest not doing that. The sleds really don’t move unless your on a veryyyyy steep incline and even then it’s not very exciting. It was very windy and chilly when we went but we still had a lot of fun!

Wow what an incredible experience. You see photos and plenty of them but there is nothing like seeing places for yourself and this was definitely one of them. It’s so white it almost hurts your eyes and you can drive in, park and walk around. The beauty of this NP and the mountains behind it are gorgeous, well worth the effort coming from Australia.

Gorgeous, amazing, and beautiful! Try to choose a clear sunny day to visit, but go early before it gets hot. Once we got out on the dunes there was nothing but white sand dunes and blue sky everywhere we looked; I’ve never seen anything like it. Honestly, it looked like snow.

We saw visitors enjoying the park in many different ways. Some climbed a dune and started sliding down on sleds, and others put up an umbrella and sat underneath it like they were at the beach for the day. If you like to hike, there are a couple of marked trails: Alkali Flat and Backcountry Camping Trail. These are both pretty easy because the dunes aren’t very high and the sand is firm, so your feet don’t sink that much. But keep in mind that once you leave the parking lot it’s easy to get lost on one of these trails, so make sure when you’re walking that you can always see the next marker on the trail. Bring lots of water, and allow for at least an entire morning here.

First time going, staff at the gift shop and visitors center were very polite and friendly.
We rented the sled at the gift shop, you can also buy one if you’d like.
My son who is a toddler LOVED it there till today he still says he wants to go back.
Take lots of water to stay hydrated and be ready for lots of exercise and fun!!

Wow! It is an amazing site to see! We spent the afternoon at the site, purchased sled , and went to the white sands to try it out.

This a a fabulous park. Beautiful scenery, great for families and kids of all ages. Sled rental is available at the visitor center. Ample planking and lots of beautiful hikes.

Amazing - love our national parks. Get there as early as you can because it gets hot. We got the at 7:30. Hike first thing and then head to the back of the park with your sled. Lots of places you stay have sleds you can use.

The trails and boardwalk offered literally nothing to see. A complete dud of a stop -except the bathrooms were clean. There were better photo opportunities from the road.

However, the short movie at the visitors’ center was very nice and very informative which is why I give 5 stars.

Absolutely a must visit for any National Park lover! The pure white sand is beautiful. Make sure to buy a sled at the welcome center and have some fun dune sledding. It's an experience like no other.

A 5 minute hike from the parking lot into the dunes is like transporting yourself to another planet. The vastness of the white dunes is incredible. In an afternoon, we watched the orientation film at the Visitor’s Center (worthwhile), hiked two short trails, drove the length of the park road, and attempted to go sledding on the dunes. In hindsight, we’d skip the sledding—it doesn’t work for adults (too heavy)—and take an additional, longer hike.

There's a decent amount to do within the National Park. The visitor center is small but has a nice, short informative video of the park with some gift shops. The drive was nice through the park and not over crowded. You could spend an entire day or more if you're looking to take it all in. There's the option to go sand sledding but otherwise there are some marked trails (although sometimes not well marked). Enjoyed the time we spent there and definitely a must-visit if you're in the area.

Unique place to visit! Beautiful white sand dunes you can climb up & slide down. Everything is accessible to those just driving through park, but fun is in getting into the sand.

This was a very interesting park on how it was formed, but the best part of it was how the animals that live in this park changed how they look & adapted to the living here!!!

What a wild place! The views are gorgeous. We arrived around 4PM so the sun wasn’t as high, but we beat the sunset crowds. We drove all the way to the top of the loop, as suggested by the rangers. After parking by the trail head, we did one quick hike up the first large dune we saw in order to take pictures. We did not venture far into the park, as we found the trail difficult to spot / follow. Still, we got unobstructed views of endless white dunes. It was lovely! Be sure to bring lots of sunscreen and water, as there is absolutely no shade. There are a few toilets within the park near the road/parking lots, but we didn’t use them.

Before entering the park, we first stopped by the visitors center to get more information and see the gift shop. This is also where you can buy sleds, which we did. They are a bit expensive, I believe it was $20 to buy a used one. You can of course keep the sled. If you return the sled to the gift shop (during operating hours) they give you a coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase. We decided this wasn’t worth it, and just passed our sled to some people entering the park as we were leaving. We had a hard time actually sledding on the dunes, even with the wax they gave us at the shop. I suggest bringing your own sled if you can - the one we got was basically just a garbage can top, so I’m sure there are creative options that would work just as well or even better!

A great stop on a road trip. No you can’t ride on the dunes but it was fun riding our motorcycles to check it out. Lots of people with round toboggans and making a day out of it.

This was a great experience to drive through this conservation monument area; do make sure to do the visitors center's movie first.

Very neat experience. We spent a few hours here and it's really stunning. Not overly crowded either. We opted not to do any of the labeled hikes and instead drove as far back as we could and parked near some big hills. We walked on our own (no real need for hiking trails... just wander). We spent quite a while sledding down the hills and the kids loved it. If you're coming, do not forget your sled, or rent one at the gift shop. Would not be as much fun without it. We wandered for quite a while looking for different hills. Warning though - I got a bit turned around trying to find my car - everything looks the same! We came back for sunset that night as well. The colors were beautiful and we just setup a picnic blanket on top of a sand hill and it was extremely peaceful and quiet. Very easy to find your own spot to watch the sunset.

We bought our national park pass to use across NM. We planned for earlier in the morning as the sun gets really and there is no actual shade. You need, water, sunscreen, hat, snacks. We got sleds from our hotel. The visitor center also has sleds. The visitor center is very informative, it has a movie about the park, junior ranger program, and helpful staff. We drove across the park, it takes about 30 min. We took our sleds near the alkali flat trail and sled down the higher dunes. We hiked across the alkali flats through the marked trails. The mountains in the background make it picturesque. There is a sunset led ranger program at 6:30 pm. During full moon the park is open much later. We walked through the smaller trails and we were done. You need about 2-3 hrs.

We explored the dunes and they were amazing. There was places anyone can walk to. With some walking up the sand you can have amazing views. The volunteer Julie was outstanding. She gave a lot of great info. We did the sunset stroll with Ranger Jasmine and she did a great job and the sunset was amazing. A must visit.

Beautiful place. It almost seems like we are on another planet. We were hoping to sled, and we tried, but it didn't work very well. We even saw other people struggling. We bought sleds and had wax, and it still didn't work well. We had 2 teens with us so maybe it has to do with weight.

We visited White Sands NP and the only downside was the 20 MPH wind blowing that afternoon. OK for driving and viewing and temperature was 61 so not cold. Some blowing sand that challenged our photo ops depending on what direction you were facing.

But this is a gorgeous park with beautiful white sand dunes. Cost is $25 per vehicle for a 7 day pass. We have a USNP annual pass so no charge for us.

From the entrance station which is just off Highway 70 there is an 8 mile drive into the dunes. No issues with the road, I drive a Camry. Partly paved and partly hard packed sand, you really can't tell the difference.

Lovely views of the dunes and you can walk, hike and play on them all you want. No driving on them.

We were fortunate to have also visited about 9 years ago on a non-windy day so we now have both perspectives.

Located just 15 miles west of Alamogordo and well worth checking out.

If ever in New Mexico, this is a must do! It’s really unlike any other experience you’ll have. It’s really a sight to see the never ending white sands first hand. The great thing is that it’s dog friendly if they are on a leash. The sand is never hot so no problem to take your pet even during summer. My dog and I enjoyed the beautiful views. If you can plan your visit around sunset for the most spectacular photos.

Snow or sand? So beautiful! Fun stop on our way through New Mexico. Several places to stop and explore inside the park. It was very bright, even on a cloudy day, so wear shades.

Beautiful National Park! It's cool to walk out on the dunes and see nothing but sand, sky and mountains. I recommend doing the sunset stroll with a ranger.

i was amazed by how beautiful this park is. it is unique. the sand is so white it's like looking at virgin snow in bright sunligh.t. wear a hat and bring lots of water. and if you have a sledding disc bring it to sled down the sand dunes. we only spent an hour here but it was and hour well spent. and the sand wasn't too hot for my dogs to walk on

Great National Park for a day visit. Right on the highway so easy to get to. Great dunes for sledding. Visitor Center is small. Plenty to see without venturing too far into park. Get there early for sunset

White Sand National Park is an amazing site! If you really enjoy miles of white sand, then this is the place for you to visit. They offer camping and other regular park amenities. However, we found the Interdune Boardwalk was not worth the stop, and time would be better spent in the park.

Absolutely Stunning and worth visiting! Easy drive from Las Cruses to get there. A gem in New Mexico to spent your day and stay for a beautiful sunset. Make sure you check the NP website for road closure or park closure before you go.

Visited on 9/19/2023. Very unusual place to visit. Beautiful snow white sand dunes. Very quiet. Sand shimmers at dusk. seems to be a wonder of nature. Gift shop is typical.

My children wanted me to give the park a 1 star and say “Too much sand!” because we picked up a book about idiots 1 staring National Parks and the boys wanted us to be put in a book.

However, there is no way I would 1 star this place. It has awesome views, cool to the touch sand and the sand DOES NOT stick to you like at the beach!!

The staff was friendly and if you do a bit of walking, you will be away from the crowds. We sled down some sand dunes and completed our Junior Ranger badges.

It is pretty impressive to see the largest gypsum sand deposit in the world. 4.5 billion tons!! The NP had a cute little museum and typically NP video.

Pro Tip: Try and bring your own sled. The ones they have at the park are $25 each. If you return a sled, they will give you $5 back!

Had a great time walking the dunes. There’s a short trip you can take with your car or just walk the trails.also the visitor center has a short movie to watch.

This National Park is beautiful all around. I was visiting family in Texas, the drive was worth it! The white sand seemed very peaceful and surreal because I’m only used to seeing white sand beside beaches. Everyone we encountered was smiling and enjoying the vibe. It seemed like every steps led us to astonishing views A lot of professional photographers offer packages amid the beautiful white sand dunes.

It just so happened we went on a day that had a wind advisory so you can imagine what happens to the sand in that case. But it did have it's advantage because it kept us cool and most of the time, we were alone because no one wanted to be sand blasted lol. We wore sunglasses and kept our mouths shut and it really wasn't that bad. This is kind of a one-and-done National Park though ...I can't imagine visiting again unless we were already in the area.

Not enough Time! For the few minutwa we visited, we could not enjoy the park due to the heat advisory...temp was 103, inside duwa were 10 degrees hotter. We did enjoy our brief visit. Will come back again in the Spring.

We really enjoyed visiting White Sands. We bought a sled/wax and had a ball. (Ask for a used sled to save $). We spent a few hours but easily could have spent half a day hiking, climbing and sledding. Bring water as the air is pretty dry and you will definitely work up a sweat. Great selection in the gift shop and everybody we encountered (both employees and visitors) were really nice. Definitely a must see if you are in the area.

This place is a must visit. Pack a luch and enjoy a day of sliding down the sand hills or just taking in the beauty. Pack sunblock because the sun is bright and YOU MUST! I repeat MUST wear sunglasses because it's so bright you'll be squinting the whole time and hurt your eyes without them.

Very nice park to take walks in, They have a very good visitors center and gift shop. I spend about 2 hours walking the dunes.

There are several areas to walk along the sand or boardwalk. You can sled too but we just stuck with walking in the sand. It is cool and does not burn your feet. Hours are limited so plan accordingly.

This is a beautiful natural phenomenon and almost a “wonder of the world”. Worth the $25 per car fee (unless you have a National Park Pass to get in free or are Military). You really just drive in, drive around, have a picnic lunch on the dines or at a shaded shelter, and then leave. The marketing hype about sand-sledding is WAY overrated. They sell you a plastic saucer for $25 to go sledding, but the sand is so deep you really can’t do it even from a high/steep hill. Honestly, this is a total waste of money and time trying to do it. Maybe it’s better after a rain when the sand is harder, but we were there for hours on a hot/dry day and it was jut not possible to slide down any hill with any speed.
VictorB

This was my third visit in forty plus years. It still is an amazing place to see in person. Photos don't do the park justice. I love seeing what I believe are yucca plants growing through the sand. Speaking of seeing, even with good sunglasses we found ourselves squinting in the bright midday sun.
Because of the heat and brightness we didn't do very much exploring on foot. In the past we enjoyed sliding down the dunes in plastic saucers. This time we just climbed a couple of dunes. A very beautiful, bizarre place.

This was our first visit to White Sands. It was beautiful! I’m so glad we added this as a stop on our cross country road trip. We drove the loop trail but did not sled or do any hiking. We are there in Feb which was a wonderful time to visit.

We had a blast! We decided to take a 4 hour detour to do this National park and it was worth it! We hiked the back country camping trail! Loved that we could take our dog on the hike too! He had a blast- I think he thought is was snow! Our kids had a blast sledding and exploring! So unusual and rare!

Loved taking the dunes drive. We got out and climbed different dunes. Next time we will take our horses with us to ride in the dunes.

Think white, bright white, put on your sunglasses white. Miles of white. Gypsum in small grains, held together with groundwater in a great white lake of "sand". When your car leaves the pavement you feel like you're driving on snow. There are several small hikes and one 3 hour hike. One can drive all over the world and not see something like this.

During our vacation in Ruidoso, we decided to take a day trip to White Sands National Park, and the experience was truly beyond words. From the moment you enter the park, it feels as if you’ve been transported to another world—an otherworldly landscape unlike anything I’ve encountered before. The vast expanse of glistening gypsum sand, stretching across the horizon, creates the illusion of snow-covered hills under the summer sun, offering one of the most unique and surreal sights imaginable.

The acoustics of the dunes were astonishing—sounds seem to carry across the sands in a way that’s both mesmerizing and eerie. We also noticed that technology behaves a bit differently in the park. While trying to take family photos using a remote shutter for our camera, we discovered it wouldn’t work properly, and even our car key fob was acting up. It turns out that the remote signals struggle to function in this environment, perhaps due to the unique mineral composition of the dunes or interference with the atmosphere.

The park is steeped in fascinating history, from its formation as part of an ancient sea to its cultural significance to Native American peoples. The visitor center, though quaint, offers an insightful introduction to the area’s geological and historical background. The on-site store is charming, and we couldn’t resist picking up a few souvenirs. They also offer sleds for sale—a must for anyone visiting with kids or those young at heart. We bought one and spent hours sledding down the dunes. It’s an exhilarating yet slightly terrifying experience depending on the size of the dune you choose. Fortunately, there’s a variety of dunes, with gentler slopes perfect for children and steeper, more daring hills for those feeling adventurous.

In addition to sledding, visitors can enjoy hiking, picnicking, and ranger-led programs that explore the park’s unique ecosystem and wildlife. The park is also renowned for its stargazing opportunities, as the remote location and clear desert skies offer some of the best night sky views in the country. For those interested in exploring the surrounding area, the nearby town of Alamogordo offers attractions like the New Mexico Museum of Space History and White Sands Missile Range, which delves into the region’s role in space exploration and military history.

White Sands is, without a doubt, a bucket-list destination. The blend of natural beauty, history, and adventure makes it an unforgettable experience, and I am so glad we made the trip. Whether you’re seeking thrills on the dunes, a quiet hike through the surreal landscape, or simply looking to marvel at one of nature’s true wonders, White Sands National Park is a must-visit.

It’s surreal and needs to be experienced . For those familiar with snow, that’s what it looks and feels like , going from a desert to surrounded by white. At the heart of it, drifts can be 40 feet and quite a workout to climb. Many there go with snow sleds and slide down the drifts. Well worth seeing.

I had long wanted to visit. It is very interesting. We didn’t sled because it began to rain but we enjoyed the boardwalk between the dunes. Be sure to bring water.

Awesome experience! Once you get deep into the dunes, all you see is white all over! You can go out onto the sand and explore, or stick to the picnic areas. Sliding down the sand on the boards is a bit of a challenge, but doable. Other than that, not much to actually do, but hike and enjoy the scenery. Sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen are a must!

Fun to see folks "sledding" in the snow! Beautiful scenery! This is a sand sculpture paradise! Many unique sand formations! Worth the visit!

Great experience. Fun for all the family. Long walks, sledding, and beautiful scenery. We discovered by accident but made lasting memories.

Three and a half hour drive from Albuquerque. Pretty easy, if boring, drive. Stayed in Alamogordo, about 15 minutes from the park. Not much “hiking” to do as in other NPs, more about appreciating the scenery. Beautiful views of dunes the further into the park you go. Sunset was striking from the dunes. Did some sand sledding (the local hotels usually have sleds you can borrow). Not much wildlife to see, just saw a few lizards and some bugs. If you hand out in the vegetative area at the edge of the park you may see more. Probably need a half to a full day at most here.

My wife and I enjoyed a short detour to White Sands NP while traveling from Tucson AZ to Amarillo TX - a great place to stretch the legs a bit while on a 700+ drive. The gypsum dunes are the largest in the world. We have an annual military NPS pass, therefore we didn't have to pay the $25 fee to enter the monument. If the national park service tiered its many parks/forests/monuments, I wouldn't place this equal to Denali National Park, or Yellowstone, or Yosemite - but from a purely geological perspective and the rarity of such large gypsum dunes, White Sands is definitely worth the visit when you're in the area.

I didn't know what to expect, but I found White Sands mesmerizing: the expanse, the dunes, the spectacular sunsets. Be aware that hiking is much more challenging than you might expect over the dunes. We frequently hike 6 - 8 miles and thought the 4.5 Alkali Trail would not be challenging. First, the 7:00 to 8:15 missile closure lasted until 9:30. Thus, it was 9:50 before we began hiking, which meant higher heat and sun intensity. This, combined with dry air, resulted in much faster heat exhaustion. We hike high ascents in Western NC, but hiking 50'+ sand dunes is far more exhausting. Thus, we turned around 1.5 miles into the hike. Sliding the dunes is a blast, even though it requires climbing a dune each time. Scout out the best dunes (steep, east facing) away from the road. We found a fantastic dune on the left at 1/4 mile up the Alkali Trail. Check with your hotel for free sliding saucers. Holiday Inn Express loaned us 2 saucers + wax at no cost. Unless you're interested in the talk, skip the Sunset Tour. There are far better locations to view the sunset.

Wonderful national park. A very surreal landscape. Like nothing we have ever experienced before. You can even rent sleds to slide down the dunes. The landscape is not powdery however and sledding is slow and pretty much safe, although there are safety warnings that should be observed. It’s well worth a visit to see one of the most unique places on Earth.

Have not been to White Sands in 20 years. My hubby has never been so since we were staying in Roswell we figured we should drive down with Orion. It was a gorgeous day out; although hot once you got to the dunes. At the visitor center expect it to be crazy busy because it is. Driving through the dunes it was not crowded at all. We got out and let Orion walk about; with his leash of course. Make sure you wear sunscreen or wear a hat and bring water for sure. It was a great adventure!

white sands is a natural wonder of how gypsum with winds can create these white sands. the visitor center restrooms weren’t open as there was plumbing issues and the park ranger mentioned it would be months before they fix it. there are other restroom stops along the route to the different scenic areas within white sands. visitor center had bookshop inside and outside they set up a movie area showing you more about white sands. the rangers were super helpful and provided maps. i only spent 40 minutes at white sands as the major activity is to go sledding and hiking but given how hot it was i didn’t want to get heat exhaustion so did a 1 mile walk and came right back to my car.

Breathtaking!

Ps.the gift shop is a concession- everything is extremely expensive and staff is awful

The park is wonderful and leave you speechless.
Make sure to bring lots of water bc the white sand literally cooks you while you’re walking.

I did the 5mile loop trail called Alkali flat - which is NOT FLAT. I almost got lost but then found myself. It was a great experience, different from everything I had done till this day.

We visited this park before our drive home to Texas. The park is just southwest of Alamogordo, New Mexico and not far from Holman Air Force Base. There is a visitor's center near the main entry road. The center had a small display explaining about the park and how the sand dunes came to be. The staff was helpful. You don't pay for entry to the park here, though. That is done just a bit farther into the park and a drive up kiosk. One thing we did before leaving the visitor's center was use the public restrooms. I am taking of a star for this review because these were some of the worst restrooms my wife and I have ever used and an embarrassment to the NPS! Not only were they not clean but the urinals had been removed from the walls with pipes left sticking out. The paint on the walls and doors was in bad shape. Honestly, I have been in better public restrooms in rural India and China that had more to offer than these.

Once inside the park you drive the main road in and it eventually forms into a big loupe road. There are different areas to park, the don't want you just stopping on the road but only in the parking areas. There is a section that is off limits to visitors due to an air force jet crashing there earlier this year but it is well marked with yellow tape.

We parked at the parking lot at the far north end and went out hiking on the Alkali Flats trail in search of places for pictures. Very pretty but if you want to find sand dunes without foot prints you have to hike out quite a distance from the main trail. We did and took some nice sunset pictures and then hiked back. Luckily they mark the trail with tall red stakes within sight of each other so you have pretty clear idea of how to get back to the car.

Last week I visited the White Sands National Monument with my aunt and her boyfriend and we had a great time exploring some of the dunes! It was so cool to see how white the sands were, almost like snow!
It was a perfect day and time of year to visit, not too hot and not too cold:)
I would definitely recommend checking it out if you are in the area! One of the few places on earth to see white gypsum sand!

This is the absolute best place to stop and visit! Especially if you have kids. The staff was great, and the dunes, well they were simply amazing! My nephews, 15 and 16 loved the dunes and wanted to stay longer. The sunset was beautiful, dunes, well, white! There were fewer guests in the morning, and it is well worth taking a detour to see this magnificent creation on Earth. The sleds, although, we did get one, were probably not worth the cost unless you have small children. My teen nephews preferred to jump off the dunes. We ended up giving the sled I purchased to a mother with a group of small children. They were much appreciated as they did not purchase one. Definitely, take a look at the dunes with kids, 10-17 before purchasing a sled.

My friends and I spent a couple of hours driving through the dunes here. Before that, we benefitted from watching the informative video in the Visitors' Center. Be advised, though, that sledding on the dunes isn't as easy as it looks. Sleds don't slide on sand as easily as they do on snow. Also, if it's a windy day you may not enjoy spending much time outside your car.

This is such a magical place. We went back for two days in a row. When you enter, know that the really big dunes are at the back of the park. We saw many people stop as soon as they came in where the dunes are not very large and covered in vegetation. It is helpful to bring plastic sleds or discs
with you. Big 5 Sports in Alamogordo across from their mall has a good supply. Don't count on being able to rent them at the visitors center.

Another awesome US National Park. Located 90 minutes from El Paso White Sands National Park is an amazing place. Hiking on the dunes is great. I recommend doing it bare foot. Also don't miss the sunset.

Any national park is a worth while visit to stand on top is a dune and see undeveloped country for miles around was amazing.

Drove here during a visit to El Paso. About an 1:45 minute drive and thought it was well worth it. Drove the entire trail, didn't have the shoes to get out and walk much but did get out at the Dune Life Nature Trail. If you go right to the top of the highest dunes you will get an incredible view of the park and surrounding area. Absolutely breathtaking and it made the whole trip worthwhile.

There are not enough words to describe
The natural Beauty of this amazing park. We did the Dune Hike and the boardwalk. It was so cool to see kids sledding in the sand. Truly a national treasure!

Absolutely worth the travel
It was worth the 3-hour drive from ABQ and staying overnight. Absolutely spectacular. One of my favorite tourists’ things I have done in quiet a while. When you are in the middle of the dines it is just blinding white.
We stayed in Alamogordo overnight and got to the visitor center when it opened. Visitor Center is small but explains everything pretty well. Then we spent about 2 hours in the part. Did the 16-mile drive, a 2-mile hike and another shorter hike. I think it would be worth while to do a sunset tour as well and I saw that they do horse riding over the dunes.
We were one of the first to do the 2-mile hike that morning and I loved that the dunes didn’t have a whole lot of prints on them. Overall a glorious morning.

Remarkable park. Make sure you stop in the visitors center and watch the short film and then proceed into the park and just take in all the beautiful scenery. There are plenty of picnic spots, so take your lunch with you. Also, have at least one gallon of water per person if you plan to hike any of the trails.

This place was really amazing. Unlike any place I've ever been! Plan at least a couple hours for the drive with a few stops to walk the dunes.

Great place for some amazing pictures, esp. at sunset. Go all of the way to the back of the park for the best dunes. It is also very quiet back there. If you are there for the sunset view and want one with no one else in the picture, pick a dune farther from the parking area and get there 30 minutes before sundown. The more adventurous who want to slide down the dunes can buy a round sled at the visitor center - those I saw try it had mixed results, but maybe worth a try.

White sand as far as you can see. Perfect for my toddler who loved sliding down the sand dunes. The weather was cool so we walked around barefoot and the cold sand felt great! Definitely going back!

It's a small park but really a unique and beautiful place. There's little sleds to slide down the hills. Can be out of the way but something I'll never forget seeing. Plus it's really close to a hot spring town called Truth or Consequences.

I have traveled considerably but this is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.
I had figured that a lot of the photos I had seen of White Sands were photoshopped but no, it really is that incredible.
In summer you want to arrive right when the park opens at 7am as it gets very hot, very fast and bring plenty of water as the gift shop does not open until 9 so there isn't any available for purchase.
I recommend bringing a wide brimmed house because the double whammy of not only the sun but it sparkling off the sand is intense.

Don't miss this gem. First, it is a beautiful place. There are several really fun hiking trails, very dog friendly. Rent a sled from the visitors center for $20, you get back $5 in merchandise when return it. You should try sledding the dunes. Definity a place to visit.

When we were planning to check out the UNM college, my friends recommended the white sands national park as a 'must visit' spot , if you are in New Mexico. So we planned half a day there. We reached around Noon time and this place is magical. We rented the board for sledding in the office and started driving through the park. Office will be closed before you come back in the evening, So please purchase souvenirs before you start your drive. We were glad we visited that place. Stopped by some dunes and kids had a blast doing the sledding. Only regret was I couldnt stay there for sunset ,as I had my hotel booked at Albuquerque. Please stay for sunset if possible. Highly recommend this place if you are in New Mexico. Nearby missile test site was closed so couldnt visit the place during my trip.

We had a blast! We dropped by the visitor center one afternoon to pick up sleds and get some tips for the following morning. Even though it was super crowded, the ranger was very friendly and patient. She suggested we come the next day at 7am when the gates opened. That’s what we did. We saw a beautiful sunrise, had fun sledding and exploring … without another soul in sight for quite a while.

Most beautiful trip. My family is begging to do New Mexico, yearly. What an amazing time to be here; June and it’s not hot at all. Kids ran up and slid down the dunes; the wildlife is amazing, too!!

It’s a very cool National Park - very peculiar in the middle of Alamogordo, NM. Nice hikes - nothing too strenuous for us in our 60s; easy for the 20somethings with us. Do not pay $23 for the park sleds. We went to Walmart first and paid $6 for the same sled. And, I suspect the sledding is really meant for little kids. We all got stuck in the sand, no matter how steep or packed the dune was. We are used to snow sledding/skiing/tubing. This was not that. Enjoyed our day there. We left from there to go to Carlsbad Caverns NP and Guadalupe Mountains NP.

Very unique dunes! We were surprised you can really walk anywhere in the dunes ( be careful not to get lost, since the dunes shift & it may be hard to find trail markers). We had our 3 dogs & it was fun to have them run up & down the dunes, since the sand doesn’t get hot, even in the 98° temperature we had before 11am. There are bathrooms and covered picnic tables in areas. The 1st 1 mile hike is suggested. The boardwalk was a short stroll. It gets super hot so bring plenty of water… especially for your dog, since they need it almost immediately. There were some people using saucers down the hills, but the hills were pretty short. Beautiful & unique gypsum dunes- largest in the US!

Long drive (over 3 1/2 hours one way from Albuquerque) but well worth it! The white sands are a stunner. We stayed for 3 hours. Started at the visitor center for a short film about the terrain and browsed the souvenir shop. Took the Dune Life Nature Trail which is a 1 mile loop hike. And then drove the loop - where the sands were even whiter and the dunes were even more pristine. Visually stunning. But beware- very hot - wear sunscreen, a hat and bring water! We went from 11-2 and it was baking at 95 degrees. We did not sled (can buy but not rent one at the visitor center) - but imagine it could be fun for kids. Went on a Monday in late August and it was not crowded. Highly recommend!

Outstanding National Park - beautiful, scenic and full of history and life!! We were there in July - a little toasty - would recommend getting out early before the heat of the day. The visitor center was informative and the park ranger and staff were very helpful! The gift shop was well stocked and reasonably priced. We did the shortish dune life nature trail - took about an hour. It was well marked and walking thru the sand was fun. Bring lots of water, sunscreen and a hat! then drove back to the picnic area to watch the sand boarders and eat lunch. A very pleasant way to spend a half day!!

Such a unique area! It is worth the effort to see and explore. The White Sands dunes area offers numerous opportunities to walk/hike. Be warned that the hikes are hot during the summer and NO SHADE. Take more water than you think, plus some energy bars. We hiked the Backcountry Trail. Sledding down the dunes was a neat experience, but you have the climb a dune on loose sand, which can be exhausting. Visitors Center rents plastic saucer sleds for $15 or purchase for $25. You can turn in a purchased sled for some cash back to use in the visitors center. We opted to buy the same sleds at Dick's Sporting Goods in Las Cruces ($15) and then sold ours to another family for $10. You definitely need the wax from the visitors center ($3) to rub on the bottom of the sled. WSNP picnic areas are plentiful and shaded. Overall, it was a great visit.

It is worth the visit, if it is on your way. Wouldn’t have to drive all the way there just to visit this area honestly. Maybe after seeing some other amazing places like Badlands, this was just ok for us. We stopped by this place after we visited Carlsbad and we were on our way to Albuquerque , so it may sence to drive to White Sand National Park. Beem there Done that😊

An amazing experience of any age! It is a must visit! We ended up buying the sled because I did not want to wait in the line to return. It was worth it and supports the park.

Okay, truth moment…the saucers were $25.99 each, the wax was $4.99. If you get there early enough to buy used sleds, you can get one for $16.99.

A little steep but still worth it. The sledding was a bit harder than anticipated but still a lot of fun. The hiking is great. The sand…omg! So awesome. Be forewarned that the sun is a lot more intense than you think it might be.

Super happy we made it to this National Park!

08/30/2023 It was so bright and hot, but it was cool to go here again after so many years. I would recommend it.

White Sands National Park is unlike any other national park site we have visited. It is easily accessible from the highway. You can drive through the park on most days. We did have some restrictions due to a fuel spill on the grounds. You can park at different trailheads and take in these amazing white dunes. You can walk out into the dunes for as far or as near as you want to venture. The park has a nice gift shop and museum place at the entrance with accessible restrooms. This is such an incredible site. Stop if you are driving by or make this a destination when you are in the area.

can't believe that white sands all over the place actually exist and the whole place is unbelievable. worth the visit and better bring some medicines if you are allergic to dust .

It was too sandy, and they gave me a ticket for going 30 in a 10 mph zone, pathetic. The bathrooms smelled like someone threw up and farted non-stop. This is a -10/10. Never going back, they should've made a water park out of this.

AH-MAZE-ING!! We had time before our flight out of El Paso so we decided to check this park out and I'm so glad we did! The sand is so beautiful and so unique. AND so cool ~ (literally!)! We didn't get to sled down the dunes but we watched quite a few people do it! There was a pretty good hike that we wanted to do but didn't have time ~ If you're a hiker I'd definitely look into that!

We stopped her on a whim and I am so glad we did! This place is so beautiful! It was a slightly chilly day but the sun on the sand made it the perfect temperature.

Dunes for as far as the eye can see. So glad they made this a National Park in 2019!!!

I was a bit on the fence about going here, The 4 hour drive each way from Santa fe and to Alburqueque through the middle of nowehere was a thought before I went, but I decided to go and WOW , it was totally worth the drive. This place is surreal and totally worth a trip alone to New Mexico. This place sort of looks like Tatooine and something you cant imagine unless you go there and experience the place. You gotta go to this place

Beautiful! Just miles and miles of gorgeous ….white sand!!!! We enjoyed a sunset stroll led by a ranger who provided lots of great info about the dunes, the animals who live there, the geology of the park, etc. And of course, the sunset was beyond gorgeous!
We did several of the hikes, which are quite different from normal hiking - i.e. NO trails! Here, you are looking for various colored stakes in the sand, and you hike from one stake to the next. At first, it felt a bit like a scavenger hunt to find the next stake and then the next, but we got the hang of it fairly quickly. The park rule is - if you can’t see the next stake, DON’T continue! Due to the winds and the shifting of the sand and the dunes, stakes are often knocked down or covered up. Fortunately, our hikes worked out well, and it is also helpful to see other ppl ahead of you, which makes it easy to know if you are going in the right direction.
I deducted one star from my review of the park because we wasted 1/2 day or more driving out to the Salt Basin Dunes portion of the park. That was a HUGE disappointment and time waster. There’s just not anything to see, and it is super remote. Save your time and do more of the hikes or sledding in the main part of the park. All in all, like all of our amazing National Parks, White Sands is definitely worth visiting!

This is a beautiful place and great stop if you are driving through. It was a little expensive for basically a drive in and short hike. If you are specifically planning a trip here, I'd recommend cooler months. Consider it a hike on a beach when considering footwear.

We stopped here briefly on Dec. 26 on our way to see Carlsbad Caverns the next day. The small parking lot in front of the Visitor’s Center was very congested; after leaving there, we saw that there was an additional parking lot just behind the Visitor’s Center, so if it’s crowded, you can go straight there for a spot. The Visitor’s Center had some exhibits, a 17-minute orientation video, and 2 separate gift stores. The restrooms outside the Visitor’s Center were quite bad—small and in poor condition. Since they charge $25 per car at this park, they should have sufficient funds to upgrade the restrooms!

After leaving the Visitor’s Center, we drove down the Dunes Drive to the Interdune Boardwalk, where there is a separate large parking area. You can walk a half mile on this level elevated walkway for some nice views. We did not drive farther down or walk out on the dunes at all. We spent about an hour at this site. It’s interesting to see the unusual landscape here, but in our view, it wouldn’t be worth going out of the way to see it. (We have a Senior Lifetime Pass, so our visit was free.)

We visited White Sands National Park in February 2025. We arrived just after it opened and early enough that the visitors center was not yet open. We drove in as far as we could, did the Alkali Flat Trail hike, and then hit up the visitor center on the way back out. We loved White Sands National Park! It's so unique and picturesque. You'll get great photos while hiking!

Absolutely loved this park. We did the ranger sunset stroll at 5pm. Very informative- really set up the remaining visits to Carlsbad Caverns & Guadalupe National Park in terms of understanding the geology of the area (even in the Living Zoo in Carlsbad we saw interpretive signs about gypsum). We ended the stroll on a dune that provided the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset. The next day we arrived at 9 to collect our used sleds and did some sand sledding which provided lots of laughs. The dunes are spectacularly beautiful and the park an unexpected gem.

Located in southern New Mexico, White Sands National Park may be the most unique park in the entire National Park Service, as it is the only place in the United States where you can find the beautiful white gypsum sand dunes you see here. It is about 52 mi/84 km northeast of the city of Las Cruces (where my wife and I spent the previous night) and about 16 mi/26 km southwest of Alamogordo.

White Sands National Park is one of those of those parks where (should you have a limited amount of time) you can see the essentials by traveling along the main park road. My wife and I only had about a half day to visit and felt we got a good feel for the park, but it takes occasionally getting out of your car to get an up-close view of this amazing phenomenon.

If you only have a half day, we would recommend stopping at the Visitors Center to get your bearings, taking a stroll along the Interdune Boardwalk (which is fully accessible), and stopping at many of the pull-outs where you can take in the vistas, take photos and reflect on how truly unique it is and how fortunate you are to be able to see it. And, if you’re physically able, climb one of the sand dunes – it’s a lot of fun. Be sure to stop at the Visitor Center on your way out to shake the sand out of your shoes and car mats.

If you’re anywhere near the area, we strongly recommend you make the effort to visit White Sands National Park – you don’t necessarily need to take a lot of time to see sights that you will never forget.

I’ve been to White Sands national Park in the past and it’s always been a pleasure. There’s a lot of good trails to explore in the fuse are outstanding. It was such a pleasure to go here

Amazing park. Love National Parks. White Sands for miles. Check out the introduction movie at the visitor center. Great info on area. There were a couple stops closed, but the heat was pretty intense on our visit, so not a big deal. Temps at 100 and with sun beating down and reflecting off sand, not a great hiking day. Individual covered picnic areas a real plus. Really worth the stop.

From a distance it doesn’t look like much, but the drive takes you into the heart of what seems like an alien landscape of endless bright white dunes. Stunning.

When we went it was overcast, but still very bright - take sunglasses even if (like me) you almost never need them. Pay attention to the warnings if it’s hot - take plenty of water and don’t wander too far without preparing. You can lose your bearings very easily and get lost. This endless sameness makes them amazing, but potentially dangerous.

We stopped at the visitor center and then drove to the end of the road. We spent about 3 hours in the park and did a couple of short hikes. We recommend the Dune Life Nature trail as the 1 mile loop gives you a great overview of the dune vegetation as well as the opportunity to see numerous animal tracks in the sand. We also enjoyed a picnic lunch under a covered table. Overall White Sands exceeded our expectations as we found the landscape to be quite striking and captivating. We would definitely recommend stopping here for at least a short visit.

My husband and I went thinking we would spend a couple of hours and be gone. Nope! We drove the whole thing, walked the boardwalk (great into to the plants), picked a hill not being used by sledders, visited the nature trail, and stopped by the gift shop on the way out. We had the best time! In Dec the weather was sunny, 45-52°, no wind. T-shirts and pants were perfect. DEFINITELY wear sunglasses, sunscreen, and have plenty of water. We loved White Sands!

White Sands is a National park like no other. The sand is so fine it’s almost like powder. The further you drive into the park the gypsum sand dunes get higher and whiter. You can hike and climb the dunes and you can sled down the dunes. It’s well worth the trek to see this incredible place.

Much smaller than we expected but beautiful nonetheless. We climbed one dune and did the scenic drive and were done in less than an hour. We enjoyed Great Sand Dunes NP more. Rangers were friendly and there is a nice, but pricey, gift shop.

This place did not disappoint. Excellent photo opportunities, fantastic fun playing on the sand. Wish the sleds they sell were the longish, not round ones, I think those would go better.

Even with the park close past mile marker three (3) it was worth the time to visit and explore a little. Be sure to check the website prior to visiting. The park had limited access because the Air Force lost a F-16 in the area and recovery of the debris meant that we couldn't go to the end of the 8 mile loop. We did get to walk out to the dunes and explore this "one of a kind" place on our planet. Even on a fairly cool afternoon (90 degrees F) it was blazing hot and water is essential. Be sure to stop in the visitor center, watch the 17 minute video about the park, then fill up your water bottle.

This place is SO crowded. Would have loved to get more pictures of undisturbed sand, but there are so many folks out there, there's very little area without people and/or footprints. The line to get through the entrance gate was reeeeally long and it wasn't even a weekend! Feel like this could be better.

We drove around and this part is really nice. To see all those hislls full of white sand was really remarkable. We enjoyed this alot.

Amazing site with the vast sand dunes. However, it is very popular so the crowds and parking can be challenging. Some of the parking areas were closed as well. Best to just drive into the site, park and go for a walk.

Absolutely beautiful gem of a park! The ranger working Tuesday 6/25 was very nice and helpful. The gift shop for NPS is desperate from gift shop on premise. There are no sleds to rent. The price is 24.99 at gift shop. The gift shop also claims the will give 5.00 or a magnet. It even has it on the counter. But, the girl working said they were old signs ! Buyer Beware! I purchase from NPS store a magnet only, and begrudgingly paid for a sled at other shop. Don't get fooled! The website states there are rentals, there would be no such thing. Bring water! Bring a hat, and sunscreen. Pay attention to the website, when there is a missile test. We got there early, and waited two hours and twenty minutes! But, I made friends and watched Tourons pull on the door that said nine! Also, a gem comment was can we walk in if the gates closed ? Even though it says missile test? SMH! I told her, if ya wanna die or have federal charges! Lol Do go, and read website before!

We spent a few hours exploring White Sands National Park with our dog. Several shorter trails (.5 miles to 1-2 miles) and a longer trail of approx 5 miles. There is an approx 8 mile driving loop trail which takes you through the park.

Sleds can be purchased for $20 new or $16 used. We have a sled we brought with us from when we visited Monahan Sand Dunes in Texas. Helpful hints for sledding:

1. Cooking spray or WD 40 to grease your sled! They also sell bars o sled wax in the gift shop for $3.

2. Find a sled path where others have sled down previously. Blazing your own new sled trail will take much longer!

Be sure and ask about the Jr. Ranger program for kids. You can get the activity book in the visitors center OR print out at home prior to arrival. Kids earn a badge/pin for completing.

They also offer the National Bark Ranger program for dogs. Not many National Parks offer this for the dogs. This park requires you to buy the Bark Ranger tag (optional) for $5. We recently visited Gulf Islands National Park and the Bark Ranger badge was free. You could always ask for the kids wooden badge/pin instead and that is free. We did both.....bought the Bark Ranger tag for his collar and asked for the free badge to put on his scarf with his other park pins.

They offer a sunset stroll with the Park Ranger. We had planned to stay for that, but didn't want to wait around for 90 more minutes. A couple of hours was all that was needed. We walked all the trails except the 5 mile trail.

There is not much out by the park. Be gassed up, have food, water, etc.....

Worth a visit!

We arrived on a cloudy,rainy day. It is something to see briefly. We drove through the park and saw alot of sand dunes! If you've seen sand dunes before its not that impressive. It was drizzly rain. We tried to sled the dunes with not much luck. I don't know if it was because the dunes were wet but there was not much sliding for us or anyone else. As we were leaving, the rain stopped and we saw a beautiful rainbow but we had seen enough after about an hour. Would I visit again? Probably not.

I went to New Mexico mainly for this park, but I must say that it was a big disappointment, the first impact is beautiful, you see a white desert, instead of the usual greyish red color, but then you do the 26 kilometer loop and you only see and only white sand, you do a bit of trekking and always and only white sand, very monotonous, I prefer other parks that offer much more variety of landscapes such as for example. the Bryce

White Sands is beautiful and lots of fun for sledding (rentals at gift shop). Bring plenty of water or fill your bottles at the visitor center. Also, must haves are sunblock, sunglasses (the glare from the bright white sand was very bothersome to my out of town guests), an umbrella for shade while hiking, and a wide brimmed hat.
Please be aware that summer time temperatures can be extreme and people have died due to heat stroke and lack of water. The sands are quite reflective. Bikinis and sleeveless clothing are not appropriate for long hikes (sunblock and a sturdy umbrella, folks). Also tunneling in the sand is very dangerous, so please keep a close eye on the kids.
I find the best time of year to go is not the hot summer months. This is an extreme environment. Plan carefully and be safe if you are planning a summer visit.

The road that forms a ring inside the park (just be careful that it is not raining because it can be flat and is mostly built on sand) already offers numerous views and short walks to admire this particular park.
It is recommended to visit it early in the morning or just before sunset because it is at its best with the light during these hours (plus you save yourself from the scorching summer heat).
Be careful to check the closures of the park in case of missile tests as you are on the border with a firing range.

Brought a family member here just because it was on our way to our destination. Next time, I will bring a picnic basket, an umbrella, and tools to make a sand castle. It was a beautiful location for pictures and there's lots to explore. Totally worth the $25 park fee!

The mind fairly boggles when first seeing the VAST expanse of brilliant white sands stretch before you seemingly forever. Sleds can be rented for a ride down the dunes, but anything you used in the snow in winter is likely to work fine. Note - the sun REFLECTS from below, so if you don't have sunscreen under your chin, put some there.

The visit to the park was memorable enough that my wife and I returned the next day to swing through the park for an additional hour on a much quieter Monday, to visit sections of the park that we didn't get to visit during our visit the day prior, when we spent three and a half hours inside the park. On the second day, I found plenty of beautiful examples of the wavy sand that is shown in so many pictures highlighting the park, which was great to see, along with sliding down the hill a few times with a sledding saucer on our first day. A great park, certainly worthy of a visit.

Having visited nearly 30 national parks, this park would be among my top 10.

In terms of booking things, we simply went to the visitor center which is right at the entrance, rented a sledding saucer and then drove into the park. Very easy. The road was easy to travel on, especially the first five miles, which are paved. After that, I drove about 20-25 miles on the road that is packed gypsum sand.

The only disappointment was that the boardwalk stop was closed, and has been closed for the past year (since 4/30/24), for what sounds was a crash by an F-16 in the area (maybe they shouldn't be flying over the park, but I digress ...)

In terms of costs, I found the entrance into the park was very reasonable, $25, which allowed one to visit at no additional cost for an additional three days.

You need to stop at the visitor center. The movie is very informative on how and why the white sand is there, although I did not like how it confused evolution with adaptation. They are 2 totally different things. The visitor center and the gift shop are well stocked with gifts to buy. There was a part of the park (mile 3 - 5.5) that you could only drive through and not get out, but there are plenty of other areas to exit and explore. The farther you drive into the park the whiter the sand gets and the more blinding it gets. Make sure to wear good sunglasses. It was very windy the day we were there. We were wanting to do the Sunset Stroll, but it was canceled due to winds. We tried sledding, but weren’t very successful with it. We hope to be able to go back for the Sunset Stroll this week. You will need to use hiking poles on some of the trails if you have any knee or hip issues.

Particularly unfortunate to be unable to access because of a plane crash that occurred a while ago and without any particular explanation.

Great time of year to go! We went to watch the sunset on Indigenous People’s Day to watch the sunset. It was a bit crowded as it was a Holiday aces there was a free concert. That being said there was still plenty of parking to watch the sunset and full moon rise. The park says open later on summer nights with full moms. Check the parks website to see details.
We went back the next morning to see the dunes during the day. The park was not crowded at all, loved that we could bring our dog! The visitor center was amazing!

Huge white sand, barefoot, you feel like children in a large square of soft sand. Beautiful sites of Picnic. It's quite windy, no shade so bring a hat, plenty of water and sunscreen.
For the slide, I was rather disappointed, no rental after 3:00 pm and rather expensive, $25 to buy.

Absolutely stunning. Best place on earth!! So serene and simply beautiful. The walks are fun but better go in the evening for sunset views.

Located just outside Alamogordo is this unique National Park. When driving into the park, it almost feels like another planet. The area looks like snowcovered hills. The "sand" is not sand at all, and, unlike sand, does not get hot in the sun. We were able to go on the one hour, ranger-led sunset tour. If you are there at that part of the day, it is well worth your time. You just need to show up at the designated parking lot (there is a sign at the parking lot about 5 miles from the entrance) before the tour begins. There is no reservation required. Don't miss this gem of a National Park.

This is a must see in a life time! Give yourself a good day or even two to get everything out of this National Park. Great photo ops. This place is a gem!

Surreal and wonderful hike. We visited the park both at sunset, not to be missed, and in the morning to walk the Alkali flat trail. The view is wonderful and unique with white dunes as far as the eye can see. Absolutely necessary to bring sunglasses, because white reverberates a lot of light, sunscreen and hat. Obviously at least 2 liters of water each. We walked the Alkaki in July starting at 9am. It's doable but challenging, far from "flat", but wonderful!

The sands were stunning to see in real life! It is very bright when you get out there, so bright that I would suggest bringing sunglasses. There was signs describing some of the plants in the area. There was a penny press for souveniers!! They charge like 15 dollars at the gate and that grants access to the park for the day. At some points you can see vast deserts with mountains in the background.. Explore the different parking lots they have along the path. We only went for a couple hours but wish we had more time.

It has an amazing, stark beauty. There were many children sliding on the hills. There is a boardwalk or trails you can walk out on the dunes. Make sure you have water and sun protection! There is a water spigot at the visitors center.

Someone who can do a white sand tour from the pass 🙏 I go in April and I want to meet I have looked for a tour because I will not rent a car and I can not find any tour from the
Step to white sand

It was impressive to see the dunes made of gypsum and to learn about their life cycles. We learned about how plants and animals have adapted to the site's unique environment. As well as how Native Americans used the sites natural resources. My only negative was that the nature trail was not well marked.

After a long drive from Tombstone (AZ), we spent a couple of hours in the park early afternoon. It was pretty hot (mid August) and you need hat, sunglasses, water. We drove the whole loop and we had fun with sled in some spot (we bought sled at visitor center, you can give it back and they return some cash). One of the highlights of our Southwest trip.

We did the five mile hike up over and around the dunes. Definitely start early since there is NO shade. Tricky getting up some of the dunes but kind of fun going down. Bring plenty of water. A neat place to see and to take photographs.

White Sands felt like stepping onto another planet — and I mean that in the best way. This place is unreal. Miles of bright white gypsum dunes stretch out in every direction, glowing under the sun and shifting with the wind. It’s peaceful, surreal, and honestly kind of emotional once you’re out there in the quiet.

Despite its otherworldly look, it’s incredibly accessible. You can drive through the park with plenty of pull-offs for short hikes, sand sledding, or just wandering out into the soft dunes. And scattered throughout the visitor areas are these metal awnings — super well-built picnic structures with shade, tables, and nearby parking. They’re perfect for hanging out, eating lunch, or just taking a break from the sun without needing to fully leave the area. Total road trip win.

It’s pet-friendly too, which was a huge plus — Barb(my cat) handled it like a champ (though I definitely recommend early morning or evening visits for cooler temps if you’ve got an animal or just want to avoid the burn).

There’s real history here too — the dunes sit on land with deep Indigenous and military significance. The visitor center gives solid background on the geology, ecosystem, and cultural relevance of the area. It adds a layer of meaning to what might otherwise just feel like a giant sand playground.

What stood out most to me was the vibe: calming, quiet, vast. It’s not loud nature — it’s introspective nature. You can hike a little or a lot, sit and reflect, or just take in the silence. And it’s beautiful at literally any hour, but especially at golden hour or under a full moon if you catch the right timing.

Ps bring sunblock, just like being at the beach or on a snow covered mountain the UV rays will get ya! Stay safe and enjoy.

My husband and I visited White Sands National Park this summer, and loved every minute of our visit. The landscape is stunning. We went early in the morning because we knew it would get really hot fast, so we tried to arrive by 8am. We specifically wanted to hike the Back Country Camping Trail so we drove straight there. We were glad it was only 78 degrees when we struck out from the parking lot. The trail was pretty easy, though there are several places where you have to climb up or down a dune. We had the trail to ourselves, except for one other (younger) couple. Several of the trail markers were knocked/blown over, but the other couple found them and stood them back up as best as they could; we were grateful to have other hikers around us. Once you're on the trail, you cannot see the parking lot, and it would be very easy to get lost without the trail markers. But the views were amazing; the photos we took DO NOT do it justice. My recommendation is to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. We hiked the other, shorter trails, but it was getting too hot, so we drove an hour to Las Cruces for lunch. White Sands is such an extraordinary place. We loved our visit!

Welcome to White Sands National Park, New Mexico. I am not kidding when I say the sand is pure white, soft as powder and sparkles like diamonds. It will take your breath away. This incredible National Park is the largest gypsum dune field in the world (there are only 3), featuring amazing wave-like dunes stretching over 275 square miles of the desert. We loved exploring this phenomenal natural wonder so much (mostly barefoot), we visited two days in a row! Sledding down the dunes was super fun and funny. Don’t waste your money on the wax if you pick up a sled at the visitor’s center, makes not difference… At first the Park was designated as a National Monument in 1933, in 2019 it became a National Park!! Easy to find, $25/car unless you have the NPS America’s Beautiful pass, depending on what direction you come in, you may have to drive through a border patrol station, but in only takes a few seconds and will not hold you up, generally speaking. TY US NPS & NM, we love you…

It’s really not that big for a national park—it was only upgraded a few years ago from a monument.

We did two hikes, one was easy and the other was challenging. Walking up and down dunes is a good exercise. Sometimes it was a little hard to see where the trail went and I can’t imagine doing it in the heart of summer.

Beautiful views. I wish there was more to see and do there. We saw a family renting sleds to slide down the dunes but never saw them in action.

Amazing place and unique landscape!! The first day winds were about 25 miles per hour. Almost imposible to see anything and without sun glasses all the sand goes in your eyes. The second day we went no wind and different experience. Bring sunglasses. The sand is very white and bright.
Sand sledding is fun. You can buy the sled in the visitor center but check first in the hotel if you are staying local. They will let you use the ones they have for free.

Sands as white as snow. We had a blast using our sleds and sand sledding. We abandoned our shoes early on and walked around bare foot to feel the sand between our toes. A truly unique experience. You must see these sands in person.

I liked how white the sand was and didn't realize it had music videos and movies shot here. I liked the infographics on the animals that habitated there.

The dunes covered with pure white sand are a sight to behold.

Personally, I thought it was more beautiful than the Brazilian rençois. (Lençois is beautiful only for a moment at the end of the rainy season)　

Visas are checked at the checkpoint near the park entrance. I was questioned for a while because I came in with ESTA and didn't get my passport stamped (depending on the state). ESTA would be better off with a paper copy of the application because of the strict controls on illegal immigration.

This place was amazing! Our family with teens/young adults really enjoyed the little walk on the boardwalk and sledding down the hills. (So sleds: we went to WalMart like the reviews said and found none. We were bummed because our plan was to take advantage of our early east coast wake up and get to the park at opening, but that would be before the visitor center opened for the day so we wouldn't have sleds. BUT, we got to White Sands at 8:00am and found a stack of sleds on a bench near the visitor center - clearly someone had left them after it closed the night before. We figured we'd borrow them and pay whatever fee we needed to pay when we got back - because we are honest like that. When we went to pay, we found out that the sleds weren't even from the Visitors Center and nothing was due. We left the sleds on the same bench hoping to share our good luck with others.)

A tip - we drove back past the entrance about 3pm and there was a LONG line to get into the park. Our 8:00 arrival was perfect. We saw other people, but not very many.

Also, March weather was perfect!

Maybe because it was 102º midday in July? But "sand sledding" was certainly NOT a thing at all that day. The white gypsum sand is HOT, too! And if you are picturing a Chevy Chase "Christmas Vacation" scene on that lightning-fast saucer, you will be sadly disappointed. Snow-sledding it is not. Not even close.

My best advice is do NOT hype your kids up AT ALL about this adventure. I watched 4 to 84 year-olds putting forth efforts. Heavy people. Tiny people. Men. Women. Tots. Same speed. MANY disappointed tourists, and several tried once and gave up. Quite the waste of $25 a pop. Glad we only blew $22 + tax.

But if you MUST give it a try, here are my tips of the day.

Buy $11 sleds at Big 5 Sports Alamogordo. They are $25 at park, non-refundable. Plan ahead. Order on Amazon.

Forget the waxing advice. I read to use beeswax between each slide to increase speed. Nope. Just a sticky surface for fine grains of sand to cling to. Stopped us dead on the slope.

But since we had liquid car wax in the trunk, we wiped off the wax with WD40 (who DOESNT have both of those in their trunk LOL), applied car wax, buffed the bottoms to a shiny, smooth finish, and gave it another college try. We DID manage to make it down the biggest incline we found (at the Alkali trailhead) at a spectacular 2.2 mph. Riveting. Got a few videos and headed out. Too bad I can't load them. I find them quite hilarious. :)

Oh. And for all the warnings about hitting the dangerous hard-pack at the bottom? In no way was that an issue for anyone out there. Dunes are fairly high, difficult to walk in, but not at all a scary incline. As a matter of fact, it's as if we were on a flat beach sitting on a plastic towel.

The park is beautiful, and I recommend going to get your passport stamp and squished penny at the Visitor Center. But if you are looking for dune sledding excitement? Not so much.

Maybe it's best at 7am or in October....I will never know.

White Sands was interesting. Make sure to see the movie in the Visitor Center as it gives you a wealth of information in approximately 15 minutes. The sad sad part is this is a US National Park......the public bathroom at the Visitor Center is a complete disaster and beyond belief that our tax dollars can't fix a public bathroom at a US National Park, but we can waste our tax dollars on everything else!!!!!

The perfect place for a deep snooze, an ancient seabed with the most comfortable pillow top mattress, so to speak. And the relative isolation makes me one with the ancients. And what a sheer delight! To slide down & suspend myself midway among the towering sands

White Sands National Park in New Mexico is very unique in that it looks like snow.
Be sure to stay for the sunset and have a plan for where you’re going to stay for the night.
It’s worth seeing!

Went here while visiting the other NP in the area. Was not sure what to expect, but it was well worth the 3 hours drive from Carlsbad NM. The dunes are amazing to see and the fact that they let you roam thought out is great. Roads do get covered with the sands, so be careful not to drift to far to the side or you may get stuck. If you have a snow sled you can bring it, as they do let you sled down the dunes. While the temps were in the low 100's the day we visit, the sand itself was not hot. Advice to remove shoes while walking as the sand as it very fine and does get in your shoes and socks. the day we visited the winds were very strong, so sand was flying in eyes. glasses and hat are a must. Stop by the visitor center and watch the move as it does help explain where and when the dunes started forming. Either eat before coming out to the park, or bring a picnic as there is no food in the park to buy and the closest town in 25 minutes away. Same goes for gas.

This park is not very big and there isn’t much to do there. You can rent a sand board and slide down the dunes. They have a picnic area and there are vault toilets all around. Bring water to drink. None on site. Most trails were closed. The dunes do look beautiful

Absolutely phenomenal experience. The sand looks just like snowdrifts and is cool to touch. We loved sledging down the dunes and doing the wildlife walks. It is desert so obviously hot, but spectacular!

I had always wanted to go to White Sands as a kid but it just hadn't worked out until I made a specific point to get there at the end of January 2022. Let me just say that it didn't disappoint. A few things to note for the prospective visitor:

1. Hiking across the dunes is more challenging than you think. Pace yourself and feel free to pause atop a dune to take in the panoramic views. This place is full of endless panoramic views.

2. You absolutely need plenty of water, high SPF sunscreen, and sunglasses. A wide-brimmed hat is recommended. There is precious little shade in the park and you'll definitely warm up over the course of the day.

3. The trail lengths don't seem long but you can do a few of them in one day and truly enjoy the impressive, unexpected variety in the park. I did the Backcountry Camping Trail, Alkali Flats Trail, and then went out on my own in a general direction for sunset photos. I brought a little compass and didn't need it. Just memorize landmarks on the horizon for orientation, don't rely on footprints, and watch out for trail markers.

Sunset photography rarely gets better anywhere on Earth than it does here but I also caught some amazing pics throughout the day. I found a great pedestal / shade tree at 32.819996377727115, -106.29273957393511. It was a fantastic place to stop for a midday rest and snack. Hard to say if it'll be there when you visit but it sits about a mile west of the Alkali Flats trailhead.

All in all, White Sands provided a spectacular day of hiking, stunning panoramas, and unforgettable experiences. If you're easily bored or need thrills, maybe this isn't your destination. If you appreciate subtlety and want to feel like you're on another planet just by walking two miles into a dune sea, you are going to have a magical day.

My son and I visited White Sands while in New Mexico. The park is really interesting. It has a stark beauty; there is a big contrast between the sand of the dunes and the mountains in the distance that make up the visual background. We did hike a little on the Alkali Flats trail and enjoyed getting deeper into the dunes. It was cool the day we went and I thought it would probably be quite unpleasant in hot weather.
I recommend a visit to White Sands National Park.

Awesome part of New Mexico, USA.
INFORMATIVE video at visitor center is a must. We may never see anything like it again! The white sand is crystal gypsum.
Largest white sands area in the world. Saved from being a commercial area by one local businessman, Mr Charles, instead preserved as a National Monument!
Hey Jersey couple we met, that's you at top of dune!

Surreal, truly white! Such a unique place although we wish we had been able to be there for sunset. Unique place

Lovely day trip from Las Cruces. About an hour away. Friendly rangers at a small size visitor center. Enjoyed the short film very much. They have a good size gift shop in another building behind them. No one was manning the entrance so no fee that day to enter. The boardwalk was closed the day we were there. That would have been nice to see and do. An easy drive that starts off on paved roads and then changes to very hard packed sand. We were in a regular car and had no problem. The farther in you drive the better it gets. Many pull offs for breaks and even picnic tables and grills. Literally, hundreds of them. If you have lived where the snow is plowed in the winter, the sides of the roads here will remind you of that. Be sure to wear sunglasses 😎 as it is so blinding white. A few adults were trying to sled down the hills but were not successful. Too heavy…leave it for the kids. We enjoyed the Park and its uniqueness.

We were able to drive through the monument and reminisce about the 70’s and 80’s when we would visit. Loved the visitor center! Provides much information to those that have never been there! Enjoyed the recent information about the dogs and research they have done there. Footprints!!!! Long time ago. Bring water for your adventure.

This was wonderful! It looked like snow and didn't act like sand at the beach that gets into your shoes. It was great. Wonderful spots to pull off and take pictures, watch people sledding down the dunes. Grateful we came this time of year instead of when it is blistering hot. A terrific experience. Park staff very helpful.

From the moment we entered the park, until we left, we were amazed by this place. For as far a you can see, white sand dunes. We were able to get there an hour or so before sunset, which gave us time to wonder around the dunes.

We're in our early 60's, and yes it was a bit of a challenge to get up the first dune, but find a place where the dune raises from lower to higher and once you get up there it's easy to get around. Plenty of places to park the car and do this.

There are grills and places to picnic everywhere you turn. Lots of families hanging out for the day, with dinner and stuff just having fun. Kids sliding down the dunes on snow disk. Just a very fun place to hang.

Bring water, you'll need it. We took our shoes off, it was much easy to move around in your bare feet. This place should be on everyones bucket list.

Fun 'sledding the dunes'. Sleds little pricey, 24.99, 19.99 if you can get a used one and wax is 2.99. They say if you return sled you get 5.00 back - not cash though. It is to use in the gift shop. If you are lucky, you can find someone to sell or give to. You definitely need the wax! We waxed our sleds every couple of runs. Hard to believe all that sand/gypsum surrounded by mountains. Glad we went! Definitely take water, sunscreen, hats and sunglasses!!

White Sands National Park is breathtaking! We were fortunate that it wasn't really hot the day we visited, but the reflection off the white sand is intense. If you have fair skin/eyes, be sure to wear sunglasses and sunscreen. Don't just drive through. You must get out and walk a nature trail and feel the white sand between your fingers. One of America's treasures! GO SEE OUR NATIONAL PARKS!

This is a unique national park. With all the white sand, you may be wondering where the ocean is. You can even sled down the sand dunes. White Sands is in the middle of the desert. so expect hot and take sunglasses.

We were blown away by this park! AMAZING!!! While it's certainly hot in the summer, the sand doesn't get nearly as hot as you might expect in the direct sun due to the fact that it's gypsum and not regular sand. Sleds are available for purchase (and return for a $5 credit) at the gift shop. We (ages 58 and 60) highly recommend the sledding experience! My only regret is that we didn't purchase the wax for a faster ride. We enjoyed lunch under one of the provided canopies, hiked a trail and sledded for an hour. Wish we had the time to return for another morning, but alas, our itinerary didn't permit. A highlight of our New Mexico adventure!

Where to begin? The dunes were incredible! We went on a nice sunny 70 degree day, light breeze. We walked the dunes where sand was packed. Where to begin? The dunes were incredible! We went on a nice sunny 70 degree day, light breeze. We walked the dunes where the sand was packed. We hiked up dunes and sledded down.
A perfect place to spend a few hours with the kids and dogs, bring a picnic!

Totally enjoyed White Sands. It's dog-friendly...which is a huge plus. Heed the advice...hat/ water / sunscreen are a must. Great walk through the beautiful and unique dunes.

This is a giant beach far from water. You can watch a fascinating film in the visitor center then do an 8-mile drive through the park where you can see & walk through the sand dunes. This is a must-see place!

I can't leave 5 stars unless they reopen backcountry camping - as the experience that is possible is determined by how a place is managed - but the nature here is 5 stars. I don't usually give National Park advice, but I can share it here. Skip all the signs, parking lots, and the "built" attractions and go straight to the nature. There is no reason to be here in the summer, but I couldn't avoid coming in late May, and there were about three hours of bearable temperatures after they opened the gates.

I went to the park late afternoon, and stayed for sunset. I went on the 6:30 p.m. Ranger led (actually, an intern), 'Sunset Hike' (note: this is an educational hike, and she did a good job, but the focus was not on the sunset). This is a beautiful park and was not crowded when I was there.
I also went into the park at 7:00 a.m. the next morning (although everyone recommends going at sunrise, the gates do not open till 7:00). It was beautiful, and even fewer people there.
I highly recommend this park.