White Sands National Park, Gypsum dunes national park in New Mexico, US
White Sands National Park is a protected area covering wide gypsum deposits in New Mexico, roughly midway between El Paso and Albuquerque. The dunes spread across a broad basin and form ridges, hollows, and gentle waves of fine white sand.
The Tularosa Lake dried up thousands of years ago and left behind a mineral-rich surface that wind shaped into dunes. The site was designated a national monument in 1933 and received national park status in 2019.
The white dunes have shaped the imagination of indigenous communities for centuries and remain part of their oral traditions. Visitors often notice how the bright terrain shifts under changing daylight and creates different moods throughout the day.
Water is necessary when exploring the dunes, as temperatures climb high during summer months and shade is absent. Trails are not always clearly marked, so it helps to note visible landmarks along the way.
Several animal species have developed pale body colors over generations to blend into the white terrain. This adaptation is especially visible in small rodents and some lizard species, which appear almost entirely light in tone.
Location: Otero County
Location: Doña Ana County
Inception: January 18, 1933
Operator: National Park Service
Website: https://nps.gov/whsa
GPS coordinates: 32.77972,-106.17167
Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:25
The western United States protects some of North America's most diverse natural landscapes. From the layered canyons of Canyonlands in Utah to the white gypsum dunes of White Sands in New Mexico, this region spans multiple climate zones and geological formations. Visitors find national parks, Pueblo...
The southwestern United States encompasses desert landscapes, sandstone formations and archaeological sites from several pre-Columbian cultures. The region spans Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, featuring geological structures shaped over millions of years by wind and water erosion. National...
New Mexico combines geological formations with historical sites spanning multiple periods. The region includes cave systems such as Carlsbad Caverns, extensive gypsum fields at White Sands, volcanic landscapes at El Malpais National Monument, and unusual rock formations in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin...
Holloman High Speed Test Track
11.9 km
White Sands National Park Historic District
0 m
White Sands Visitor Center
70 m
White Sands Comfort Station
91 m
McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle
11.2 km
North American F-86E Sabre
8.6 km
Playa
4.2 km
Interdune
6.5 km
Lake Holloman - Bird Watch Post
5.5 km
Backcountry Camping
10.1 km
White Sands
10 km
Interdune
6.5 km
Interdune
6.5 km
Playa
4.2 km
Interdune Boardwalk
6.5 km
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
11.2 km
Lockheed YF-117A Nighthawk
11.2 km
Northrop AT-38B Talon
11.2 km
General Atomics MQ-1L Predator
11.2 km
Convair QF-106A Delta Dart
11.2 km
Republic F-105D Thunderchief
11.2 km
Panavia Tornado IDS
11.2 km
Lockheed F-104C Starfighter
11.2 km
North American F-100D Super Sabre
11.2 km
Fisher Body F-84F Thunderstreak
11.2 km
Lockheed TO-1
11.2 km
McDonnell F-4C Phantom II
11.2 km
General Atomics YMQ-9 Reaper
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