White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park

Location: New Mexico, United States
Features: Backcountry, hiking, driving dunes drive

About the White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park is an American national park located in the state of New Mexico and surrounded by the White Sands Missile Range. The park covers 145,762 acres in the Tularosa Basin, including the southern 41% of a 275 sq mi field of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals. This gypsum dune field is the largest of its kind on Earth, with a depth of about 30 feet (9.1 m), dunes as tall as 60 feet (18 m), and about 4.5 billion short tons (4.1 billion metric tons) of gypsum sand.

The park is also home to variety of plant and animal life. It is also been the site of fossilized footprint findings, by which scientist have learned about a variety of its ancient citizens.

Be sure to grab your White Sands National Park official hiking shirt before you head out. 

Top 3 Adventure Hacks

1) Witness The White Gypsum Sand Dunes

White Sands National Park is popularly known for its white gypsum sand dunes w/c cover 275 square miles of the desert; the waving dunes of white stretch out before your feet is a remarkable experience! The sheer beauty of the dunes will take your breath away.

2) Weather At White Sands National Park

Given its southern desert location, the weather is unpredictable and extreme. Visitors will experience extreme heat during the summer months, with temperatures frequently reaching, and staying in the triple digits; Dust storms are frequent, and it is nearly always sunny and hot. Sunscreen is a must for all visitors; However, overnight visitors should prepare for shockingly cold evenings, the sub-freezing winter nights are often more surprising.

Whether you visit in the winter or summer, be sure to bring enough water with you.

Check out our adventure hydration packs. 

3) Planning Your Visit Ahead Of Time

It is best to come prepared for the often-extreme elements in white sands because desserts have unique hazard!  stay connected at White Sands National Park on social media and other helpful information to know the basic information on the park, things to do, places where to eat and sleep during the stay, safety, accessibility, finding map & directions, operating hours, permit, reservations as well as park regulations and current conditions.

It is always wise to be safe while delighting the beauty of glistening white sands. 

No matter what the adventure, always be sure to bring the necessary outdoor gear with you. 

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