White Sands is massive, occupying 275-square miles of the Tularosa Basin which stretches up into the middle of the state. The biggest difference between this park and some of our other favorites like Grand Tetons and Big Bend is the lack of trails for hiking. Access to the monument is not open for sunrise with the admission gate opening roughly half an hour after sunrise. The colors are incredible and the shadows of the dunes are beautiful. Santa Fe, NM 87501 Want to get updates via email every few weeks? Thank you for your understanding. It’s actually just an hour from the Texas border. Each year, he finds and describes a new species just one dune over from the previous. Its opened case lies by his car, near a pair of kicked-off cowboy boots. We opted out of this when we visited, but this is a very popular way to enjoy the sand dunes. Programs are offered on the night of the full moon from May through October. It is about 3.5 hours from Albuquerque International Airport and less than two hours from El Paso International Airport. And here is another Google map showing the way from Alamogordo - El Paso Map and Directions BY BUS Greyhound Lines: The closest location to White Sands, NM, Greyhound Lines serves is Alamogordo, NM.If you don't like to hike the final 15 miles to the Monument, you could rent a car in Alamogordo or take a cab. Its arid, pale, sunny dunes transform the desert into an impossible hybrid between the lunar landscape and the snowy expanses of Antarctica. Drivers License & New Mexico Identifcation Cards. As the sun sets, these dunes reveal how many shades can hide in a single color: pink-white, lavender-white, blue-white, gray-white, brown-white. White Sands National Park … // also we require window.history to be greater than 1, otherwise opening a link in a new tab toggles a non-functional back button Other visitors rest on camp chairs under beach umbrellas. He plays and sings while walking across a dune, a photographer crouching near him, capturing the scene. “So many incredible stories, you never know how the day’s going to go or what you’re going to find.”. Visitors are encouraged to check Park Closure webpage to verify that a closure is not in effect. White Sands Mall - shopping mall with 26 stores, located in Alamogordo, 3199 N White Sands Blvd, Alamogordo, New Mexico - NM 88310: hours of operations, store directory, directions, mall map, reviews with mall rating. MAP TO WHITE SANDS NEW MEXICO ZOOM IN AND OUT OF MAP. When restrictions lift, expect sunset concerts, star parties, and campouts. White Sands National Park is one of the newest additions to the National Park Service. That… Is White Sands … In the first or second week of September, Alamogordo hosts their White Sands Balloon Festival for a two day event. Even though it’s not right off a major highway, it’s worth any detour. For details about visiting the park, special admission pricing, and more, visit the park’s website or Facebook page. BY DUSK, THE WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK dune field seems marked by a strange kind of hieroglyphics—footprints and long vertical lines of people scrambling up and then sliding down the steepest faces. ©2021 New Mexico Magazine / New Mexico Tourism Department. Black friday and holiday hours information. The gate at … The park is also reaching out to Native tribes, many of whom have stories that add a layer to the archaeological work under way and the understanding of how the landscape has changed over time. White Sands National Park is the home of the world's largest gypsum dune field; nearly 275 sq. Like an ocean wave of rare white crystal gypsum sand-White Sands National Monument in the desert of New Mexico is known for dramatic landscapes of rare white gypsum sand dunes.In 2019 White Sands … }); by Elizabeth Miller Dogs and other pets must be on a leash. A mask must be worn at all times, NO EXCEPTIONS. Made up of gypsum sand, the dunes move constantly, making every return visit feel like a brand-new experience. Lew Wallace Building We will never recommend anything that we do not personally use and love. Be the first to review ID & CAC Card Office at White Sands Missile Range! Location: Google Maps. Subscriptions/Inquiries: (800) 898-6639 The customer service postal facility offers mail and package delivery services, P.O. “That allows us to request special assistance and additional funds to understand these resources, but also to preserve them. White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002 Desert Emerald Park Disc Golf Course This 18 Hole course at Desert Emerald Park is located at the base of the Organ Mountains with stunning views and is FREE to play during daylight hours. In 2020, the shortest day is December 21, with 10 hours, 1 minute of daylight; the longest day is June 20, with 14 hours, 17 minutes of daylight. If you love sledding, but hate the cold, grab a sled (check here for updated pricing) from the visitor’s center and hit the sand slopes. The park is open every day of the year except Christmas. On December 20, 2019 New Mexico’s White Sands National Monument became the 62 nd national park in the United States. photos by Tira Howard. It fits right in with other fascinating New Mexico destinations like Roswell and Taos. Leave any questions you have below in the comments and pin this post for reference later: Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email. As a result, this website may not contain the most current and up-to-date closure information. Then the pandemic came, dampening visitation. There are a few boardwalk styles paths to allow you to stretch your legs without getting sand in your shoes. Some White Sands experiences are currently unavailable, but the park is open. Instead, Metzler is still at work, having identified 600 species in a swath only 100 yards across and 2 miles long. recent discoveries in paleontology, archaeology, geology, and hydrology. Like the windblown grains all around me, the shift may seem subtle but could represent seismic changes in our knowledge, understanding, and ability to tap into the many secrets this landscape contains. Hours, Events, and other Important information. The best times to be in the park are sunrise and sunset. box services, and passport services. It pays for itself when you visit 2-3 parks and then everything after that is free. White Sands National Park is located in the southern center of New Mexico between Interstate 25 and highway 54. All Active Duty, Retired Military, Family members age ten and older, and Civilian employees may borrow materials from the library. New national parks generate excitement, and this January and February, White Sands witnessed its highest attendance ever for those two months. The sun moves toward the mountains rimming the Tularosa Basin, a jagged blue line on the horizon. Now it’s part of our mission.”. New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department at White Sands Offers: New Mexico State Identification Card (ID) Bicycling is permitted on the asphalt and packed gypsum, but not on the dunes themselves. Wednesday 23 December 2020 - Open 1000-1900. When you think of New Mexico, you likely think desert. Sign up for our newsletter. People wandering the dunes transform into tiny black specks on the otherwise white landscape, a place unlike anywhere else on the planet, a light smudge visible from space. People of all ages climb onto sleds—a mission so endorsed by the park that the saucers are for sale in the gift shop and recommended on several wayfinding signs. If you are driving from Las Cruces or Interstate 25 in the west, you will need to … Monday 21 December 2020 - **Open** 1000-1600. $10 Fee Per Transaction. E-mail: NM.magazine@state.nm.us. (The Main Gym has a few cardio equipment pieces available inside to use) The Nautilus Annex are closed to 24/7 access operations and will be open during Bell Gym's main hours of operation. About Us. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, access to White Sands National Park is as follows: In case of unexpected closures, the information will be made available, in order of priority, in the following media: Admission is $20 per vehicle or $15 per person (if only one adult is in a vehicle), good for seven days. All Rights Reserved. Eric Metzler, the resident moth expert, began researching species in the park in 2007. Patrons must wipe down equipment before and after each use. WSMR Post Library is closed to browsing, but open for computer use by appointment. White Sands National Park, 31 miles from Las Cruces, New Mexico, is one of the strangest and most isolated parks in all America. Who and Where Store Directory. miles in area. During the winter and occasionally throughout the year, the monument may unexpectedly close due to unsafe road or extreme weather conditions. Sharing all the important information about White Sands National Park in New Mexico along with 10 photos to inspire your trip there soon. Phone: (505) 827-7447 Full Moon Nights share the cultural legacy of southern New Mexico and northern Mexico, as well as the rich natural resources of White Sands National Park. “That particular rate of endemism is unknown in the world, except perhaps in the Galápagos Islands,” he says. backBtn.find('.shared-back-button').show(); The nearest large city with an international airport is El Paso, Texas. 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