White Sands National Park

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here.

Sunset

Sunsets are one of the most popular times to visit White Sands. Visitors can experience sunset every day of the year.

White dunes in foreground with sun setting behind mountain.

Aerial of Dunefield

The dunes at White Sands cover 275 square miles of the Tularosa Basin.

Aerial of white sand dunes.

Ripples

The wind shapes and moves the dunes as a whole but gives each individual dune the texture of ripples.

Close up view of ripples on a dune.

Fall Colors

Fall is a wonderful time to visit as most of our plants with leaves change beautiful colors.

Cottonwood trees with orange leaves.

Shaded Dunes

As the sun changes its angle through the sky it allows shadow to roll across the dunes.

Grey shadows on dunes.