The 6 Best Hikes in White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park is one of the most alien-esque landscapes in the entire United States? And what is the best way to experience this magical National Park? By hitting the White Sands National Park trails with your own two feet! Maybe you are wondering, how do you even hike in sand dunes anyways? Don’t worry, this guide will not only cover the best hikes in White Sands National Park, but all the tips and things you need to know ahead of time in order to get the most out of your White Sands hiking experience!
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Table of Contents
Guide to the 6 Best Hikes in White Sands National Park
Get ready to dive into the 6 best hikes in White Sands National Park:
- #1: The Alkali Flat Trail
- #2: The Dune Life Nature Trail
- #3: The Interdune Boardwalk Trail
- #4: The Playa Trail
- #5: The White Sands Backcountry Trail
- #6: The Lake Lucero Trail
But before we get to know these White Sands hiking trails in detail, here’s what you need to know before you go!
Know Before You Go
- Location: southern New Mexico (map HERE)
- Closest Airport: Las Cruces International Airport (50 minutes)
- Closest Towns/Cities: Alamogordo, NM (20 minutes) / Las Cruces, NM (50 minutes)
- Lodging: hotels/vacation rentals located in Alamogordo and Las Cruces
- Park Hours: White Sands National Park is open every day except Christmas Day (the park may close early for other holidays). The park always opens at 7 AM, but park hours vary by season:
- Summer Hours (Apr 9th – Sept 9th): 7 AM – 9PM
- Fall Hours (Sept 10th – Nov 4th): 7 AM – 8 PM
- Winter Hours (Nov 5th – Jan 28th) 7 AM – 6 PM AND (Jan 29th – Mar 11th) 7 AM – 7 PM
- Spring Hours (Mar 12th – Apr 8th) 7 AM – 8 PM
- For exact times, always check the park website.
- Park Entrance Fees: $25 per vehicle
- Pet Policy: Leashed pets are welcome on White Sands hiking trails! Be sure to follow Leave No Trace and bring plenty of water for your pets. Never leave pets unattended in vehicles!
- Permits: a permit is required for backcountry camping (the only way to camp in the park)
- Best Season(s) to Visit: White Sands National Park is enjoyable year round, but the ideal time is fall – spring. Shoulder seasons are great for less crowds, and winter is even enjoyable with mild temperatures. I have visited White Sands National Park in multiple seasons, including once in January, and I was in short sleeves and shorts. Summer is the least ideal time to visit the park, due to the intense and often dangerous temperatures and the strength of the sun reflecting off of the dunes. If you do visit in the summer, go early and finish early, and avoid hiking longer trails like the Alkali Flats Trail past early morning.
- Additional Tips: due to White Sand National Park’s proximity to the White Sands Missile Range, which regularly conducts missile testing, there are occasional closures. Always check the park website for closures and/or alerts before you arrive.
Now on to the 6 best hikes in White Sands National Park!
The 6 Best White Sands National Park Trails
White Sands National Park contains a handful of hikes that are unlike any others found in the country, thanks to the other-wordly environment of this National Park. Hiking amongst and through the dunes is an unforgettable experience. You will want to check all 6 of these hikes off your bucket list before leaving White Sands!
In case you are wondering, “how exactly do I hike on trails in and on sand dunes?”, well, White Sands National Park has made locating and navigating its trails simple by coding and labeling each different trail with a designated color and symbol. Just look for the colored and labeled markers to be able to follow all the trails in the park, even in the middle of sand dunes. It is easier than you might think, and the trails are all very consistently and well marked, even the most backcountry and secluded hike on the Alkali Flat Trail! Below are the color and symbol codes for all the hiking trails in the park!
- Alkali Flat Trail: Red Diamonds
- Dune Life Nature Trail: Blue Spades
- Interdune Boardwalk Trail: none (no need for trail navigating as trail is all boardwalk)
- Playa Trail: Green Hearts
- White Sands Backcountry Trail: Orange Spades
#1: Alkali Flat Trail
Quick Facts on the Alkali Flat Trail:
Length: 4.4 mile roundtrip loop
Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 52 feet
Estimated Time to Complete: 2 hours
Parking: there is parking available at the trailhead
Facilities: there are bathrooms available at the trailhead
Start this list of the best 6 hikes in White Sands National Park with the longest trail in the park, and arguably the hardest. The Alkali Flat Trail is perfect for the truly adventurous at heart, those that are excited at the chance to plunge headfirst into a mesmerizing and overwhelming sea of endless sand dunes. Those that don’t mind a challenging trek through soft sand trails. And those that don’t mind the feeling of being so small in the midst of this deafeningly silent and stark white sea. In short, stepping foot on the Alkali Flat Trail will feel like stepping foot on another planet. And bonus, there’s a good chance you will have most of the trail to yourself, with the occasional sighting of just a handful of other hikers.
The remote nature of the Alkali Flat Trail is a major draw to avid hikers, but it also means that you need to be fully and responsibly prepared with a complete day hiking gear inventory, including plenty of water! There are no water sources on the Alkali Flat Trail in the backcountry of White Sands New Mexico.
*Get a full trail report on the Alkali Flat Trail HERE!
#2: The Dune Life Nature Trail
Quick Facts on the Dune Life Nature Trail:
Length: 1 mile roundtrip loop
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 0 “official” feet, but there are two constantly shifting sand dunes to climb up
Estimated Time to Complete: 20 minutes
Parking: there is parking available at the trailhead
Facilities: there are bathrooms available near the trailhead
A visit to any of these 6 White Sands hiking trails is an exhilarating experience, but it also is an educational opportunity for families and children alike. A chance to expose all ages to the diversity and uniqueness of this environment and ecosystem. The Dune Life Nature Trail is a great way to accomplish this dual mission of hiking and educating, on a short and family friendly trail.
Don’t forget to read the informational signs, and watch for tracks and signs of native wildlife like foxes, badgers, rodents, and reptiles.
#3: The Interdune Boardwalk Trail
Quick Facts on the Interdune Boardwalk Trail:
Length: 0.4 miles roundtrip out and back
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 0 feet
Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes
Parking: there is parking near the trailhead
Facilities: there are bathrooms near the trailhead
This short, easy hike is fun due to its boardwalk nature, a little variety among these White Sands National Park trails. The entirety of the trail is boardwalk, which makes it great for all ages and abilities. There is also a shaded sitting area about halfway down the trail, which is more of a rarity in this environment. More educational signs to enjoy, and more chances to spot local wildlife.
#4: The Playa Trail
Quick Facts on the Playa Trail:
Length: 0.4 miles roundtrip out and back
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 0 feet
Estimated Time to Complete: 10 minutes
Parking: there is parking near the trailhead
Facilities: there are bathrooms near the trailhead
The Playa Trail is unique in that it is set in a “playa” ecosystem, which is constantly changing based on the seasons, weather patterns, environmental elements, etc. You may see varying colors, pools of water, and even crystals along the way.
And much like the other short trails in White Sands National Park, this one also has plenty of informative signage and ways to learn about the unique life at the park.
#5: The White Sands Backcountry Trail
Quick Facts on the White Sands Backcountry Trail:
Length: 1.8 miles roundtrip loop
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 6 feet
Estimated Time to Hike: 40 minutes
Parking: there is parking near the trailhead
Facilities: there are bathrooms near the trailhead
This trail is primarily used to access primitive backcountry camping spots (the only way to camp in White Sands National Park), but it is still very popular among day hikers as a shorter alternative to the Alkali Flat Trail, for those who want a briefer taste of the White Sands backcountry! Or for those looking for that “goldilocks” trail in the middle – something a little more than the shorter strolls, but shorter than the longer Alkali Flat Trail!
#6: The Lake Lucero Trail
Quick Facts on the Lake Lucero Trail:
Length: 1.6 miles roundtrip out and back
Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 75 feet
Estimated Time to Hike: 30 minutes
Parking: there is parking available at the trailhead
Facilities: there are portable bathrooms available at the trailhead
This is the least visited of the 6 best hikes in White Sands National Park. The Lake Lucero Trail is only accessible to hike through a guided tour through the National Park. You can find out more about the tour, and reserve tickets, HERE.
The Lake Lucero Trail is somewhat misleading, as there is no lake. At least, not anymore. The once Lake Lucero is now replaced by what initially appears to be a barren wasteland. But upon closer examination, there is much to discover on this trail, like desert arroyos and tons of leftover deposited selenite crystals, exposed and shimmering in the New Mexico sun!
Other Things to Do in White Sands National Park
Traversing these 6 best hikes in White Sands National Park is just one way to explore this National Park treasure! You can also get in touch with your inner child by sand sledding, or camp under one of the most unique canopies, or take in an unrivaled sunset or sunrise!
What’s Next After Hiking the 6 Best Hikes in White Sands National Park?
White Sands National Park is just one of TWO National Parks in New Mexico, and luckily, they aren’t that far from each other, so you can visit both on an epic New Mexico National Parks roadtrip! Check out Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and while you are there, make sure to explore all 8 outdoor adventures in Carlsbad!
Or even better, extend your roadtrip into the best National Parks in the Southwest roadtrip! This roadtrip includes stops at Grand Canyon National Park, White Sands National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Big Bend National Park!
*Check out this Google Map of the Entire Roadtrip HERE!
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