National Park · NM
White Sands National Park is closed.
Last checked Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:00:58 GMT
275 square miles of pure gypsum dunes, the largest such field anywhere, sitting entirely inside an active missile range that closes the park during tests.
A federal government shutdown is in effect. Access and staffing at National Park Service sites vary — some close and barricade entrances, some stay open but unstaffed. Live shutdown status →
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.
Read more on Wikipedia ↗ Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
| Mon | 7:00AM - Sunset |
| Tue | 7:00AM - Sunset |
| Wed | 7:00AM - Sunset |
| Thu | 7:00AM - Sunset |
| Fri | 7:00AM - Sunset |
| Sat | 7:00AM - Sunset |
| Sun | 7:00AM - Sunset |
We derive White Sands National Park's status from the National Park Service's own alerts and operating hours, refreshed hourly — this is our reading, not an official determination. As of the last check: Backcountry Camping Closed Full method: how we check park status.