White Sands NP Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour – White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

EXPERIENCE

NOTE: This walking/driving tour includes a 5-mile hike.

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map all in one, guiding you through the breathtaking landscapes of White Sands National Park. Your adventure begins at the park entrance.

From there, you’ll drive to the Dune Life Nature Trailhead, where you’ll be introduced to the diverse ecosystem thriving in this unique environment. As you proceed, you’ll hear about how an ancient lake once dominated this landscape and get to know why gypsum makes for some seriously unusual sand.

The Interdune Boardwalk offers an accessible path through the dunes, allowing for close-up views of the flora and fauna adapted to this harsh environment. Then you’ll head to the main attraction: The Alkali Flat Trail. This four-mile trail through the dunes culminates in a vast flat expanse and shows off the very best that White Sands has to offer.

As you walk, you’ll hear all kinds of stories from the long history of White Sands. Get to know the prehistoric beasts and people who called this place home when it was lush and green. Hear about the wars and crimes of greed and pride that have rocked this isolated land. And revisit the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb, including the famous Trinity Test which took place in White Sands!

This combination driving and walking tour is the quintessential White Sands experience, so don’t miss out!

HIGHLIGHTS

Discover a unique ecosystem on the Dune Life Nature Trail
Find out what makes this white sand so special
Hike the beautiful Alkali Flat Trail
Watch the sunset transform the sands
Hear about Oppenheimer and the atomic bomb

Discover more exciting & fun things to do in White Sands National Monument