National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service: U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
 
 
Support the National Park Service
White Sands National Monumentselenite
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
White Sands National Monument
Directions

Getting There

The visitor center is located on U.S. Highway 70, 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Alamogordo and 52 miles east of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Travelers from Carlsbad Caverns to southern Arizona can follow U.S. 82 through the scenic Sacramento Mountains to reach White Sands National Monument.

 
undefined
   
Photo of sand avalanching  

Did You Know?
While the wind piles the sand grains into dunes, the dunes move forward under the force of gravity. As the leading edge of the dune ("slipface") gets steeper, gravity pulls an avalanche of sand down the slipface, moving the dune forward.

Disclaimer Accessibility Privacy Policy FOIA Notices USA.gov

Last Updated: March 25, 2007 at 15:37 EST