• The dunes in soft light

    White Sands

    National Monument New Mexico

  • Closures and Missile Tests

    Upcoming Missile Tests: Friday-Saturday, April 27-28 -- Missile test scheduled on both mornings. Highway 70 will be blocked at Red & Yellow checkpoints. No backcountry camping on Thursday and Friday, April 26 & 27. More »

  • High Winds

    We are in our windy season, so please be aware of possible high winds.

  • Backcountry Camping

    There will be no backcountry camping available the night of Saturday, April 7, 2012.

Management Documents

Superintendent's Compendium
Under the authority of 16 U.S.C., Section 3, and Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1, Parts 1-7, the Compendium of Superintendent's Orders was established for White Sands National Monument. Read the full set of park regulations.

 

Cultural Landscape Inventory
The Cultural Landscapes Inventory (CLI) is a database containing information on the historically significant landscapes within the National Park System. This evaluated inventory identifies and documents each landscape’s location, size, physical development, condition, landscape characteristics, character-defining features, as well as other valuable information useful to park management. Read it here.

 

Physical Resources Foundation Report
In accordance with the NPS 2004 Park Planning Program Standards, parks are to prepare a Foundation for Park Planning and Management document (Foundation Document), which describes its purpose, significance, primary interpretive themes and special mandates, identifying and analyzing those resources and values determined to warrant primary consideration (Fundamental and Important Resources and Values) in park planning and management. Read the White Sands Report here.

 

Management Strategy
The National Park Service (NPS) requires that each park unit identify its most significant characteristics and to maintain a General Management Plan (MP06 2.3.1). This Management Strategy Document (MSD) is a step in the planning process toward creation of a General Management Plan. The MSD is a formal description of the unit's core mission and serves as a strategy to support planning and management. Read it here.

Did You Know?

Photo of ripples on a dune

The wind moves small sand grains by bouncing them along the surface in a process called "saltation." Saltating sand grains create a beautiful pattern of ripples on the dune surface. Larger sand grains are struck by saltating grains and slowly roll forward, a process known as "surface creep."