Lake Lucero Tours

NPS PHOTO

 

Have you ever wondered how the white sands formed? Take a tour to Lake Lucero with a ranger and learn about the formation of the sands and the special plants and animals that live in and around the dunes. These three-hour ranger-guided tours to the playa (dry lakebed) of Lake Lucero are offered once a month and reservations are required.

Reservations can be made by following the instructions below and can be made no more than one month in advance of the tour date. A special use fee is charged for the tour: $3.00 per person ages 16 and older, $1.50 for children and to holders of the Golden Age Pass. National Park/Golden Eagle Passports and the White Sands Annual Pass do not apply for this special tour.

DIFFICULTY OF THE HIKE- Moderate. The 1.5 mile round trip hike is through an arroyo and is not a maintained trail. The soil is loose and the terrain can be rough. This hike is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for those with impaired mobility.

The tour will begin at the Small Missile Range Gate intersection with US Highway 70, 25 miles west of White Sands National Monument headquarters, between mileposts 174 and 175. The trip will return to the Small Missile Range Gate three hours after the start time. Cameras may not be used while passing through the missile range, but are encouraged for use while at the monument lake area.

•You will caravan in your own car from the gate to the trailhead (17.5 miles one way or 35 miles roundtrip). Have a full tank of gas before leaving home and a spare tire in case of a flat.

•No sandals or open-toed shoes. Closed-toed shoes such as hiking boots or stout walking shoes are required.

•The tour is three hours long, two of which will be outside. Bring snacks, sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses for everyone in your group. Dress accordingly for the weather.

• At least a gallon of water per person is required, otherwise you will not be allowed to attend the tour. Water is essential! One or two 20-ounce bottles of water is not enough! Dehydration and heat exhaustion can set in incredibly fast, especially in the summer when temperatures can soar well above 100°F (38°C), and can quickly result in death.

•The hike to the lake shore is 3/4 of a mile over rough terrain and loose soils. This tour is not wheelchair accessible.

•Pets are welcome as long as they are friendly and remain on a leash.

Download the May 2013 form

Download Lake Lucero travel map

Download Lake Lucero brochure

 

Selenite crystals at Lake Lucero

R. Wiles Image

2012 Lake Lucero Tours

10 a.m. Sunday, December 30

2 p.m. Sunday, December 30

2013 Lake Lucero Tours

2 p.m.Sunday, January 27

2 p.m.Sunday, February 24

9 a.m. Saturday, March 30

9 a.m. Saturday, April 20

5 p.m. Sunday, May 26

9 a.m. Saturday, June 29

9 a.m. Sunday, July 28

9 a.m. Saturday, August 31

4 p.m. Sunday, September 29

9 a.m. Sunday, October 27

10 a.m. Saturday, November 23

10 a.m. Sunday, December 29

 

Directions for Submitting the Form:

When you download the form, you will see three buttons in the upper right-hand corner of the form itself. The following will explain what the three buttons do.

1) Email Form:
Desktop Email Clients: Use this button if you have and use an email client such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora Mail, or other desktop email clients. This button will open your email client and attach the form to an email for you. All you need to do is fill in the "To" and "Subject" fields. You must save the form (instructions below) before attempting to attach it to an email in order to preserve the information you entered into the fields. Otherwise, the form will be sent to us blank. Make sure to click on "Send Copy" if it asks you how you would like to send it. If you choose "Send Link", we will not receive it.

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In the "To" line, enter [e-mail] and place "Lake Lucero Tour" in the subject line.

2) Save Form:
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