• 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.

Patio Talks

 

When you attend a Patio Talk, you may learn about the anatomy of the historic visitor center, the colorful frontier history of the Tularosa Basin, or how to read tracks in the sands. Join a ranger on the visitor center patio to have your questions answered and pick up tips for enjoying your stay at White Sands National Monument. Programs are offered every day at 1:30 pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The rest of the year, Patio Talks are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 pm. These informal programs last about 20 minutes and are a great family activity.

 
Visitors enjoying a patio talk
Visitors enjoying a patio talk in the courtyard of the historic visitor center.

Did You Know?

Photo of animal tracks

Most desert animals are nocturnal, coming out to feed only at night when temperatures are cooler. Every animal in the white sands makes tracks on the dunes as it moves, leaving clues to its nocturnal activities.