• The dunes in soft light

    White Sands

    National Monument New Mexico

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  • Closures and Missile Tests

    Upcoming Missile Tests: From time to time the missile range that surrounds us performs missile testing that may require the closure of the park or Highway 70. Please follow the link below for up to date information on closures More »

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 sand avalanching

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.