News Release

Visitor Fatality in White Sands National Park

Date: July 8, 2022
Contact: Kelly Carroll, 575-479-6124 ext. 230

ALAMOGORDO – Over the 4th of July holiday weekend, White Sands’ park rangers initiated a search after locating an unoccupied vehicle in the park. At 11:02 am, Tuesday, July 6, 2022, search and rescue teams discovered a deceased male located off-trail at White Sands National Park.  

New Mexico State Police, the lead agency, is investigating the incident. For further details, please contact the New Mexico State Police.

During the extreme summer heat, it is critical to be prepared and know your limitations. For summer hiking at White Sands, the park recommends starting in the coolest part of the day, early morning or early evening. We recommend that visitors not start a hike when the temperature is at or above 85 degrees F. There is no shade or water along any of the trails in the park.

We also recommend that hikers bring at least one gallon of water per person per day and high­ energy snacks. Wear a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and lightweight, loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and long pants to help protect skin from the sun. Always have a plan when you hike, carry a cell phone, and tell someone who is not in your party where you are hiking and when you plan to return. If you are lost, stop and stay where you are and call 911.

White Sands National Park would like to thank White Sands Missile Range, U.S. Army, Holloman Air Force Base, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New Mexico State Police, New Mexico Search and Rescue, and affiliated groups for their assistance in the search and recovery operation.

More information on safety precautions and active safety alerts can be found here: www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/safety.htm and the NPS Mobile App.

www.nps.gov/whitesands

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.