Considering White Sands National Monument
Located roughly 45 miles east of Las Cruces on U.S. Highway 70
(575) 679-2599
www.nps.gov/whsa
Located roughly 45 miles east of Las Cruces on U.S. Highway 70
(575) 679-2599
www.nps.gov/whsa
White Sands National Monument protects the world’s largest gypsum dune-field, and the unique plants and animals that survive in this other-worldly place. Between White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base, the magnificent pure white dunes provide excellent recreation opportunities; visitors can picnic, “white sand surf” or just stroll through a portion of the 275 square-mile national monument. Additionally, the monument offers tours and activities such as the Sunset Stroll Nature Walk, full moon night programs, special events, and tours of Lake Lucero.
Watch a video from New Mexico True Television about White Sands
From Las Cruces, NM: Drive time: About 1 hour
Take Highway US-70 east over the Organ Mountains towards Alamogordo. The monument and visitor center are located about 52 miles (84 km) east of Las Cruces on the north side (left-hand side) of the highway, approximately one mile past the Border Patrol checkpoint station. If you are not an American citizen, you will need to have your passport with you to get past the checkpoint.
From El Paso, TX: Through Las Cruces: Drive time: 2 hours
Take I-10 West towards Las Cruces. After 39 miles, take exit on to I-25 North. Follow I-25 North for about 7 miles and then exit onto US-70 East towards Alamogordo. Take Highway US-70 east over the Organ Mountains towards Alamogordo. The monument and visitor center are located about 52 miles (84 km) east of Las Cruces on the north side (left-hand side) of the highway, approximately one mile past the Border Patrol checkpoint station. If you are not an American citizen, you will need to have your passport with you to get past the checkpoint.
White Sands National Monument Full Info
Monument operating hours vary by season and the park is occasionally closed for periods of up to three hours due to missile tests on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. Visitors are encouraged to call the visitor center at (575) 479-6124 ext. 236 or 206 to verify that a closure is not in effect.
The monument is open daily year round except for December 25, Christmas Day.
Unexpected Closures
From time to time the park is closed due to weather or road conditions. In that event, visit the Monument’s Facebook or Twitter page for the most current information. You can also visit the New Mexico Department of Transportation Road Conditions website to find out if roads in the area are closed.
Entrance Fee
$3 per person (good for 7 days with receipt). Checks, cash, and credit cards, including MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, Diner’s Club and JCB are accepted. Children 15 and under are free.
Entrance fees are collected at the entrance station on the Dunes Drive.
For additional information regarding weddings, photography, filing or group tours and reservations, visit the Monument’s website.
Interpretive Programs
the Monument offers a wide range of tours and activities from Full Moon Hikes to guided tours. For information about all the Monument has to offer visit any of the links below.
Step Through Time
Come join a ranger for a fascinating look at our past. Topics vary. Program is presented every other month beginning in January, 2014. Learn more…
Full Moon Hike
This summer White Sands will be offering a new way to experience the monument, under the glow of the full moon. Sign up for one of these ranger-led 1-1.5 mile hikes and explore the beautiful dunes in a whole new light. Learn more…
Commercial Bus Tours
Are you bringing a commercial bus tour group to White Sands? We’ve put together some information to answer what questions you may have. Learn More…
Lake Lucero Tours
Join a ranger and learn about the formation of the sands and the special plants and animals that live in and around the dunes. Learn more…
Sunset Strolls
Sunset strolls are a great way to end your day. Enjoy a leisurely one-hour ranger-guided walk through sand dunes and learn about the geology, plants, and animals of this unique area. Offered daily one hour before sunset. Learn more…
Full Moon Nights
Enjoy the beauty of the white sands under the light of the full moon and join us for our six Full Moon Nights programs offered this summer. Learn more…
Full Moon Bike Rides
Take a leisurely bike ride through the monument. No cars are allowed in the monument during the event. Learn more…
Sunrise Photography
Geared towards the amateur photographer, this program is offered only twice a year. Join a ranger to catch your own images of the sun rising over the dunes on this one-hour program. Learn more…
Crafty Kids
Come join a ranger and get your hands involved in learning! For more information on this one-hour program, Learn more…
Skins and Skulls
Did you know 44 different species of mammals live at White Sands? Join rangers every Saturday and Sunday to learn more about them. Learn More….
Junior Ranger Program
Earn a Junior Ranger badge and learn about White Sands with a ranger. Learn More…
january, 2021
08janallday17feballdayVirtual: Zoom Reading: "Karl the Magnificent"
We are very excited to announce our January streaming event! A ZOOM reading of William Missouri Downs' hilarious zany new play, "Karl the Magnificent" will be ready to stream from January 8
more
We are very excited to announce our January streaming event! A ZOOM reading
of William Missouri Downs’ hilarious zany new play, “Karl the Magnificent”
will be ready to stream from January 8 – January 17.
Admission is FREE. If you would like to see it, just e-mail us and we will send you the login
information.
We are using a professional closed captioning service for our streaming
events. We plan to continue Free streaming performances until it is safe
for audiences to return to our theatre.
Happy Holidays from No Strings Theatre Company!
January 8 (Friday) - February 17 (Wednesday)
24jan3:00 pmVirtual: “The Art of the Crèche”
Las Cruces, NM—“The Art of the Crèche” will be a virtual sharing of some of the Crèches or Nacimientos in the collection of Faith Hutson and John Verploegh. This zoom
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Las Cruces, NM—“The Art of the Crèche” will be a virtual sharing of some of the Crèches or Nacimientos in the collection of Faith Hutson and John Verploegh. This zoom presentation will discuss the recreation of the story of the birth of Christ through the creative eyes of artists. The collection reflects people’s work from around the world who interpret the Christmas story in terms of their own cultural environment, as evidenced by the artist’s use of materials, costume, animals and gifts from the Magi.
The collection comes from the world journeys of Faith and John and their families. Last year, they opened their home, located in the Mesquite Historic Original Townsite, in connection with Epiphany to showcase their collection. With open homes not possible this year, they still want to share select hand-made artwork, both as a gift to the larger community and to showcase pieces by international artists representing some twelve geographical regions and 39 countries including Slovenia, Israel, Peru, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Tanzania.
This presentation is in conjunction with the City’s designation of 2021 as the “Year of the Artist”. The virtual presentation will be given twice; the first showing will be on January 24, 2021 at 3 p.m. and the second on January 31, 2021 at 6 p.m. Please email Faith, lcgarden64@gmail.com if you are interested in attending and she will send you the zoom meeting ID. Also, feel free to share this event information with others, the more the merrier!
Although the virtual event is free to all attendees, a donation through PayPal will support the Mesquite District Art Fund, which supports public art in the south Mesquite Historic District of Las Cruces.
Contact: Faith Hutson, lcgarden64@gmail.com
(Sunday) 3:00 pm
27jan3:30 pm4:30 pmVirtual: Great Courses: The American West: History, Myth, and Legacy
Thomas Branigan Memorial Library invites you to participate in our discussion of The Great Courses program The American West: History, Myth, and Legacy. This program covers the history of the
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Thomas Branigan Memorial Library invites you to participate in our discussion of The Great Courses program The American West: History, Myth, and Legacy. This program covers the history of the American West from colonial times to the “closing of the frontier” in the late 19th century. Participants are asked to watch four roughly half hour long episodes available on the library’s Kanopy streaming service every two weeks, and then participate in a Zoom discussion.
Zoom discussions are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27th. Kanopy can be accessed by going to lascruces.kanopy.com and using your library card number to create an account.
For more information and Zoom invitations, contact the Reference Department at (575) 528-4005 or email library.reference@las-cruces.org or tbaker@las-cruces.org
(Wednesday) 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
31jan6:00 pmVirtual: “The Art of the Crèche”
Las Cruces, NM—“The Art of the Crèche” will be a virtual sharing of some of the Crèches or Nacimientos in the collection of Faith Hutson and John Verploegh. This zoom
more
Las Cruces, NM—“The Art of the Crèche” will be a virtual sharing of some of the Crèches or Nacimientos in the collection of Faith Hutson and John Verploegh. This zoom presentation will discuss the recreation of the story of the birth of Christ through the creative eyes of artists. The collection reflects people’s work from around the world who interpret the Christmas story in terms of their own cultural environment, as evidenced by the artist’s use of materials, costume, animals and gifts from the Magi.
The collection comes from the world journeys of Faith and John and their families. Last year, they opened their home, located in the Mesquite Historic Original Townsite, in connection with Epiphany to showcase their collection. With open homes not possible this year, they still want to share select hand-made artwork, both as a gift to the larger community and to showcase pieces by international artists representing some twelve geographical regions and 39 countries including Slovenia, Israel, Peru, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Tanzania.
This presentation is in conjunction with the City’s designation of 2021 as the “Year of the Artist”. The virtual presentation will be given twice; the first showing will be on January 24, 2021 at 3 p.m. and the second on January 31, 2021 at 6 p.m. Please email Faith, lcgarden64@gmail.com if you are interested in attending and she will send you the zoom meeting ID. Also, feel free to share this event information with others, the more the merrier!
Although the virtual event is free to all attendees, a donation through PayPal will support the Mesquite District Art Fund, which supports public art in the south Mesquite Historic District of Las Cruces.
Contact: Faith Hutson, lcgarden64@gmail.com
(Sunday) 6:00 pm