- Choose Interdune Boardwalk for the easiest accessible walk, or Playa Trail for a quick stop with minimal effort.
- Dune Life Nature Trail and Backcountry Camping Trail are better for moderate hikers wanting a fuller dune experience.
- Alkali Flat Trail is the hardest option and best for visitors wanting the park’s most immersive hike.
- Hiking in sand is more tiring than normal trails, so bring extra water and pace yourself carefully.
- Stay for sunset if possible, when pink and purple light reflects beautifully across the white dunes.
Introduction
White Sands National Park is one of the most uniquely striking national parks in the United States.
The park protects the largest dune field of white gypsum sand in the world, so prepare for the dazzling sight of lots and lots of naturally occurring white.
The best way to immerse yourself in this unusual and rare ecosystem is to set out on one of the park’s trails.
Unlike some of the more famous national parks, White Sands is quite small. It only takes a day, or even less, to see the whole park.
The Shaka Guide tour of White Sands takes you to every trail in this compact park.
Let’s explore the trails one by one, so you can familiarize yourself with the park, and prepare for how to spend your day at White Sands.
What are the Hiking Trails in White Sands National Park?
1. Playa Trail
Image from Flickr by David Fulmer
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 0.5 mile
- Elevation Gain: 0ft
- On the tour? Yes
This short and very easy trail takes you to a dried lakebed, or a playa. Informational panels interpret what the playa looks like, and what kinds of animals it attracts, throughout the seasons.
2. Dune Life Nature Trail
Shutterstock Image
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 1 mile
- Elevation Gain: 30ft
- On the tour? Yes
This one-mile loop takes about an hour and goes up and down the dunes through the interdunal area, or the transition zone between the desert scrubland and the sand dunes.
Because of a few steep climbs and the general difficulty of hiking through sand, hikers consider this hike moderate. But the reward is walking through a unique ecosystem.
3. Interdune Boardwalk
Shutterstock Image
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 0.5 mile
- Elevation: 0ft
- On the tour? Yes
This is a must-stop for everyone. The Interdune Boardwalk provides an elevated path through the interdunal area that is accessible to ADA standards.
If you're not able to try the Dune Life Nature Trail, this one's a great alternative. A couple of covered seating areas offer shade on this half-mile round-trip walk.
4. Backcountry Camping Trail
Shutterstock Image
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 6ft
- On the tour? Yes
White Sands features a backcountry camping area, with remote campsites out among the dunes.
However, the trail to the campsites is open to anyone. It's a two-mile loop and rated moderate because of the difficulty of hiking up and down sand dunes.
However, this trail is a good alternative if you want to experience being out in the dunes without attempting the more difficult Alkali Flat trail.
5. Alkali Flat Trail
Shutterstock Image
- Difficulty: Hard
- Length: 5 miles
- Elevation: 52ft
- On the tour? Yes
Alkali Flat forms the dried lakebed of the ancient Lake Otero, where the white sands are created.
To reach the edge of the flat, hike this five-mile, round-trip hike through the sand dunes. Because of its length and the ongoing challenge of hiking through sand, this hike is rated as difficult.
But this offers the best opportunity to truly immerse oneself in the untamed and bizarre landscape of White Sands.
Map of Hiking Trails in White Sands
Final Thoughts
Shutterstock Image
In a small park like White Sands, hiking is truly one of the best (and only) things to do. Fortunately for hikers, the five trails offered range from easy to hard, and they even include an ADA-accessible trail into a natural interdunal area. So there’s truly something for everyone.
If you can, stick around in the park for sunset. At the end of the day, the colors of the pinks and purples of the darkening sky are a wonder to behold as they reflect off the white sand.
And of course, take Shaka Guide’s White Sands tour with you, to learn more about the area’s history, pop culture, and wildlife. You’ll be amazed at the incredible stories present in this world of white sand.
Like this article? Share it on Pinterest!
Ready to Explore White Sands?
Take Shaka Guide’s White Sands National Park Audio Tour for turn-by-turn directions, local stories, and the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Visiting more parks in the region?
Don’t miss our Texas & New Mexico Tour Bundle — it includes tours for Big Bend, Carlsbad Caverns, and Guadalupe Mountains!
Still planning?
Check out our White Sands Itinerary and Know Before You Go guide to prep for your trip.
Have questions?
We’re happy to help — email us at aloha@shakaguide.com.
RELATED ARTICLES:
White Sands National Park Sledding Tips & Tricks
Matt Caracciolo is a travel writer based in Ohio and author of the Shaka Guide tour for Yosemite. Born and raised in Columbus, Matt fell into travel writing while teaching English abroad in South Korea.
He has written two travel books, including the Moon Ohio guidebook, and enjoys writing and editing tours for Shaka Guide. Matt follows Mark Twain’s belief that “travel is fatal,” embracing travel as a way to learn more about the world and ourselves.