White Sands National Park Visitor Center Alamogordo New Mexico S5E63

White Sands National Park was originally designated White Sands National Monument on January 18, 1933 by President Herbert Hoover; it was re-designated as a national park by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 20, 2019. It is the most visited NPS site in New Mexico, with about 600,000 visitors each year. The park features a drive from the visitor center to the heart of the dunes, picnic areas, backcountry campground in the dune field, marked hiking trails, and sledding on the dunes. Ranger-guided orientation and nature walks occur at various times and months throughout the year.