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White Sands National Monument
Your Safety
 

Safety Tips

  • Do not stop on the roadway; pull off the road into an established parking area before stopping.
  • The gypsum-surfaced portion of the dunes drive can be slick when wet--drive carefully.
  • Pedestrians in picnic areas should be careful of heavy traffic. WATCH YOUR CHILDREN.
  • Do not tunnel into sand dunes. Tunnels collapse easily and can cause suffocation. Sand sledding can cause injuries--be careful. Never sand surf near the road.
  • It is easy to become disoriented when hiking in the dunes. Do not hike alone. When hiking off-trail, take a map and compass and orient youself to surrounding landmarks.  Take plenty of water--one gallon per person is recommended.
  • The white sands reflect sunlight. Use sunblock to cover all areas of exposed skin. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.

More information on desert safety.
Satellite photo of dune field  

Did You Know?
Only a handful of gypsum dune fields exist and the white sands dune field is by far the world's largest, covering 275 square miles.

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Last Updated: March 27, 2007 at 17:05 EST