Backcountry Camping
Backcountry camping is closed for rehabilitation of camping sites. No reopening date has been determined. There is no water available anywhere in the park; visitors must bring all water they need.
Flood Watch issued September 20 at 11:18PM MDT until September 23 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Much of south-central New Mexico and Far West Texas, including El Paso, Las Cruces, and the Mesilla Valley. * WHEN...From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of arroyos, rivers, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded, resulting in road closures. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - An early season back door cold front will interact with a late season plume of deep monsoonal moisture, bringing several rounds of thunderstorms with torrential downpours to the region Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening. Repeated thunderstorms may tend to focus in one or two areas, resulting in higher end precipitation totals. The most critical period with the heaviest rain potential will likely be Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. - A broad swath of moderate to locally heavy rainfall is likely to affect most of the Watch area between late Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday evening, with typical, scattered monsoon season flood impacts. However, there is increasing potential for a narrow band of repeated thunderstorms which will result in particularly heavy rainfall amounts, possibly exceeding 3 inches in a 6 to 12 hour period, resulting in higher-end impacts. Forecast models currently favor placing the focus for heaviest rainfall over the Mesilla Valley and El Paso. But forecasts this far out, especially when dealing with thunderstorms, are simply not accurate enough to precisely tell yet where exactly this area of heaviest rainfall will set up. It could just as easily shift west or east and avoid the more populated corridor. - http://www.weather.gov/ElPaso
Dunes Drive Safety Corridor
Dunes Drive is open. A safety corridor is in effect between mile marker 3 and 5.5 along Dunes Drive. Visitors may drive but not stop or exit their vehicle in this area.
High Winds Expected
Wind and blowing dust advisories are in effect today, April 17, with gusts up to 50 mph. Do not hike during a windstorm, and do not rely on your footprints to return to your car. Closely monitor the weather while you are in the park.
About
Backcountry camping at White Sands National Park provides an extraordinary opportunity to spend the night surrounded by brilliant white gypsum dunes. The ten primitive campsites are accessed via the Backcountry Camping Loop Trail, a 2-mile moderate-to-strenuous hike through 40-50 foot dunes. The trailhead parking area is located 6.5 miles from the visitor center along Dunes Drive, and hikers follow orange spade trail markers to reach their assigned site. The campsites are entirely primitive with no amenities whatsoever. There is no water, shade, restrooms, tables, or chairs at the sites. The nearest vault toilet is approximately one mile from each campsite. Campers must bring at least one gallon of water per person per day and pack out all trash and waste following Leave No Trace principles. Open campfires are prohibited; only camp stoves elevated at least six inches above the sand are permitted. When operating, permits are issued on a same-day, first-come, first-served basis at the entrance station until approximately one hour before sunset. The park gates lock after sunset and campers cannot leave until the following morning. Campers must vacate their site by 1 p.m. the next day. Summer temperatures can exceed 100°F, and the park recommends not starting hikes when temperatures reach 85°F or above. Winter nights frequently drop below freezing.
Directions
Backcountry campsites are located along the Backcountry Camping Loop Trail. The trailhead parking area is on Dunes Drive, 6.5 miles from the visitor center.
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | No |
| Toilets | No |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $1.5 - $3 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| whsa_interpretation@nps.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (575) 479-6124 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | Yes |
Photos
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