The Land of Enchantment is full of unique and stunning landscapes. One of the most striking and iconic places was made worthy of national park status in 2019. White Sands National Monument became the country’s 62nd and newest national park. It’s the newest national park in New Mexico and there are plenty of reasons to visit it. Check it out:

On December 20, 2019, the landscape filled with white gypsum dunes joined the likes of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and other exceptionally famous national parks.
National Park Service/Flickr
And for good reason: not only is this a stunning landscape of glimmering gypsum sand, but it’s also the largest of its kind in the world.
US Embassy Canada/Flickr
The designation into a national park added an additional 4855 acres of protected lands to the park, is expected to improve and add infrastructure, and increase visitation.
White Sands National Monument/Flickr
The process of preserving White Sands National Monument has been more than a century-long process.
White Sands National Monument/Flickr
As early as 1885, the landscape was under threat of mining the gypsum for a variety of uses, including drywall and medicine. It became a national monument in 1933 under the Antiquities Act to help protect a segment of the dunes for future generations.

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While photos of White Sands National Monument tend to focus on the glaringly desolate and harsh landscape, it still contains a fair amount of life.
John Fowler/Flickr
Hardy desert vegetation such as yucca and creosote emerge from the gypsum, surviving both freezing and blazingly hot temperatures. These plants help stabilize the dunes…
John Fowler/Flickr
...as well as provide food and shelter for the equally tough wildlife who call these dunes home.
White Sands National Monument/Flickr
Ground squirrels, roadrunners, beetles, and lizards are just a few of the more than 800 species living in the area.
When do you plan to visit the newest national park in New Mexico?
Samat K Jain/Flickr
White Sands National Park is located about 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo via US-70.
Google Maps

The national park is open daily but is closed on Christmas Day. For details on seasonal hours, fees, and tours, visit the national park website.

Website: National Park Service
Facebook: White Sands National Park
Phone: (575) 479-6124

Carlsbad Caverns is another incredible national park right here in New Mexico. If you’ve never had the opportunity to visit, read all about the park in One Of New Mexico’s Most Beautiful Attractions Is Hiding Deep Underground.

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More to Explore

Newest National Park In New Mexico

Leah | July 17, 2020

What are the most well known parks in New Mexico?

White Sands National Monument in New Mexico may be the state's newest national park, but it isn't the first. There are some incredible parks and monuments throughout the state that are popular for good reason. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is one that should be on everyone's bucket list. The caves here are full of fascinating formations. The Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos also has caves as well as cliff dwellings, canyons, and simply stunning landscapes.

What are the most unique natural wonders in New Mexico?

The stark white sands are certainly a natural wonder, but not the only one in the state. New Mexico is also home to gorgeous spots like the Rio Grande Gorge, which you can cross on a bridge or take trails down into. The Bisti Badlands almost seem like something from another planet, but the colorful geological formations are located right in the Land of Enchantment. The "tent rocks" of Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument are equally as mesmerizing, with their peculiar cone shape.

What one-of-a-kind destinations can I visit in New Mexico?

You can visit some truly unique parks in New Mexico that you won't find anywhere else. For example, the Blue Hole located in Santa Rosa is definitely unique. At a refreshing temperature with deep blue, clear water, you might be surprised to know this small swimming hole is 80 feet deep. People even go diving in the Blue Hole to explore the underwater cave systems below. An iconic part of the New Mexico landscape are the Organ Mountains, with uniquely shaped granite peaks and an impressive presence over the desert below.

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