White Sands’ website still shows the national park is closed because of the pandemic. One of them - Walk along the dunes (Interdune boardwalk) - was closed on the day of our arrival. It contains the largest gypsum dune field on Earth. Operating Hours & Seasons. The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. As of Wednesday, general elevator use at Carlsbad Caverns National Park was limited to those using wheelchairs, walkers and canes, per a press release. When military tests are in progress Dunes Drive is closed to all traffic. The main restrooms located next to the visitor center structure are closed. White Sands National Park was designated a national park in November and is considered to be a local jewel in Otero County. Share your journey with friends and family and, as always, service animals are allowed at all park facilities open to the general public. White Sands National Monument (park) is an awesome and unbelievable place. Dunes Drive opens at 7 a.m. daily, except on Christmas Day and days when there is … During the winter and occasionally throughout the year, the monument may unexpectedly close due to unsafe road or extreme weather conditions. Thursday, May 28, 2020 Situated between Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range is a large swathe of gypsum desert. White Sands also manages a network of weather stations throughout the park that monitor weather conditions. “This 1.25-mile trail involves a steep 75-story hike into and out of the cavern. Visitation has remained about the same.”. 236 to … White Sands National Park has reopened to the public with limited services due to the coronavirus pandemic. Dunes Drive and all hiking trails will remain open at White Sands National Park, per a news release. Park staff is usually notified two weeks in advance of scheduled tests; however, notifications from White Sands Missile … Discover the areas of White Sands National Park that are accessible to those with mobility impairments. The visitor center and park store is offering walk-up table service. Open all day and night year round, the tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. “People can still come to the park and enjoy the trails,” she said. White Sands National Park's forecasted weather conditions for the next few days can be found at noaa.gov. The park was originally designated White Sands National Monument on January 18, 1933 by President Herbert Hoover, and redesignated as a national park when Congress passed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act on December 20, 2019. Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, access to the visitor center and gift shop has changed. “Park superintendents are empowered to modify their operations, including closing facilities and cancelling programs, to address the spread of the Coronavirus.”. Covering 275 square miles, the massive dunes are created when rain and melting snow dissolve gypsum from the surrounding mountains and … Rome2rio makes travelling from Midland to White Sands National Park easy. As of Sunday, March 22, 2020, White Sands National Park, is closed until further notice. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with the federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. When recreating, please follow local area health orders (www.nmhealth.org) and recreate responsibly by keeping social distance, wearing a face covering when social distance cannot be maintained, avoiding high risk activities, and staying home if you feel sick. Find all the transport options for your trip from White Sands National Park to Saguaro National Park … The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at White Sands National Park is our number one priority. Ranger programs are the perfect way to learn more about White Sands National Park and the amazing diversity found here. Find the travel option that best suits you. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Park Service has announced changes at three of the region’s largest national parks, including White Sands National Park, Guadalupe National Park, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Visitors are encouraged to call the visitor center at (575) 479-6124 ext. White Sands National Park proposes changes to current fees for enhanced visitor services including, the Full Moon and Lake Lucero ranger-guided hikes, backcountry tent camping, and group use area reservations, as part of its commitment to improving the visitor experience. guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Ranger led programs and back country permits have been suspended as well at Guadalupe Mountains Park, read a news release. When full operations resume, the National Park Service will provide updates on their website and social media pages. After more than 80 years as White Sands National Monument, Congress authorized its redesignation to a national park at the end of 2019. White Sands will close the visitor center, Western National Parks park store, White Sands Trading Company […] Experience a starry sky on moonless nights, or a surreal walk on the dunes under bright full moonlight. Sunset Strolls are presented every night of the year, while Lake Lucero and Full … The cheapest way to get from Carlsbad to White Sands National Park costs only $91, and the quickest way takes just 9 hours. He said the Natural Entrance Trail is still open to visitors. # VisitAlamogordo # AdventuresForLife # nationalpark # SafeAlamogordo # nmtrue # NewMexicoTrue Closed: Backcountry Camping and Park Ranger Programs White Sands National Park in New Mexico is known for its rare white gypsum sand dunes of the northern Chihuahuan Desert. ALAMOGORDO, NM (KTSM) — Despite saying earlier this week they’d keep the dunes open to tourists, the National Park Service announced they’re closing White Sands National Park as of Sunday, March 22. White Sands Missile Range regularly conducts missile tests. Located: New Mexico - Established: December 20, 2019 *Photos and most text courtesy of the National Park Service. Bernhardt temporarily suspended entrance fees at all park entrances until further notice, per a press release. “Park superintendents are assessing their operations now to determine how best to protect the people and their parks going forward.”. Find all the transport options for your trip from Midland to White Sands National Park right here. National parks across the United States are still open as the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) imposed changes to hours in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. NPS Photo. More:Carlsbad residents urged to support locally owned business during COVID-19. Park operating hours vary by season, and is occasionally closed for periods of time due to missile tests on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. For safety, the trail isn’t accessible to wheelchairs, strollers or walkers,” Larson said. The book store in Pine Springs along the Western National Parks park store and White Sands Trading Company, both at White Sands National Park, were closed until further notice as well, the releases indicated. In support of the New Mexico Public Health Orders and to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, White Sands National Park will temporarily limit indoor services. In order to be prepared for your visit please read the guide below on how to best navigate the buildings. Rome2rio makes travelling from White Sands National Park to Saguaro National Park easy. “Get outdoors and remain safe and practice social distancing. White Sands National Park Visitor Center and Gift Shop, Dunes Drive, hiking trails, picnic areas, sledding and restrooms are open to the public. Monument staff will do their best to notify the public of closures via other available means. Military Bases The national park is entirely surrounded by the White Sands Missile Range; just east is the Holloman Air Force Base, and a few miles north is one of the space shuttle landing sites.The space theme is reflected in the nearby town of Alamogordo, home to the International Space Hall of Fame and the Space Theater. White Sands National Park is open and ready for your visit! “Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick,” Larson said. Elizabeth Jackson, Guadalupe Mountains National Park spokesperson, said park trails, camping areas and reserved campsites will remain open. "The precautions being taken by our national parks are reasonable, and we know they are working hard to follow developing state and federal guidelines.". "As with everyone else right now, our National Park System is implementing policies in cooperation with the CDC’s guidelines recommending increased distancing," Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway said. https://cm.currentargus.com/specialoffer/, ECSO and others offering help to those affected by COVID-19, Carlsbad residents urged to support locally owned business during COVID-19, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Park roads, desert trails, and picnic areas remain open. The monument closes around sunset, and it requires all visitors (except permitted backcountry campers) to leave. More:ECSO and others offering help to those affected by COVID-19. Jackson said park trails are only open during daylight hours. All park ranger led programs are canceled and back country camping at White Sands National Park is not allowed until further notice. Facilities closed, outdoor spaces open As of Wednesday, the visitor center’s at White Sands National Park near Alamogordo and Guadalupe Mountains National Park at Pine Springs, Texas were closed until further notice, read news releases from both parks. To comment, please select the "open for comment" link. Please support local journalism by subscribing to the Carlsbad Current-Argus at https://cm.currentargus.com/specialoffer/. Open: Dunes Area, Hiking Trails, Picnic Areas, Visitor Center and Gift Shop (both with walk-up tables) White Sands National Park is also seeing some closures. Restrooms in the dunes area are open. While the listed areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased, and services may be limited. As of Wednesday, the visitor center’s at White Sands National Park near Alamogordo and Guadalupe Mountains National Park at Pine Springs, Texas were closed until further notice, read news releases from both parks. About White Sands National Monument About 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo on US 70, White Sands National Park is the source of rare gypsum sands that form snow-white dunes rising up to 60 feet above the Tularosa Basin floor.. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Programs are offered for a variety of ages and interests. Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter. Effective Monday, November 16, 2020, the visitor center, park store, and park gift shop are temporarily closed until further notice. White Sands. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. “The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is the priority of the National Park Service,” Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt said on the National Parks Service website. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, access to White Sands National Park is as follows: Open: Dunes Area, Hiking Trails, Picnic Areas, Visitor Center and Gift Shop (both with walk-up tables) Closed: Backcountry Camping and Park Ranger Programs. Find the travel option that best suits you. If you want to spend the night at White Sands National Monument and enjoy the famous sunsets and sunrises or the dark skies for watching meteor showers, the only way to do it is to spend the night at one of the 10 dispersed campsites out in the dunes. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health. Location Map of White Sands National Park. In case of unexpected closures, the information will be made available, in order of priority, in the following media: The whiteness of the sand and the vastness of the sand dunes is just amazing. The park encompasses 145,762 acres protecting 115 sq mi of the dunefield, about 41%, while the remaining 160 sq mi are located to the north within White Sands … For visitor safety, the only road into the dunefield, Dunes Drive, may be closed for periods of up to three hours during missile tests. Michael Larson, Carlsbad Caverns National Park spokesperson, said an elevator closure addresses New Mexico’s order to avoid mass gatherings. As a result, this website may not contain the most current and up-to-date closure information. “The health and safety of our visitors, employees, […] Amid COVID-19, White Sands National Park is not open yet, but officials are waiting for approval to reopen when the time comes. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, access to White Sands National Park is as follows: These stations also us with … The decision came after new guidance from the CDC advised implementing additional social distancing measures. The White Sands National Park (New Mexico) Visitor Center is open from 9 am to 5 pm. The cheapest way to get from Golden to White Sands National Park costs only $68, and the quickest way takes just 9¾ hours. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. The map reports that there are several trails here. 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