White Sands National Monument
White Sands National Monument is an attraction in New Mexico, at a modelled elevation of 1,218 m. Mule Peak stands 2,462 m to the east, 22 miles off. Sunspot Scenic Byway passes 26 miles off. 72 named places lie within 25 miles, 28 of them named summits.
The story
national park in Otero and Doña Ana counties in New Mexico, United States
Dates from 1933-01-18.
Wikidata Q1200164, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
What to expect
- Operated by
- White Sands National Park
- Step-free access
- Yes
How to reach it
- 26.5 mi off the Sunspot Scenic Byway
Overlooks nearby
72 named places within 25 miles
- Twin Buttes: 10.8 mi
- Lone Butte: 14.3 mi
- Tularosa Peak: 16.5 mi
- Gardner Peak: 17.4 mi
- Block Mountain: 17.4 mi
- White Sands National Monument: 5.3 mi
- Heritage Park: 11.0 mi
- Tularosa Valley Historical Marker: 14.4 mi
- Desert Villas Homeowners Association: 15.7 mi
- Balloon Park: 17.2 mi
- Harry Francis Acley House Historic Site: 18.8 mi
- Otero County Fairgrounds: 19.4 mi
- German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Tornado PA-200: 21.2 mi
- XQ-4A: 21.2 mi
- X-7A: 21.2 mi
- White Sands National Park: 5.4 mi
- Tularosa Basin Museum of History: 18.6 mi
- Toy Train Depot: 18.9 mi
- New Mexico Museum of Space History: 21.3 mi
- Alamogordo Founders Park: 18.6 mi
- Grave of Ham the Astrochimp: 21.2 mi
- Alamogordo Astronaut Memorial: 21.3 mi
- Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor: 11.0 mi
- Giant Pistachio: 20.4 mi
- Alamogordo Community Garden: 19.5 mi
- Astronaut Memorial Garden: 21.3 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 25 miles of White Sands National Monument. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mule Peak | E 90° | 2,462 m | 22.4 mi |
| San Andres Peak | WSW 240° | 2,459 m | 18.4 mi |
| Long Ridge | E 87° | 2,446 m | 22.7 mi |
| Potato Knob | E 87° | 2,407 m | 24.7 mi |
| Gobbler Knob | ESE 103° | 2,373 m | 24.2 mi |
| Ortega Peak | ENE 75° | 2,335 m | 23.4 mi |
| Hershberger Peak | ENE 78° | 2,330 m | 23.3 mi |
| Big Brushy Mountain | SW 225° | 2,252 m | 20.9 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:10 | 18:44 | 19:17 |
| June solstice | 05:58 | 19:41 | 20:17 |
| September equinox | 06:54 | 18:31 | 19:03 |
| December solstice | 07:04 | 16:26 | 17:04 |
Local time (America/Denver).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Mar–Jun, Aug–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 40 | 45 | 52 | 60 | 69 | 79 | 81 | 79 | 73 | 61 | 48 | 39 |
| Precip in | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — White Sands Natl MON, 5 mi away.
Inside the official boundary of White Sands National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Feb and Jan; busiest: Mar.
NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOfficial siteOpenStreetMap element node/7504214572
Take the scenic way to White Sands National Monument.
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