National Park Week: White Sands Offers Morning Hikes, Free-Entry Day

In recognition of the anniversary, entrance fees will be waived Aug. 25 at National Park Service sites that normally charge admission.

Sources: White Sands National Park (via Facebook), U.S. Department of the Interior (via Facebook), National Park Service (via Facebook)
Images: Courtesy National Park Service

National Park Week begins Saturday, Aug. 22, with the National Park Service inviting visitors to explore the landscapes, historic sites and cultural resources preserved throughout the national park system.

This year’s observance runs Aug. 22-30 and includes another milestone: the National Park Service will celebrate its 110th birthday Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The Hartweg’s Sundrop or Western Primrose (Calylophus hartwegii) is showing up for its second bloom all over our Dune Life Nature Trail. Photo Credit: NPS/Paige G.

In recognition of the anniversary, entrance fees will be waived Aug. 25 at National Park Service sites that normally charge admission.

The National Park Service protects more than 430 historic and scenic sites across the United States, ranging from mountains and rivers to battlefields, monuments and cultural landscapes.

Closer to home, White Sands National Park is using National Park Week to encourage visitors to explore the dunes while planning for the summer conditions that accompany a trip to the park.

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Start Early at White Sands

Visitors looking to avoid some of the day’s heat can participate in White Sands’ Dunes Discovery Morning Hike, offered daily through the end of August.

The 45- to 60-minute ranger-guided hike begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Dune Life Nature Trail. Reservations are not required, although regular park entrance fees apply except on the Aug. 25 fee-free day.

Outdoor programs can be canceled at a ranger’s discretion because of weather or other safety concerns.

White Sands also recommends that visitors plan their trips in advance and download information through the National Park Service app before traveling, particularly when visiting areas where cellular service may be limited.

NPS photo/Allison G.

Monsoon Weather Still Matters

National Park Week arrives during New Mexico’s monsoon season, bringing another consideration for visitors to White Sands.

Cloud cover can provide welcome relief from the summer sun, but developing cumulonimbus clouds can also signal thunderstorms capable of producing rain, cooler temperatures and dangerous lightning.

Because the open dunes provide little shelter from lightning, park officials advise visitors to seek shelter immediately when thunderstorms develop.

The National Park Service is encouraging visitors throughout the week to discover somewhere new, learn about the places and stories preserved within the park system and—perhaps just as importantly—plan ahead for the conditions they may encounter.