2020 Map of Heart of the Sands

About this map

White Sands National Monument and the surrounding White Sands Missile Range dominate this landscape in southern New Mexico, showing the interface between a protected natural wonder and a military testing facility. The map captures the specialized infrastructure of the gypsum dunefield, featuring the winding path of Dunes Drive and several recreational routes such as the Alkali Flat Trail and the Backcountry Camping Loop Trail. To the west, the topography transitions into the expansive Alkali Flat, a vast dry lake bed that provides the source material for the dunes themselves. This survey highlights the Heart of the Sands, an area where the shifting dunes create a unique environment that is managed for both public access and national security operations.