2023 Map of Heart of the Sands

About this map

White Sands National Park occupies much of this landscape, where the shifting topography of White Sands meets the expansive Alkali Flat. This modern survey illustrates the proximity of federal lands, specifically where the northern boundary of the park abuts the White Sands Missile Range. Human access to this sensitive environment is channeled through Dunes Drive, providing a route into the heart of the gypsum dunes. For those exploring on foot, the map delineates specific corridors such as the Alkali Flat Trl and the Backcountry Camping Loop Trl. The layout reveals a landscape managed for both preservation and military utility, defined by its lack of permanent settlements and its reliance on these established trails and roads to navigate the high-desert terrain of Otero County.