2020 Map of Lake Lucero

About this map

Lake Lucero dominates this desert basin, serving as a primary source for the gypsum sands that define the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert landscape. The ephemeral lake bed sits at the western edge of the White Sands National Monument, where active geological processes continue to shape the dunes. To the west, the sharp relief of the San Andres Mountains is marked by drainage systems like San Andres Canyon and Ash Canyon, which flow toward the basin floor. Most of the terrain is managed for conservation and defense, split between the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge and the White Sands Missile Range. Human presence is minimal in this protected corridor, represented primarily by the Lake Lucero Trail leading toward the alkali flat.