White Sands National Park · New Mexico

Interdune Boardwalk

0.2 mi of trail, end to end · Hiking Interdune Boardwalk: 0.4 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · 4,002 ft–4,002 ft · wood surface · trail class Developed

4,002 ft 4,002 ft · 0.2 mi high 4,002 ft

Trailhead Interdune Boardwalk Trail 4,002 ft Drive there

Hiking Interdune Boardwalk 0.4 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

15-30 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Dunes Drive

Close up of a large lizard with blue face and tail
Blue whiptail lizard on the Interdune Boardwalk Photo: NPS

The Interdune Boardwalk is currently closed because of the active safety corridor. Please refer to safety corridor page for more information on visiting White Sands National Park. Visit the visitor center to speak with rangers about alternatives to the boardwalk for your visit.

The Interdune Boardwalk is an elevated boardwalk that leads you through the fragile interdune area to a scenic view of the dunefield and the Sacramento mountains. Ten interpretive panels along the boardwalk explain the amazing science of White Sands National Park, including tenacious wildlife, fascinating geology, and other special features of the world's largest gypsum dunefield. This short walk has much to discover!

The Interdune Boardwalk is 0.4 miles (0.6 km) round trip.

A large shade structure is located halfway down the boardwalk.

An accessible restroom is located in the parking area.

Ranger Recommendations

Bring plenty of water for your family and pets.

Keep in mind that this trail is for observing plant and animal life. If you want to play in the sand, please drive farther down Dunes Drive where there are better dunes for sledding and picnic tables with shade.

Stay on the trail to avoid damaging delicate biocrust.

Visit our Hiking Safety page for more recommendations about hiking in the unique conditions of White Sands National Park.

Accessibility This trail is ADA accessible. The parking lot is well-compacted sand. A large shade structure is located halfway down the boardwalk. Sometimes wind blows sand onto small patches of the boardwalk, making travel accross the boardwalk more difficult. Please report sand on the boardwalk to a park employee.

This hike on nps.gov

All 6 trails in White Sands National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.