About
Length5 mi
ShapeLoop
DifficultyStrenuous
Elevation gain200 ft up
Typical time2 hr 30 min
TrailheadEnd of Dunes Drive
SurfaceDeep gypsum sand, marked only by posts
Best seasonOctober to April. Summer surface temperatures on the dunes are brutal and heat rescues are common. Check the missile range closure schedule before every visit.
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
What you'll see 🌄 Big views

There is no path, only red-topped posts across open dune. The trail ends at the edge of Alkali Flat, the dry bed of Lake Otero, the vanished lake that supplied all this gypsum. Fossil human footprints over 20,000 years old have been found on that flat.

Tips
Every marker must be in sight before you leave the last one - people become disoriented here and the park runs searches every year. Carry at least four litres in summer, tell someone your plan, and never start after 2pm. Blowing sand can erase every landmark in minutes.
Location

End of Dunes Drive

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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