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Lake Lucero Tour at White Sands National Park gives visitors a chance to explore the birthplace of the dunes
Though it may require a bit of advance planning, the Lake Lucero Tour at White Sands National Park is well worth the effort.
“It’s special because it gives visitors the chance to explore the birthplace of the dunes,” said Brian Powers, public information officer for White Sands National Park. “But it’s also part of the park that is otherwise inaccessible due to its location. The visitors can also learn about the geologic story of White Sands as they head down to the lake bed and walk by thousands of exposed selenite crystals.
“So that really (makes it a) special opportunity because only about 250 people a year can go on this tour out of 700,000 visitors.”
The approximately three-hour, ranger-led program will cover how the White Sands dunes formed — along with other historical aspects — though the format and presentation depends on the guide.
“During the last Ice Age, the climate was a lot wetter than it is today, and rain and snow melt carried the gypsum from the mountains around us — the San Andres and Sacramento mountains — into the basin,” Powers explained. “And so that gypsum runoff settled in a lake we call Lake Otero, which was about 1,600 square miles. And then about 12,000 years ago as that Ice Age ended, Lake Otero began to evaporate and left behind were these concentrations of selenite, which is basically the crystalline form of gypsum.
“From there, the crystal breaks down with water and wind. Once it gets down to a small cornflake size, about a 15 mile-an-hour wind can pick it up, and it tumbles it over one another until it is polished and the size of a tiny grain of sand.”
The tour is only offered once a month from November through March and is limited to 50 guests per program. Tickets go on sale about a month before a tour, and each offering typically sells out within a matter of minutes due to a limited capacity. While there is no wait list, canceled tickets will go on sale immediately at recreation.gov. The limited number of tours are out of necessity, both in terms of safety and available staff.
“Lake Lucero is at the lowest point in the park with little shade to protect visitors from the heat, especially on warm days. So the tours are offered in the coolest months of the year out of an abundance of caution for the safety of both our park staff and our visitors,” Powers said. “That’s why we strongly encourage visitors to come prepared with water, salty snacks, hats and sunscreen to protect them from the sun — even when it’s 50 or 60 or 70 degrees. It can still be that intense sun that if you’re not prepared could land you in some trouble.”
Though additional tours during those months would allow more people to visit the area, Powers said it’s not possible at this point in time.
“We would definitely love to be able to do that, but that is a matter of capacity and staffing,” he added. “We just don’t currently have the staffing to accommodate that.”
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The trail itself is approximately 1.5 miles round trip and considered to be a moderate difficulty level, with a gentle slope and occasionally loose soil and uneven terrain. Even in warmer weather, people are advised to wear long sleeves, pants and close-toed shoes. Because it is in a remote area of the park where emergency response can be delayed, Powers recommends that those with medical issues should make sure they can commit to the hike. Visitors must pass through White Sands Missile Range to reach the Lake Lucero trailhead, and due to military regulations, any photography or recordings is prohibited in those areas. As soon as guests are on park property, they are free to take photos and videos.
“It’s really a special experience for anyone lucky enough to go on the tour,” Powers said.
