Salt Basin Dunes★5.0

Hours:

Open daily, 24 hours a day
Accessible year-round
Daylight visits are recommended for hiking, photography, and navigation

Fees:

Private Vehicle Entrance Pass (7 days): $10
Individual Entrance Pass (7 days): $5
Children age 15 and under: Free
America the Beautiful Pass accepted

Pet Policy:

Pets are permitted in developed areas and may be walked in the dune area if leashed and under control

Closest cities with hotels:

Carlsbad, New Mexico (approximately 55 mi)

Seasons:

Open year-round; Fall, Winter, and Spring offer the most comfortable temperatures for exploration

Location:

/?api=1&query=Salt+Basin+Dunes+Guadalupe+Mountains+National+Park+Texas" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Salt Basin Dunes, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

Website:

How to Get There

From Carlsbad, NM (55 mi): Take US-62/180 south toward Guadalupe Mountains National Park, continue to the western side of the park, follow signs to the Salt Basin Dunes access road, and walk the designated route from the parking area to the dunes.

Overview

The Salt Basin Dunes are one of the most striking landscapes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park — brilliant white dunes made of gypsum rather than ordinary sand, left behind as ancient inland seas evaporated millions of years ago. Wind constantly reshapes the ridges, and the contrast between the pale dunes and the dark limestone cliffs of the Guadalupes behind them is one of the most dramatic views in Texas. Reaching the dunes takes a short trek across the desert basin from the parking area, best done in the cooler months or around sunset.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Salt Basin Dunes, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.