Red trail markers with a diamond symbol guide hikers along this strenuous, 5-mile (8 km) roundtrip hike. The Alkali Flat Trail skirts the edge of what is now the final remnant of Lake Otero. This trail is not flat! You will be hiking up and down dunes the entire way. Go only if you are prepared. There is no shade, no water, and no toilet facility along this trail. The average completion time is three hours.
Length: 5 miles (8 km), round-trip
Trail Marker Color: Red
Trail Marker Symbol: Diamond
Average Completion Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance from Visitor Center: 7 miles (11.2 km)
Restroom: Two vault toilets at the trailhead
Before setting out on foot at White Sands National Park, please view our Hiking Safety Tips.
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