Hike the short and easy Playa Trail in White Sands National Park for a view of the park’s playa just off of the road.
A playa is a shallow depression in the desert that temporarily fills with water after a monsoon storm. Otherwise, it looks like a dry lakebed. When the playa refills with water, it creates a unique ecosystem for the plants and animals in White Sands.
Throughout the season, the playa changes colors based on how much water is in there. It will be brown, white, filled with water, or even growing crystals at different times of the year.
Playa Trail Basics
30 Minutes
0.5 Miles Round Trip
Out-And-Back
0 Feet
Duration: 30 Minutes
This short and easy trail only takes up to 30 minutes for most people to walk, including time to stop and read the 5 interpretive signs along the path.
Distance: 0.5 Miles Roundtrip
The entirety of the trail is only half of a mile. You reach the playa after a quarter of a mile then turn around.
Type: Out-and-Back Trail
As with most trails at White Sands National Park, this is an out-and-back trail. You walk for 0.25 miles, view the playa, then retrace your steps back to the parking area.
Elevation Change: None
Playa Trail is a flat trail that walks through some of the desert shrubs on the way to the Playa.
Season: Any
White Sands National Park is open year-round and the trail is available any time of the year. Ideally, this park is best in the spring and fall when you don’t have the extreme temperatures of the desert climate to consider.
Time of Day: Any
The Playa Trail is a great trail any time of the day but is best in the early morning before the park gets busy or in the evening near sunset.
Amount of Shade: None
There is very little shade to be found in White Sands National Park, and this trail doesn’t have any bit of shade. Make sure to prepare accordingly for the heat and the sun.
Difficulty: Easy
Playa Trail is a flat, short, easy trail that doesn’t take much time and can be done by most people.
What Makes Playa Trail a Great Hike?
Walking out to the playa doesn’t take long but you get to see another unique ecosystem within White Sands NP. This was a great short little trail to end the day for us since we started at the far end of the park and worked our way back towards the entrance.
The playa was completely dry since we were there in March so we were able to walk out on the lakebed for a few minutes.
Scenery on the Playa Trail
While walking along the short path to the playa, you will be walking between many species of desert shrubs and plants that call the area home. You’ll be able to see the playa in the distance but stay on the trail until the end.
Once you reach the end of the trail, a small pathway leads to the playa. You can walk out on the lakebed if it isn’t filled with water. Keep in mind that during the summer months and monsoon season, storms can churn up quickly and the area is prone to flash floods.
Playa Trailhead Information
Park Name: White Sands National Park
Playa Trail is one of the shortest trails in White Sands National Park located in Southern New Mexico about 1.5 hours from El Paso, Texas.
Finding the Trailhead
Once you park in the parking area, there will be a sign to designate the start of the trail with information about the trail and what you’ll see along the way.
Markers Along the Trail
As you follow this trail, it’s a pretty obvious pathway through the desert shrub. It’s marked by green trail markers with a black heart on them.
Nearest Restrooms
There are no restroom facilities in the parking area for the Playa Trail. The nearest vault toilet is located at the trailhead for the Dune Life Nature Trail or at the Visitor Center.
Parking Area
The parking area for the Playa Trail is a small pulloff on the side of Dunes Drive about 2.5 miles from the visitor center. When heading into the park, it’s the first trail pulloff on the righthand side of the road. It’s a very small area, with enough room for only a few vehicles at most.
Other Trails at this Trailhead
The Playa Trail is the only trail that you can get to from this parking area.
Tips for Interdune Boardwalk Trail
- Make sure to bring water and sun protection. Even on a short trail, the sun is brutal in the desert.
- Read the signs for information about the area and see what the area looked like 10,000 years ago.
Accessibility Information for Playa Trail
Dirt
Dirt Lot
Trail Type: Dirt
The trail is a dirt path but it’s well packed most of the way. I don’t think a wheelchair or stroller would be able to make it through the dirt, but someone with minor mobility issues may be able to traverse the path.
Parking: Dirt Lot
The parking area for the Playa Trail is a hard-packed dirt lot.