Hike Playa Trail, White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

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A playa is a shallow depression or low-lying area that fills temporarily with rainwater from storms. Most of the year, it is a dry lakebed. During monsoon storms, playas refill with water, creating an interesting ecosystem and ever-changing habitat for the plants and animals that live here. The playa changes throughout the season, it may be brown, white, filled with water, or growing crystals. Hike out and see what it looks like today. Please stay on the trail. Footprints destroy the vital biological soil crust. This is not the only playa at White Sands National Monument. Playas are common features in desert environments. Lake Lucero, the largest playa at the monument, is the modern source of the gypsum sand. It covers approximately 10 square miles (16 km). Lake Lucero is located 15.5 miles (25 km) southwest of the visitor center and the only access is across the White Sands Missile Range, making it inaccessible to the public except on monthly, seasonal ranger-led tours. This short, level, family-friendly trail leads to a small playa. Green trail markers with a heart symbol mark the trail. Five interpretive panels are located along the trail. Learn about this chameleon landscape that changes from a brown dry lake bed to one teaming with life after a rainstorm or covered with a white fully crust in the winter. An Ice Age scene filled with the ancient giants that once roamed this area awaits those who hike to the end of the trail. Distance from Visitor Center: 2.5 miles (4 km) Trail marker color: Green Trail marker symbol: Heart

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