Walk Through Ice Age History at White Sands National Park During National Fossil Day

News Release Date: September 28, 2026

Programs will be offered from Oct. 2 - 28 and will include guided hikes along the new Ice Age Trail, ranger talks, drop-in programming and a special presentation associated with the October Full Moon Night on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 5:30 p.m. Through these activities, visitors can discover the scientific importance of White Sands' fossil resources and learn about ongoing research that uncovers stories from ancient lake shores and beneath the dunes.

White Sands National Park preserves one of the world's largest concentrations of Ice Age fossil footprints. The park's fossil trackways provide a rare record of life back as far as 21,000 - 23,000 years ago, offering important insights into the people and animals that once occupied the landscape.

National Fossil Day is an annual celebration highlighting paleontology's scientific and educational value and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations. This year's event takes place on Oct. 14. In recognition of the significance of the park's fossilized footprint resources, White Sands National Park is featured on the official 2026 National Fossil Day poster.

Throughout October, visitors can discover White Sands' remarkable fossil heritage and learn about Pleistocene megafauna and the human footprints preserved beneath the glistening white sands for thousands of years.

2026 National Fossil Day Program Schedule

Ice Age Life Within Drop-in Programs
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Drop in at the White Sands National Park visitor center courtyard to examine casts and molds of Ice Age fossilized footprints, along with replica skulls of large mammals that lived in the park tens of thousands of years ago. Rangers will discuss how humans and Ice Age animals traveled across the same landscape and interacted with one another.

Ranger-Guided Walks of the Ice Age Trail (formerly the Playa Trail)
Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Oct. 28 at 10 a.m.

Join park rangers for a guided walk along the 0.8-mile Ice Age Trail. Participants will learn about the Pleistocene landscape, its mammal and human inhabitants and the discovery of fossilized footprints in the park.

National Fossil Day Drop-in Program
Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Celebrate National Fossil Day in the visitor center courtyard. Park scientists will share information about the park's fossilized footprints, while visitors can view rarely exhibited footprint casts, molds and museum collections.
October Full Moon Night Presentation
Sunday, Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m.

Join Resource Management Program Manager David Bustos at the park's natural outdoor amphitheater for a special ranger presentation about the fossilized footprints found in the park. Bustos will explore the fascinating story of prey and predators as he guides visitors on a journey through life at White Sands that 23,000 years ago. Learn the tales of ancient humans, how they hunted, how they lived and the current study of the fossilized footprints found at White Sands.

The program is free, but park entrance fees will apply. Event parking will open at 4 p.m. The presentation will start at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 90 minutes, including time for questions and answers. The park will have extended hours until 8 p.m. that evening.

For more information, visit the park calendar webpage.

-NPS-

About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America's most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.

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