Needed repairs to the Interdune Boardwalk at White Sands National Monument necessitate its closure for three months/NPS

Visitors to White Sands National Monument in the coming months will have to forgo a stroll down the Interdune Boardwalk while repairs are made to it. That doesn't mean you can't head out into the dunes; just that the walking will be a little more difficult.

The needed repairs were to get underway on Wednesday and continue until mid-May. You can follow progress on the park's website.

The Interdune Boardwalk is an elevated boardwalk that leads visitors through the fragile interdune area to a scenic view of the dunefield and the Sacramento Mountains. On the trail you can learn about the amazing science happening here; tenacious wildlife that ekes out a living in this harsh environment; and the unique weather and geologic conditions that created and sustains the world's largest gypsum dunefield.

All other trails in the monument remain open.

Entrance fees collected by White Sands National Monument through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act will fund the boardwalk renovation project. Fees collected over the last ten years totaling more than $4.6 million have been used to add vault toilets, picnic shelters, replace cedar rail fences, install new museum exhibits and waysides, install new interpretive signage on trails, improve safety messages, maintain the historic visitor center and upgrade the sewer system in the historic district.