parks
Iconic cottonwood tree at White Sands National Park has fallen
By Dave Burge at KTSM 9 News (NBC)
· July 19, 2026
· 1 min read
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- White Sands National Park reports that an iconic Rio Grande cottonwood tree that has delighted visitors and park rangers for decades has fallen. The tree, located on the Dune Life Nature Trail, always seemed slightly out of place in the white sand dunes of the park. Park ...
Key takeaway The tree, located on the Dune Life Nature Trail, always seemed slightly out of place in the white sand dunes of the park.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The loss of the iconic Rio Grande cottonwood tree at White Sands National Park will be felt by El Paso residents who have visited the park over the years. As a prominent feature on the Dune Life Nature Trail, the tree's presence added a unique element to the park's landscape, contrasting with the vast expanse of white sand dunes. Its fall serves as a loss for the local community, which has come to appreciate the tree's beauty and character. The tree's location on the nature trail also made it a popular spot for photography and reflection, attracting visitors from El Paso and beyond. Park officials will likely need to assess the impact of the tree's fall on the trail and surrounding ecosystem, and consider measures to preserve the area's natural beauty for future generations of El Pasoans and visitors to enjoy.
About this story
Original reporting by KTSM 9 News (NBC) . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KTSM 9 News (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 19, 2026 ·
Source: KTSM 9 News (NBC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- White Sands National Park reports that an iconic Rio Grande cottonwood tree that has delighted visitors and park rangers for decades has fallen. The tree, located on the Dune Life Nature Trail, always seemed slightly out of place in the white sand dunes of the park. Park ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 19, 2026 by KTSM 9 News (NBC) and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Dave Burge at KTSM 9 News (NBC). To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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