Q1. Is there a fee?
A1. No. There is no fee to visit the Trinity Site open house.
Trinity Site Open House
Announcement
Dates for the Trinity Site Open House are now April 1, 2023 and October 21, 2023.
WSMR employees may not use their uprange access to enter through WSMR gates to get to the Trinity Site Open House. They must enter through the Stallion Gate during 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. or participate in the Alamogordo Caravan to get to the site. Those attempting to use the WSMR Gates will be turned away by DES at the site.
DATE AND TIME
Upcoming Dates: April 1, 2023 and October 21, 2023
The first Saturday in April and the third Saturday October
Stallion Gate Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Trinity Site prompt closure: 3:30 p.m.
SITE ACCESS: ALAMOGORDO CARAVAN/STALLION GATE
Due to the annual increase in the number of visitors to the Trinity Site Open Houses. The Alamogordo caravan is only open to the first 125 vehicles. The limit is necessary to maintain a safe environment enroute to Trinity Site. Once you are at the site you must leave through the Stallion Gate at your convenience. There is NO caravan back to the Tularosa High School football field parking lot.
All others will have to enter the site through the Stallion Gate located off U.S. Highway 380. The route is approximately the same time and distance as the caravan route. Directions here
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS
Members of the press who would like to cover the upcoming Trinity Site open house must register with our Public Affairs Office.
Please click the link below to register:
Directions
**DO NOT use GPS to get to Trinity Site use directions below**
Stallion Gate Entrance
Exit I-25 on mile marker 139 (San Antonio, N.M.) and head 12 miles east or exit U.S. Highway 54 onto U.S. Highway 380 and head west 53 miles of Carrizozo, N.M. Turn south on New Mexico State Highway 525 and head south five miles to the Stallion gate.
Alamogordo Caravan
The Alamogordo caravan is sponsored by the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce and leaves from the Tularosa High School football field parking lot at 8 a.m. Turn west off Hwy. 54/70 in Tularosa at Higuero St. Proceed west to La Luz Ave. Turn right on La Luz Ave. (north) to athletic field.
In order to safely manage the vehicles, the Alamogordo caravan is only open to the first 125 vehicles. Once you are at Trinity Site you MUST leave through the Stallion Gate. There is NO caravan back to the Tularosa Gate.
If you enter Trinity Site through the Stallion Gate you can exit the range with the caravan as long as the caravan doesn't exceed 125 vehicles. The estimated time it takes to travel this route is about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the number of vehicles in the caravan. There are no bathroom breaks or special stops along the route to and from Trinity Site.
For more information please contact the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce at 575-437-6120.
TRINITY SITE MAP - DOWNLOAD HERE
Real ID
All states and territories are now either fully compliant with the Real ID Act OR have been granted extension until May 3, 2023.
For detailed information, please visit:
https://realid.mvd.newmexico.gov/
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FAQ
Q1. Is there a fee?
Q2. Are bathrooms available?
Q3. Do they sell food items?
Q4. Do I have to register?
Q5. Are there scheduled tours/ceremonies?
Q6. Can I take pictures?
Q7. What do I need to do to get on the installation?
Q8. Can I bring my firearm?
Q9. Are pets allowed?
Q10. Can I ride my motorcycle?
Q11. What are the hours for the open house?
Q12. How far will I have to walk?
Q13. What is there to see?
Q14. Can you accommodate large vehicle (RV’s, Campers, Buses)?
Q15. Are there any handicap restrooms?
Q16. Are there handicap buses available to visit the McDonald Ranch House?
Q17. Do you sell souvenirs/food?
Q18. Is there a gas station nearby?
Q19. Is there wheelchair access?
Q20. Do I have to register for the Alamogordo caravan?
Q21. If I follow the caravan can I leave through the Stallion gate?
Q22. Where does the Alamogordo caravan meet?
Q23. What time does the Alamogordo caravan leave from Trinity Site?
Q24. Would I be able to leave with the Alamogordo caravan if I did not arrive with them?
Q25. Can I use my GPS device for directions to the site?
Q26. Where is nearest city with hotel accommodations?
Q27. Is it harmful to visit Trinity due to radiation?
Q28. Is marijuana allowed on the installation?
Q3. Do they sell food items?
A3. Food items will be sold from 8 a.m. to about 12:20 p.m. Cash only. Items range from $3-$5.
Q5. Are there scheduled tours/ceremonies?
A5. There are no scheduled tours or ceremonies. This is a self-guided open house event.
Q6. Can I take pictures?
A6. Photos are allowed at Ground Zero and the McDonald ranch house. Photography is strictly prohibited on any other part of the installation.
Q7. What do I need to do to get on the installation?
A7. A government-issued photo ID is required for everyone 18 years and over and proof of insurance and registration for your vehicle or rental agreement. Please see REAL ID information for documentation to be used in lieu of or with a non-compliant state driver's license.
Foreign nationals must present a valid passport
Q8. Can I bring my firearm?
A8. No weapons are allowed. There is no place to store weapons or firearms. Leave them at home.
Q9. Are pets allowed?
A9. Pets are allowed as long as they are leashed and their waste is picked up and put into a trash receptacle. Pets are not allowed on the shuttle that takes visitors to the ranch house.
Q11. What are the hours for the open house?
A11. The Stallion Gate is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site closes promptly at 3:30 p.m.
Q12. How far will I have to walk?
A12. The walk from the parking area to Ground Zero is about 1/8 of a mile.
Q13. What is there to see?
A13. An obelisk at Ground Zero and the McDonald ranch house which is where the plutonium core was assembled.
Q14. Can you accommodate large vehicle (RV’s, Campers, Buses)?
A14. Large vehicles such as recreational vehicles, campers and buses are allowed at the open house. Ample parking is available for these types of vehicles.
Q15. Are there any handicap restrooms?
A15. Handicapped-accessible porta potties are available at the site.
Q16. Are there handicap buses available to visit the McDonald Ranch House?
A16. Unfortunately there are no handicap buses available to visit the McDonald Ranch House. However, architectural drawings and information about the ranch house are available near the entrance to ground zero.
Q17. Do you sell souvenirs/food?
A17. Souvenirs and food are available for sale at the site. Cash only.
Q18. Is there a gas station nearby?
A18. There is no gas station on the missile range. Trinity is in a very remote location, please be sure you have a full tank of gas. We recommend filling up your tank in Socorro, Carrizozo, or Truth or Consequences depending on which direction you are traveling from.
Q19. Is there wheelchair access?
A19. Yes, the site is wheelchair accessible. We also provide a golf cart to take disabled individuals to Ground Zero. However, there are no paved roads and visitors must be prepared to travel through loose sand and rocks.
Q20. Do I have to register for the Alamogordo caravan?
A20. No, you do not have to register to join the caravan. However, the caravan is limited to the first 125 vehicles. All others will have to enter the site through the Stallion Gate located off U.S. Highway 380.
Q21. If I follow the caravan can I leave through the Stallion gate?
A21. Yes, visitors who follow the caravan may exit Trinity Site through the Stallion gate.
Q22. Where does the Alamogordo caravan meet?
A22. Visitors who wish to ride the caravan must meet at 7 a.m. at the Tularosa High School Athletic Field Parking Lot. A photo id will be required. The caravan is limited to the first 125 vehicles. All others will have to enter the site through the Stallion Gate located off U.S. Highway 380.
Q23. What time does the Alamogordo caravan leave from Trinity Site?
A23. The caravan departs from Trinity Site by 12:30 p.m. Visitors wanting to return to the caravan are asked to line up in their vehicles at least 15 minutes before departure. The caravan is limited to the first 125 vehicles. All others will have to exit the site through the Stallion Gate located off U.S. Highway 380. See Directions for more information.
Q24. Would I be able to leave with the Alamogordo caravan if I did not arrive with them?
A24. Yes, you are able to leave with the caravan. The caravan leaves promptly at 12:30 p.m. from the Trinity Site parking lot. The caravan is limited to the first 125 vehicles. All others will have to exit the site through the Stallion Gate located off U.S. Highway 380.
Q25. Can I use my GPS device for directions to the site?
A25. Because this is a remote location do not rely on GPS for the location of Stallion Gate. GPS is not always an accurate tool to get to the site. Please follow the directions on the website or look at a traditional map.
Q26. Where is nearest city with hotel accommodations?
A26. The nearest city with hotel accommodations is Socorro, New Mexico. We recommend to book your hotel reservation several months in advance as hotels do book up during open houses.
Q27. Is it harmful to visit Trinity due to radiation?
Radiation levels in the fenced, ground zero area are low. On an average the levels are only 10 times greater than the region´s natural background radiation. A one-hour visit to the inner fenced area will result in a whole body exposure of one-half to one millirem.
Typical radiation exposures for Americans per the American Nuclear Society
- One hour at Trinity Site ground zero = one half mrem
- Radioactivity from air, water and food = about 240 mrem per year
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