Quick Take
Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Carlsbad Caverns National Park are close enough to pair without much effort. Above ground is rugged and dry, then less than an hour later you are walking through massive underground chambers.
Places We Visited
Pick a stop to see its story and photos.
Pine Springs was the home base and the wildlife show all on its own, with mule deer moving through camp and turning the water spigot into a full drama scene.
McKittrick Canyon brought the greener, more sheltered side of Guadalupe Mountains and felt very different from the harsher desert outside it.
Smith Spring and Frijole Ranch rounded out the stop with history, shade, and an easier foothills walk.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Pine Springs Campground
Pine Springs was the home base and the wildlife show all on its own, with mule deer moving through camp and turning the water spigot into a full drama scene.
McKittrick Canyon Trail
McKittrick Canyon brought the greener, more sheltered side of Guadalupe Mountains and felt very different from the harsher desert outside it.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Smith Spring Trail
Smith Spring and Frijole Ranch rounded out the stop with history, shade, and an easier foothills walk.
Pine Springs Campground at Guadalupe Mountains
As we pulled out of Rio Grande Village, we said goodbye to our cow neighbors. We would definitely miss their…
McKittrick Canyon Trail
For our first day in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, we hiked the McKittrick Canyon Trail to the Grotto,…
Carlsbad Caverns
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is only about a forty-five minute drive from our campground in Guadalupe…
Smith Spring Trail
Our final hike in Guadalupe Mountains National Park was the Smith Spring Trail, a short loop that begins at…