A beautiful waterfall, out in the middle of nowhere. It was about an hour from Carlsbad, & you may…read moreas well plan a half day trip there to make it worth your while It can get very busy, so you will have to explore the creek, & other areas, to find a good spot to sit & relax in the water No gas stations out there, or food of any sort. You are in the middle of nowhere lol service is very spotty, so come prepared. There are bathrooms though, & some shelters with tables if you plan on staying to eat & relax

Best part was the falls. Otherwise windy, unsteady terrain with mid views of a lot of brownread more

Such a fun playground! Plenty for big and little kids. Beautiful view. Shaded well in the afternoon.read more

Playground on the Pecos…read more.. Loved this playground in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It's situated next to the Pecos River and an exercise path. A bridge is nearby to let the kiddos across to the other side. Free, ample parking is nearby. There were some benches as well as a gazebo with picnic tables within short walking distance for parents. Just a bit further walk away were the restrooms. I highly suggest you bring your own soap or at the least hand sanitizer. Residents came together with an idea for this park - the features correspond with the surrounding environment such as a "caverns" area and a stationary "tic-bat-toe" game. My kids were 8 & 9-years-old when they first visited (10/19/2022) and thought this was a great park. Their favorite areas were the big kid swings, monkey bars, tower lookouts, and tire swing. It has fencing around it, but the gates stay wide open during park hours. It was mostly clean. Please help keep this a safe, clean park.

Beautiful out in the Desert with Lake Brantley near…read moreoverlooks the lake, beautiful sunset, long drive on tho but if you go, visit the Desert Gardens nearby as well as Carlsbad Caverns!!!

A wonderful State Park, located on Brantley Lake! There are 47 camp sites with water and electric…read more They also have dispersed sites as well.

I wanted a hiking and an outlook experience and this place did not disappoint. Meandering through…read morethe grounds, there are is an aviary, pond, creature cave, outdoor elk & sheep pen, gardens and more. Lots of panoramic views. Indoors, there are a bunch of displays, restrooms and a gift shop. An easy 1 hour exploration of the grounds. Lots of free parking.

*** mountain lions and a bobcat are here now! ***…read more My young daughters and I loved seeing black bear "Maggie" open her 20th birthday present on 1.18.2025. We had no idea this event was happening prior to our visit that Saturday, so it was a special treat. Adult admission is now $10. Kids ages 7-12 are $5. I will always be a fan of this park because of certain staff members and the animals... Chihuahuan desert animals are the absolute best! Note, this go around we did not see the bison or a single scorpion. In saying this, I would NOT plan a trip just for this state park. It's not where it should be. The map they handed us clarifies that a new Framework Plan is in the works, but its implementation has seemingly been prolonged. There needs to be certain renovations and maintenance done before I would ever recommend this as a key destination. Before you visit, check out their hours ahead of time and set aside at least an hour for a self-guided tour. The signage going to this place absolutely still sucks. I'll never understand why New Mexico is like this. How do non-natives of this area even find this place without a GPS? Seriously. Ample free parking for RVs, trucks, my Jeep, and the usual boring cars. Bring water, a hat, & comfy walking shoes.

Awesome…read more Beautiful dog park! Maintained very nicely, and it's right next to the river. It's somewhat like a community that welcomes all new dog parents. It's awesome to see friendly people and responsible dog parents taking care of their pets and being friendly to all people. The dog park has a section for large dogs and smaller dogs. The larger dog side has obstacle course for doggies to become pros for a puppy bowls lol Try this place even if in passing!

Great dog park! Lots of room to run around and super cute decor. While it is right next to the…read moreriver, there is no water access. Still, you can take your dog for a walk on the leash by the river or let them come inside the gates of the dog park to run around. Parking is on street, but easy. Several large trees for shade, benches for the humans to sit on, and a water fountain from the dogs to drink. Very well maintained with its upkeep. Highly recommend a visit!

Didn't have a chance to make it through the end and back but such a great hike! This trail is to…read morethe left of slaughter canyon trail/cave trail. Be cautious of snakes as we did encounter one randomly, it was a black tail rattlesnake. It was scary and awesome at the same time. Along the trail it'll be rocky, sandy, dirt trail. You'll see different kinds of wild plants. Tips: bring water, nice hiking shoe, long sleeve t shirt and comfy pants as the grass around the area my be high, hats, sunscreen, tweezers- in case of thorns from plants, and a camera

Here's Carlsbad…read moreCaverns completely exceeded my expectations. Pictures don't do it justice--the caverns are absolutely huge, and the rock formations are incredible. We decided to walk in through the natural entrance, and although it's a steep descent (over 800 feet), it was well worth it. We explored the entire cavern and took the elevator back up, which took us about 3 hours at a relaxed pace. The trails are paved, easy to follow, and very well maintained. Everything is beautifully lit, making it easy to appreciate all the amazing stalactites, stalagmites, and other rock formations along the way. The staff were friendly and helpful, the restrooms were clean, and I thought it was great that they even have kennels available if you're traveling with pets. There's also a small gift shop inside by the elevator, and once you're back up top, you'll find two more gift shops and a café. If you're visiting when it's offered, don't skip the evening bat flight program. It's such a unique experience and the perfect way to end your visit. I would absolutely recommend Carlsbad Caverns to anyone--it's one of those places you have to see in person.

First time here and was staying close by Carlsbad. Getting here super easy for a National Park…read more Parking was easy and close to the visitor center. Visitor center gives a great overlooking view of the valley below. Great educational preview for the caves and bat show. Wear good shoes you will be walking down A Lot ! No flops or crocks your feet will hate you. Bring a backpack for a light jacket and flashlights are allowed. Good for looking into some deep portions of the cave. I brought 2 flashlights one that clipped on my backpack and aimed down so I can see my footing. There are some wet spots in the cave and slipping IS a Possibility. Second one was bright enough to look into deep openings around the caves. My EDC is a Wurkkos TD11 has up to 3k Lumen which is plenty. The pack also had some snacks that you can only eat at the bottom where the food court is. Brought 2 water bottles that were packed with ice and electrolytes. Now the big issue. Cell phones are great but I also brought my insta360 x5. Good for low light and extra batteries. No one up top told me I couldn't bring it in. Mind you I was using just the standard stick. Yes it extends but I only used it as the short stick. I also did bring a clip on rig just in case. 3/4 down was stopped by one Ranger and told yes as long as I didn't extend the stick it was ok. At the bottom by the food court another ranger told me no MUST put it away period. Fine for the main big chamber I used the clip on mount to get my shots. Just be aware that Rangers vary. Yes I was responsible and didn't interfere with the environment. Just wanted to capture the beauty. Now the rest of the story. Lots and lots of down hill switchbacks. Tons of spots to take AMAZING pictures. The bats are just below the entrance of the caves and in a separate chamber. You can spot a few outside that chamber. Way way way way way down you go switchback and beautiful spots of picture taking. Blown away and the final Big chamber. If your planing go for the Ranger led tour as it will bring you further down into deeper chambers! Remember camera restriction as mentioned. Handicap can take an elevator down to the main chamber so they can experience the awe. As for going back up 2 options elevator or hike back up. I love my hips and knees so I chose elevator. As for the bat show. Get there 630pm ish is fine show starts 730p-830p. but do know that if its windy (past 20mph) no bat show as the bats are too small to battle hight winds. If you miss it there is live viewing on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/live/BwiIsjXt3KI?si=uf5eNH9g2KD0hnfl

Fun local place, people seemed friendly but... Absolutely, under zero circumstances should you go…read morehere for the food.