So I spent part of the week here exploring and I really enjoyed my time here. It is the smaller…read moreNational Park in Texas on about 85,000 acres (compared to Big Bend National Park which is 800,000 acres) but still plenty to explore. This park is more for folks that really like to hike, explore and camp. There are a few entry points into the park but there really is no scenic routes through the park. You are expected to park somewhere and walk to your destination instead which I find very interesting to do (can see alot more too). I've visiting the frijole ranch that had a small museum inside explaining the history of the park. Attach to it there are a few trails you can take off to do. I did the smith springs and it was very pretty to see. Once you manage to get up the hill there were some seats and rails you can hang onto and relax while watching the spring. I also did the Guadalupe Mountain Peak trail, which is the highest peak in Texas. That one takes about 6 to 8 hours to hike (round trip) and it had amazing views. There was also a mark at the to there you can take a picture too which was cool. Definitely need to be prepped to do this or any of the hikes (water, food, first aid, hiking stick and good hiking boots). The Salt Basin Dunes were also really nice to explore but expect to do half a day here. That one you drive over dirt road to get to but very nice views of the mountain. It also had a place you can use the restroom and sit down to eat. The place is exactly what you expect...alot of sand hills you can climb but very soft and cooling (just watch your step). I didn't get to explore all the park since there was a government shut down and closed one of the trails I wanted to do but overall It was definitely worth the trip to visit. I plan to come back next year when it's not too hot (best time for fall colors and cool air for tough hikes). I would absolutely recommend anyone to at least check this park out at least once in your life. Make sure do your research and bring what you need.

My husband and I visited in December 2025 and decided to climb Guadalupe Peak. It was amazing…read more The trail was maintained. A search and rescue ranger was walking the trail to keep a count of the hikers, which made me feel safe. I was so stoked that we were able to summit. We went to the ranger station afterwards to buy souvenirs and share our achievements. The rangers just looked deadpan at us after sharing our news. It left me disheartened. They could have pretended to care about our little victory. Would have liked to hike Devils Hall, but we were beat after the peak.

This place was bustling and interior was huge! Lots of cool exhibits and we learned quite a bit…read morearound the caverns, how they were formed, and the bats! Loved the large gift shop where we got a hardhat for the kiddo, and some other fun magnets. During the low season, their indoor cafe was not open. Still there were lots of guests inside the visitor center, and a good area to rest your feet after the long walk inside the caves!

This park is a must see. The caverns are greater in person than by pictures/videos. It was nice…read moreand cool. You decent 80 stories either via an elevator or a paved path. There is a guardrail the whole way down. Timed entrance requires ticket purchase in advance. You can order them on the nat'l parks website and also via eventbrite. The giftshop on site is great and pretty large. They also has a restaurant which we didn't try.

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

Call me the naysayer. I hated this place…read more I bought the tickets ahead of time for the timed entry. Self guided big room tour. We decided to do elevator up and down. It's 750' down to the cave. That's like 50 stories. Then it's a 1-1/4 mile loop walk. It's relatively cool, damp and dark in the cave. They have lights everywhere. And some signs you can read. But I didn't see a ranger anywhere in the cave. So why didn't I like it. The whole walkway is paved with railings on both sides. And they have brought lights in. Which made it seem unnatural to me. I almost felt like I was at Disneyland the cave ride. Then as I was walking around - I felt like you see 1 stalagmite you've seen them all. Ok - so I guess one looks like a Chinese theater and another looks like a penis. But they are all stalactites and stalagmites. It was probably the lack of ranger interaction - nobody to ask questions to or give any insight into the caves. So 1-1/4 miles of looking at the same boring crap. Granted it didn't help that some other visitors brought their screaming toddler down there. And that's all I heard the whole time. And when you got near the elevators - they actually have restrooms down there that smell like a sewer. I will 100% say this was the worst national park I ever visited.

Exhilarating trail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Heed the MANY warnings that the staff…read moreoffer up ahead of time, bring plenty of water, sun protection, and solid footwear. This is a challenging hike! I loved the trail because it's almost four or five hikes combined into one. You'll move through different segments that each have their own "feel" to them, from the arid climb up front, to the green portions in the middle, to the footbridge and campsite, and finally the exposed rugged rocks at the top. The climb involves lots of loose rock, but it never felt like a true scramble until a very small portion near the top; it's not the most technically challenging, but it is physically demanding. And be warned, the trail is very narrow and exposed at the peak! If you are scared of heights like me, it's a challenge because of the narrow ledge and the steep drop. The last tenth of a mile is pretty scary right before the peak. Great hike to challenge yourself and get rewarded with amazing views!

The Guadalupe Peak Trail Hike was one of my most memorable hikes…read more Maybe because it was the Top of Texas, y'all. Lol. I was a chaperone for the Backpacking and Camping class through New Mexico Junior College back in 2009. We started at the Pine Springs Trailhead parking lot. I cannot remember how long it took us, but with a group of course we had to stay together. Even though the highest peak in Texas is not at all like the New Mexico and Colorado heights I grew up around, it was still breathtaking. Very cool experience. The wildlife was amazing. The weather was fairly warm, but it can change in a hurry. I keep thinking about this trip for some reason. I have throughout the years. It was fun. I cannot wait to bring my girls here... Use the usual precautions... Bring water, hiking boots, a light jacket, sunscreen, snacks, etc. Pack it in, pack it out.

Whew! This was a tough little hike. The National Park Service has changed the rating of this hike…read morefrom difficult to strenuous and I can totally understand why. You will definitely be rock scrambling and bouldering during many parts of this hike and the portion that runs along the wash is extremely hard to follow. If I didn't download a map ahead of time, I would have been completely lost. There were times that I was literally looking up at huge rocks and wondering if I had hit a dead end, but ended up having to climb them to continue the trail. Don't be fooled by the AllTrails description of this hike. 3.6 miles and 577 feet of elevation gain really ends up being more like 4.2 miles and almost 700 feet of elevation gain. Although that's not a very difficult amount of elevation, what makes this hard is the fact that most of it includes rock climbing. I should also mention that it's an out and back hike, so most of the elevation is gained during the first half of the hike. You will use your entire body to get through this trail (upper and lower). The trail begins at the parking lot behind Pine Springs campground and visitor center. It starts off gradually inclining up a sandy single track hiking path through desert vegetation and alongside the wash. You'll hit a part of the trail where it'll actually meet the wash, and this is where you'll hike through the wash to finish the out portion of the trail. This is where it starts to get rocky and tricky. This portion where it follows the wash is so hard to follow. Make sure that you download a map ahead of time so that you have something to help you navigate. Reception is very spotty, so download the map so that's its ready for offline use. After scrambling through rocks, you'll reach the natural staircase. It's so stunning to look at but also terrifying to try and navigate through. I did see a few people actually climb in front of it and my anxiety went out the roof watching them do it. Most people just took the "shortcut" and hiked behind the staircase which is a bit longer to do but also much safer. And trust, I took that shortcut. I was not trying to die that day being extra adventurous. The shortcut is a bit nerve racking too, but there are places where you can put your hands and feet to climb up the rock (you can see the slits in the rocks). After passing the natural staircase, you'll reach the infamous "pool". It's nothing special folks; just a small puddle of water with hella mosquitoes inside. Eeeck! After passing the pool, you'll do some soft rock scaling and then you'll find yourself at Devil's Hall. There's no signage or anything, and I actually kept going past it at first because I wasn't sure if that was the end of the hike. Luckily there was another group of people up there who told me that I had made it. And then, the photo ops! Hiking back down all of those rocks is almost as brutal as climbing them. Trying to get your footing right while coming down loose gravel and boulders is killer. I slipped a couple of times. Witnessed a few people along the trail who slipped too. High ankle hiking boots are highly recommended. The ankle support will really come in handy. My feet were on fire at this point too, but I'm also out of shape and that's clearly my fault. The heat didn't help either. This trail has zero shade and I was burning up. Bring more water than you think you'll need and lather up on the sunscreen. From start to finish with breaks, it took me about 3 hours to complete this hike. Again, I wasn't in my best shape, but this hike ain't easy either. The nice views and the photo ops at the natural staircase and Devil's Hall pretty much made up for that though. It was surely an excellent workout too. I just wished that it was marked better, but I'm happy that I came prepared and downloaded the offline map. So, this hike probably wouldn't be too difficult for an avid hiker who hikes higher elevations and rock scrambles pretty regularly. But for the occasional hiker or the average Joe, get ready for a serious climb.

Amazing Trail. About 4 MI total. Wear proper shoes, this one's a rocky one, lots of boulders to…read moreclimb and scramble over but fun and rewarding. You will start from the parking lot using the same Trail for Guadalupe Peak, then it splits. The peak one way the devil's hall or the other. You will follow the little Trail all the way to the creek wash, then you head up the wash the remainder of the way. You just walk the wash till you get to what they call The Devil's Staircase. You can't miss it. You'll climb and enter that and immediately you run into a tank filled with water hopefully and from there you keep going forward into the wash. Don't give up you're almost there. It looks sketchy I know but keep going. Then before you know it you come to the slot canyon known as The Devil's Hall. Amazing hike. Go do it. Get out and explore. Happy hiking

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.

I got some postcards here while visiting Carlsbad Caverns. You can even adopt a bat for $5 to help…read moresupport the bats studies. This gift shop is small and has the same pictures of the same animals on a variety of items in case you want a collection of the same animal...a mug, a pen, a postcard, a poster, a hat, a magnet, of the same animal. =)

Quiet and spacious campground for star gazing and close to White Sands NP. We would definitely stay…read morehere again. Friendly camp hosts. They also have sleds to borrow at the camp host station for sledding the dunes at White Sands.

Beautiful, quiet park with clean camping facilities. Has restrooms and showers. Great sleeping in…read morethe Chihuahua desert. Close proximity to White Sands and Los Alamos. There is the Dog Canyon trail, which is worth the trek. We didn't make it all the way through due to timing, but will definitely be back to finish.

What an amazing hidden gem! In town for a visit and my friend suggested this place to explore. I'm…read moreso glad she did. We did the self guided side and we took our time so it was around 2 hours. Anyone can do the trip, but if you want to climb be sure to bring proper footwear. It was such a great time and can't wait to come back and do the guided tours next time. The staff are just lovely and helpful. Go do it if you haven't!

This small state park ROCKS!!!…read more We attended the second day of the 2025 Hueco Tanks Community Fair Day, it was pretty nice. They had Gozo ice cream and other local vendors in attendance, but the biggest thing was that the park showed out it rare side. We went out on an afternoon hike of Mescalero Canyon with volunteers Phil and Courtney, they were great at getting us out as far as the pond enroute to Tabloid Pass. It was rare to see how green the Tanks were. We got to see one of the major pictographs on the Atlaloc Pass that looked like a frog and a tortoise. We zoomed back to the interpretive center. We were able to explore a little on the Las Tinajas side of the North Mountain. Great time today, and looking forward to some good camping on the next visit to Hueco Tanks.

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.

We have stayed here for 14 days. It is a nice secluded park, quiet, and dark but still close enough…read moreto Carlsbad and local attractions. We went to Carlsbad Caverns and Bat Flight Program, Sitting Bull Falls and The Flume during our second visit to this area. The park is in need of some trimming and weed control. Our site is filled with Texas Star Thistle. We had to do yardwork before setting up our pet fence. I mean it is everywhere here. There are dead trees at sites which should be taken down before they fall on someone. The sites are not level. The dump station is closed. They said they are taking bids from local companies and should be up in two weeks but it has been two weeks. We were able to use our blue boy and dump at a vacant host site. The park would be so much nicer if a little care was taken to clean the sites of vegetation. I'm not sure if we would stay here again.