Guadalupe Mountains National Park/ Carlsbad Caverns National Park

The Guadalupe Mountains is small in size but can pack a punch. With over 80 miles of trails to explore, there is a lot to see. Guadalupe offers 20 different trails to choose from. We didn't have the opportunity to hike every trail, but one really stood out to us. Located right outside the Frijole Ranch museum (https://www.nps.gov/places/gumo_frijole_ranch_museum.htm) is the Frijole Trail. The Frijole Trail is a is a 3 mile loop and moderately challenging. Even though the trail is only three miles, expect to spend at least an hour and a half. Your elevation gain is about 640 feet, and expect some interesting terrain while hiking. From flatlands to climbing some rocky terrain, hiking here was clearly our favorite! It has to be said that Guadalupe Mountains has fewer than 220,000 visitors a year, which makes it one of the least traveled national parks. This is mind boggling because this is Texas’ best kept secret. With its 260 million year history, highest peak in the state, home to over 20 native tribes over the centuries, 86,000 acres, and some of the best bird watching in the country, it’s a must see. Posted below are the pictures and following them is the impressive Carlsbad Caverns. Continue reading after the pictures.

After leaving the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, we made our way to Carlsbad caverns. Since we have already been to Mammoth Caves National Park and the Florida Caverns, we were expecting to walk into the same types of caves we have already seen. We were very, very wrong. The sheer size of Carlsbad is enough to take your breath away. Above ground, you have the beautiful Chihuahuan Desert, below ground you have 119 caves formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes. During our travels, we have encountered some grand entrances, this literally was jaw dropping. You enter the cavern with 1.25 mike hike down 750 feet. That is equivalent to walking down a 75 story building! When you hit the bottom, you enter the big room with an additional 1.25 mile flat hike. You will be rewarded with spectacular views and cave formations of all shapes and sizes. No pictures we took can really do Carlsbad any justice. Take a look at the pictures below. Next stop is White Sands National Park in New Mexico. LET’S GO!