· exploring · national park · park · Guadalupe Mountains NP
Just south of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, across the border in Texas, is Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Passing through the town of Carlsbad again on the way there:
Cave people art:
We stopped for lunch at a tiny separate section of Carlsbad Caverns NP, Rattlesnake Springs Picnic Area:
They have a very nice picnic area in an oasis of trees, which we had pretty much to ourselves (only one other group in the distance):
Rattlesnake Springs sign:
This area has a spring that is the source of the water for the caverns:
Spring pool:
With fish:
Continuing on, we entered Texas:
Mountains:
A brief stop at the small McKittrick Canyon Visitor Center of Guadalupe Mountains National Park:
Then on to the main part of the park:
Pine Springs Visitor Center:
You know I enjoy 3D relief maps:
Inside the visitor center:
We walked along the Pinery Trail, about a mile of nature trail:
We took a look at the “campground”, little more than a parking lot (and too small for our coach):
We were impressed by El Capitan mountain:
A rest area and view:
El Capitan mountain again:
A quick spin along Frijole Ranch road:
Then back north into New Mexico, a much-needed carwash, and back home to our coach.