Guadalupe NP

                                                             

Wilderness Waiting to be Explored!

Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef, the four highest peaks in Texas, an environmentally diverse collection of flora and fauna, and the stories of lives shaped through conflict, cooperation and survival. Come experience mountains and canyons, desert and dunes, night skies and spectacular vistas within a place unlike any other within the NPS.

3 Oct 2014

Unlike most National Parks with paved roads taking you here and there, this is a park that has to be explored by hiking or horseback. We spent time at the VC and took in the movie and exhibits there. Even not getting out to explore there are still great vistas to take in. We look forward to a return trip with more time to really take in this park.

NPS Website

Our 102nd NPS Unit and 14th National Park

Carlsbad Caverns NP

                                                             

Beauty and Wonder; Above and Below

High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes.

2 Oct 2014

We decided to take the long way into the cave via the Natural Entrance. This adds a 1.3 mile walk into the cave to get to the Great room. You see so much more going this way and it was well worth the extra walking. Once to the Great room another 1.2-mile trails awaits you or you can cut this down by taking a few shortcuts. We decided to do the entire loop. What this cave lacks in color it more than makes up for in the amazing number of formations to see. We were not done after all this walking as we wanted to see the bat flight later in the evening. We took the elevator out and went to see the bat flight and was not disappointed 400,000 bats flying out of the cave to feed was just amazing. Sorry no pictures as it not allowed anymore to have any electronics on during the flight. We really enjoyed this Gem of the Park service.

NPS website

Our 46th NPS Unit and 7th National Park