Guadalupe Mountains

The Guadalupe Mountains are a mountain range in south east New Mexico and west Texas, south west of the city of Carlsbad, New Mexico.  The mountain range is bookended by Carlsbad Cavern National Park at its northern end and Guadalupe Mountain National Park at its southern end.

We stayed on federal land near Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico and visited both parks from there.

Caves like Carlsbad Caverns and Lehman Caves are dissolved out of limestone (calcium carbonate) by acidic water seeping through cracks.  The limestone is the result of millions of years of sea creatures dying and accumulating at the bottom of the sea.  This area was underwaterThis area was underwater from about 100 million years ago to about 66 million years ago.

Limestone cliffs near Carlsbad Caverns

As with the pistachios, we discovered that we were there at the wrong time of year for the bats.  They are there only in the summer.  We need to come back when its warmer.

Amphitheater seating to watch bats emerge from Carlsbad Caverns

The natural entrance of the cave leads to a 1000 ft descent to the big room.  That is about the elevation of the Empire State Building.  There is an elevator if you don't want to climb back up.

The natural cave entrance

The winding path leading down to the Big Room

The big room is impressive for its sheer size.  There are so many formations that they all blend together, but the overall experience is very impressive.

Limestone formations

Cave draperies

The Big Room

A reflecting pool

The Big Room

The little plateaus show a sustained water level at some point in the past 

Map of Carlsbad Caverns

The next day we crossed the border to Texas to see the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Crossing the New Mexico/Texas state line

El Capitan dominates the skyline at the southern end of the Guadalupe Mountains 

El Capitan

We took a hike through the foothills of the Guadalupe Mountains to two major water sources in the area, Smith Springs and Manzanita Springs.  It is an amazing place to spend a morning walking.

Manzanita Spring with El Capitan on the horizon

Smith Spring

We headed out to the south toward Big Bend National Park.

Miles and miles of Texas (look up the song)