Discover iBestTravel’s National Parks: A Unique Adventure

Tucked away near the New Mexico–Texas border lie three unique attractions: White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Visitors can climb to the top of Texas’ highest peak, journey 1000ft below the earth’s surface, or scramble up the world’s largest – perhaps only – gypsum dune fields.

With less than four hours’ drive time (Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains are only about 30 minutes apart) to hit all three spots, the region is perfect for time-strapped tourists looking to cross names off their national park bucket list. However, while it’s possible to visit all three in a weekend, odds are you’ll find a reason to linger.

White Sands National Monument

Although White Sands National Monument is the most heavily visited out of the three sites, it was under the radar for many years until it officially became the United States’ newest national park, and New Mexico’s second, in December of 2019. That it got so little traffic for so many years was a boon for the ecosystem, but unfortunate because it’s easily one of the most unique properties within the National Park Service system.

The white sand – technically it’s gypsum – stretches for miles, forming massive dunes. You’ll have to remind yourself it isn’t snow. The pristine dunes are gorgeous and make for great photos, but depending on how crowded the park is that day, you might need to hike a bit to find untrampled spots.

Unlike normal beaches, there isn’t a tide to erase the multitude of footprints and sled tracks left by visitors. Ranger Robin Milne suggests trying to time your visit after a rain or windstorm, which will give you a fresh canvas.

Buy or rent a plastic sled at the visitor center and start looking for a steep slope for some adventurous fun. If you plan to hike, be sure to bring a compass or, at the very least, know how to use the compass app on your phone. With the exception of the backcountry trail, there are no real trail markers on the dunes, so it’s easy to get lost. Milne says the park conducts between 10 and 15 search and rescue operations each year.

Services are limited inside the park, so you won’t find any restaurants or many food options. Bring snacks or a picnic lunch. If you can, visit during one of their popular full-moon hikes every month. Plan to devote two or three hours wandering the sand dunes.

There are a handful of backcountry camping spots in the park, all of which require about a one-mile hike and a permit – be sure to get there as early as possible to snag your spot. Sorry, RVers, no overnight stays for you – you’ll have better luck in nearby Alamogordo.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Unless you have a goal of visiting every US national park, it’s easy to skip Carlsbad Caverns – but that would be a huge mistake. Carlsbad Cavern’s Big Room is incredible: the trail around the cave stretches more than a mile and takes visitors past fascinating rock formations, stalactites, and even some natural water features.

Many of the most interesting spots are well lit with spotlights, making for dramatic photos. Moreover, although the biggest spotlight is on the caves, visitors have access to more than 50 miles of hiking trails on the surface.

The Big Room self-guided tour is free for visitors with the America the Beautiful pass. Ranger-led hikes will take you to other sections of the caverns, but you’ll have to pay extra for those tours.

The Big Room self-guided tour takes approximately 45-90 minutes, depending on how fast you walk and the number of photos you take. If you have time, skip the elevator down and take the mile-long hike down to the mouth of the cave. The last tour starts around 4 pm, so you need to arrange your visit accordingly.

From late May through October, the park also offers nightly bat-flight programs. Visitors can witness the bats emerge from the cave to feed. However, due to the sensitivity of bats, electronic devices like cell phones and cameras are not permitted during this experience. Also, avoid wearing any clothing that you’ve previously worn into a cave to help protect bats against white nose syndrome.

Like White Sands, only backcountry camping is allowed inside the park. But RV parking is available at Guadalupe Mountains National Park or Lincoln National Forest, which sits between the two national parks. If you stop in the national forest, be sure to take the quick hike to gorgeous Sitting Bull Falls.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Despite being close to Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains National Park only receives about a third of the number of visitors, and it is often overshadowed by Big Bend National Park, which sits firmly in Texas five hours to the south. That’s unfortunate because the Guadalupe Mountains offers a plethora of unique experiences.

If you just want to stop at the visitors’ center and take a few photos of the mountains, you can be in and out of the park in an hour. However, if you want to hike one or more trails, it’s easy to spend an entire day. The park features several nice hikes, including a nearly 9-mile trek up to Guadalupe Peak, the highest spot in Texas.

The 4-mile Devil’s Hall hike promises some pretty spectacular rock formations, or opt for the 3-mile Smith Spring loop that leads to the eponymous watering hole. Even when the spring is running dry, the hike itself is filled with gorgeous views.

Although Guadalupe Mountains National Park isn’t an officially designated Dark Sky Park, you can still capture stunning shots of the Milky Way during your visit. Many campers in Pine Springs campground bring either a telescope or camera gear to take advantage of the clear skies.

Like the other two parks, Guadalupe Mountains National Park does not have a restaurant or lodge, so pack your own food. If you prefer not to hike out to one of the 10 designated backcountry campsites, there are plenty of options available.

The Dog Canyon area has 9 tent and 4 RV spots, while Pine Springs has 20 tent and 20 RV sites. There are no hookups, but water is available. All sites operate on a first-come-first-served basis. Nearby Carlsbad offers additional lodging options for those seeking comfort.