New Mexico’s Hidden Gems

The American Southwest has been far from a letdown. Including the National Parks in New Mexico. “Why?” you ask? From good coffee to better food, fresh chiles to beautiful weather, and all the palm trees and cacti in between; I certainly cannot complain about spending the colder months of the year here.

I am not sure if flip-flopping around in Arizona’s National Parks (and eating the homemade tamales) put me in a trance of unlimited freedom and happiness, but by the time I got to the National Parks in New Mexico, I was ready to dive into some spicy Santa Fe foods and soak up the sun.

Sounds like a decent “winter” to me.

But let me take you on a detour real quick to a place where everything is BIGGER. That’s right, the good ol’ Lone Star State.

Most people are probably familiar with Big Bend National Park in Texas. It is huge, full of adventure, and somewhere I could spend at least 50 days romping around in.

BUT!

Have you heard about the smaller National Park in the northwest corner of Texas? As a matter of fact, it shares a mountain range with New Mexico, and is also home to the Highest point in Texas!

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

If I am being honest, I hadn’t heard of it either, so I had no idea what to expect. Other than mountains, of course. And despite the cold and the fog, I was actually quite surprised this National Park. The landscape diversity is really quite remarkable; mountains, canyons, valleys, dunes, and desert! All in one place!

Along with enough historical value and remains to keep you self-labeled anthropologists busy for hours, reading and seeing some of the preserved and conserved spaces here.
Like this school house (Frijole Ranch) pictured here. Originally opened in 1876, and still accepting visitors.

Let’s take the Devil’s Hall Trail for example. Definitely my favorite hike I did here, and possibly ranking in my favorites list across the board. For roughly four miles, which doesn’t seem like much, this hike has you stomping in streams, crawling over massive boulders, scaling almost-vertical rock faces.. it is much more intense than other heavily-trafficked trails I have been on, but totally worth the grind to conquer this four mile scramble.

Oh! And here’s a Bonus! Less than an hour away from Guadalupe Mountains National Park, you can find one of the coolest hidden worlds.. right beneath our own feet!

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Did you know: the Carlsbad Caverns are home to the largest, readily accessible, cave room in North America?

~8 acres. That is how big the Big Room is inside this otherworldly chamber. Not to be confused with Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, which is the largest cave system (with ~400 miles explored and and estimated 600+ miles unexplored).

This adventure wasn’t like the other caves I have visited on this side of the Mississippi. At a steady 56 degrees year-round, spending a whole day (and more) exploring this ancient cavern was super easy, no matter the weather outside.

Even better, if you visit Carlsbad Caverns in mid-August through September, when the weather is nice outside, you can attend the Bat Flight Program and witness millions of bats as they enter/exit the cave. Totally something that is getting scratched down on my bucket list.

This is another place that truly is breathtaking. Once you get past the eerie feeling of walking into a dark, damp hole in the ground, you become overwhelmed with the beauty and monstrosity of it all. Very easy to get caught staring for an extended period of time here, as your eyes are filled with sights that are very rarely seen on the Earth’s surface.

Bonus: Take a peek over the railings into the Bottomless Pit. Located in the Caverns.

“You said National Parks in New Mexico?”

Correct. The newest member of the US National Parks was moved to a National Park from a National Monument on December 20, 2019.

So like I said.. National Parks in New Mexico.

Say Aloha to…

White Sands National Park

275 square miles of ground gypsum makes this National Park the largest gypsum dune field in the entire world!

I have been to dunes before, but the way that this gypsum sand can reflect the light to create mesmerizing images while maintaining a comfortable temperature for my bare feet (gypsum doesn’t absorb heat), makes this place quite remarkable. And fun to explore!

After spending a fair amount of time getting pelted by “sand” while frolicking through this natural playground, my body had had enough. Oh, and the sun definitely “kissed” my skin; Gypsum reflects light and heat. So don’t forget your sun gear!

…Or the sand board you rented from the visitor center..

But, I am glad I made it here when I did. I can now say I have been to White Sands National Park, and I have a piece of memorabilia of when it was still considered a National Monument. Already seen as a piece of history for the US National Park System.

All in all, the National Parks in New Mexico (plus a bonus one in Texas) may not be many, but will for sure leave a lasting impression on myself, and my journeys.

Truly adding to #MyStory

Cheers!