While in Alamogordo, we ventured to White Sands National Park a couple times. We had so much fun with our friends that we didn’t take many photos!

If you’re exploring Carlsbad, NM, one place you might find interesting is Sitting Bull Falls . It’s about 40 minutes SW of town, but a nice drive. It is part of the Lincoln National Forest , which is actually a HUGE area of land encompassing what used to be multiple separate forest reserves (Lincoln, Gallinas, Sacramento, Alamo and Guadalupe).

The main event for us while staying in Carlsbad was Carlsbad Caverns National Park .
Did you know that the Big Room in Carlsbad Caverns is the largest single cave chamber by volume. But this doesn’t make it the biggest cave system! That record goes to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky (longest cave system in the world!)

Our fourth trip to Big Bend during our stay in Terlingua, TX led us up the Chisos Mountains to a second visitor center. As you head up the mountain, you see the landscape change from desert to forest. It’s a slow change, but once you realize the change, you’re awestruck!

Back at Big Bend National Park again! Today we decided to take Maverick Road (unpaved and not maintained year round) down to Santa Elena Canyon for a hike. We stopped at several locations along the way to the canyon, including Luna’s Jacal . It’s amazing that this mud and ocotillo built structure is still standing, as its resident, Gilbert Jacal, passed away in 1947 at 108 years old!

While visiting Big Bend National Park , we took Grapevine Hills Road to Grapevine Hills Trail . The road out is about 7 or 8 miles and is not maintained all season. Once you get on the trail, it’s about 2.2 miles. The first 0.8 mile is pretty easy! A bit of up and down and uneven path, but very well traveled. After the easy part, there is a sign that the next 0.25 miles is very steep. It was CORRECT!

One of the highlights of our stay in Terlingua was being able to visit Big Bend National Park . On our first trip into the park, we waited in line for about 45 minutes to enter the park! There were a LOT of people at the Panther Junction visitor center , too. But once you got out into the park, it wasn’t crowded at all!

We’re staying two weeks in Lajitas, TX at Maverick Ranch RV Park . The park we’re at is nice, although a little far from Big Bend National Park . It is part of a much larger golf resort, and I can absolutely see coming here to golf. The scenery is incredible! We walked over to the main resort shopping and pro shop and caught a glimpse of the course. It was surprisingly green!

We spent a long afternoon visiting the Lyndon B Johnson State and National parks in Johnson City, TX. Much of the Ranch was shut down for renovations, but we were able to learn the history of President Johnson’s family farm and take in some of the sights. I’m sure this place is just gorgeous in spring!