Spring break is upon us, which means travel time for many students and their families. Carlsbad is fortunate to have two National Parks within an hour’s drive or less from the city limits, Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

When visiting the Caverns, be sure to visit their website https://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm and make reservations for your trip or call 877-444-6777 to get your spot, as there are no reservations available at the park itself.

The Guadalupe Mountains National Park has high visitation numbers during the month of March. Of the 219,987 visitors in 2022, 36,310 of them were in March. The park’s Facebook page encourages visitors to plan ahead and have an alternate hiking location as the parking lots tend to fill up by 10 am. Popular hikes are Guadalupe Peak, Devil’s Hall, and McKittrick Canyon. Smith Spring trail at Frijole Ranch is a nice hike, as are the other trails in that location.

Other area spots worth checking out are the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, Sitting Bull Falls, or Last Chance Canyon in the Lincoln National Forest. Carlsbad is surrounded by outdoor adventure; caves, hiking/OHV/dirt bike/bicycle trails, mountains, forest regions, a major river, lakes, sand dunes, and more.

Being in the Chihuahuan desert it is important to stay hydrated, pack it in and pack it out, as well as practice the principles of Leave No Trace. Plan ahead and be prepared, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife, and be considerate of others.

Be safe and enjoy your Carlsbad adventure!