Two Days, Two States, Two Parks: Exploring Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Peak
Picture this—a short two-day trip. Day one is spent exploring underground caves, admiring unique rock formations, and learning some fascinating facts along the way. This is followed by a night camping under the stars. Day two takes you above ground, summiting a scenic peak where panoramic views welcome you at the top.
Would you believe me if I told you that this adventure spans two different states, yet only a 30-minute drive is required? A weekend spent in Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Park not only checks off two National Parks from your bucket list but also gives you two very distinct and memorable experiences that you’re sure to reminisce on, even long after you return home.
In this post, I’ve laid out the exact itinerary we followed this past November (2024). With all the guesswork removed, you’ll be ready to dive into your own weekend of exploration and discovery.
Remember whenever exploring the great outdoors to follow the principles of leave no trace.
Short on time? Here’s the Key Points!
Day 1: Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Explore North America’s largest cave chamber, the Big Room (1.25 miles, paved trail).
- Options for entering the caverns:
- Natural Entrance: 1.25 miles with a 750-ft descent.
- Elevator: Direct access to the Big Room.
- Self-Guided Tour reservations required ($1 fee via recreation.gov). Entrance fee: $15 per vehicle or use a National Parks Pass.
- Enhance your experience with an audio guide (available via apps or onsite rentals).
- Don’t miss formations like Devil’s Spring, Whale’s Mouth, and Hall of Giants!
Day 2: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Hike Guadalupe Peak (8.4 miles round trip, 3,000-ft elevation gain).
- Start at Pine Springs Trailhead ($10 park entrance fee or use a National Parks Pass).
- Expect switchbacks, wooded sections, and a bridge before the final, rocky ascent.
- Incredible summit views include the Chihuahuan Desert, El Capitan, and beyond.
- Bring layers for the windy summit and trekking poles for the descent.
Camping Options
- Best option: Camping at Pine Springs Campground (Guadalupe) for ideal trail access and stargazing.
- Free alternatives: Sunset Reef Campground (25 minutes from Carlsbad) or dispersed camping on Carlsbad BLM Land (8 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns).
- For amenities, Carlsbad RV Park and Campground offers tent sites, glamping cabins, and facilities like showers and an indoor pool.
Final Thought Combining the caverns and a scenic summit hike offers two distinctly rewarding experiences, perfect for a memorable weekend adventure.
Where to stay.
The most convenient lodging option for this trip? Good ol’ fashion camping! Luckily, there are several great options in the area.
Camping in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
We were fortunate to stage a last-minute cancellation spot just before arriving- talk about perfect timing. If your trip isn’t as impromptu as ours was, I recommend booking in Pine Springs (where we stayed) or Dog Canyon Campground ahead of time. Sites are $20 per night and accommodate tents and RVs.
Staying in the park gave us ideal access to the trailhead in the morning- we could see the trail winding up the mountain from the campsite. The stargazing here was incredible, with nothing to obstruct your view! Each spot provides a flat, raised tent pad, just don’t forget your sleeping pad like we did…it did not make for a super restful night of sleep before our big hike.
You can also expect:
- Short walk to the bathroom- expect drop toilets and hand sanitizer but they were very clean!
- Potable water available
- No showers, electricity, or dump site.
- Picnic table provided at each site
- Minimal cell reception
- Open fires are prohibited
- Trash bins provided
- Raised flat ground for tents.
Note: Carlsbad Cavern’s does not have any lodging options within the actual park.
Camping outside of the parks
Sunset Reef Campground. This free, first-come, first-serve campground is just 25 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns and 35 minutes from Guadalupe Mountains. It offers pit toilets, and some covered picnic areas, and is suitable for tents, campers, and RVs. Though the sites aren’t by any means private, it is conveniently located, and I’ve heard the sunset views are stunning!
Carlsbad BLM Land Dispersed. Located just 8 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns, this free option offers primitive camping with no amenities (though some sites have fire pits). Be prepared for rocky and steep terrain- a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
Carlsbad RV Park and Campground. For more comfort and amenities, this spot is the way to go. Just 16 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns and 40 minutes from Guadalupe, you’ll find options racing from $35 tent sites to $50 for a glamping cabin. Amenities include clean bathrooms, showers, an indoor pool, and even dog parks.
Day 1: Carlsbad Caverns
In my opinion, Carlsbad is one of the most unique national park experiences. That said, you really only need a day to explore the caverns. While there are other hiking trails within the park that I haven’t yet, for your first visit, the caverns should be your priority!
Important Updates
Since my trip this past November, some changes have been implemented due to staffing issues. According to recreation.gov, Self-Guided Tour reservations are now required to be scheduled in advance. Reservation times are available from 9:30 AM to 1:15 PM, and cost $1.00 (this does not include the $15 park entrance fee). Reservations can be made HERE. If you don’t already have one, I recommend getting an annual National Parks Pass HERE before you go.
Ranger guided tours are still being offered as far as I am aware. I won’t be going into detail about these, since I do not have any experience. Here are the current options and prices (as listed on recreation.gov)
• King’s Palace Tour – $10 adults / $5 children
• Lower Cave Tour – $30 adults / $15 children
- Slaughter Cave Tour – $30 adults / $15 children
Audio Tour Options
I highly recommend doing an audio tour for the self-guided route. I loved learning random facts about the formations and the history of the caverns. Here are a few options you can choose from for this.
- A Handheld Audio Tour. Rent this at the NPS bookstore for $5.
- Action Tour Guide. Purchase this in advance for $16.99. Once you book your tour, download the app and your tour begins once you reach the starting point!
- Cavern Audio Guide App. This is the option we went with. It’s a one-time purchase of $6.99 and you’ll have it forever. Make sure to enable your GPS on your phone so it can accurately share insights as you go.
Whichever option you choose, I promise the extra layer of information will make the experience even more memorable!
Self-Guided Tour- What to expect.
Upon entering the park, you’ll follow the main road to the visitor center, where you’ll park and check-in. From there, signs will guide you to the trailhead for the caverns.
You may encounter a bit of a line at the trailhead. A ranger will direct you to a canopy-covered area where you’ll receive a briefing on the rules of the caverns and your options for going down and up. Just past this point, you’ll find restrooms- I highly recommend using them, as there are none down in the caverns.
You’ll have two choices for descending into the caverns.
- The Elevator: This option takes you directly to the famous Big Room.
- The Natural Entrance: A 1.25-mile trek with a 750 ft descent.
We opted for the Natural Entrance, which took us about an hour to complete. This way we got to see formations the caverns are best known for like Devil’s Spring, Whale’s Mouth (my favorite), and Iceberg Rock.
Once at the bottom, you’ll get to explore the Big Room, the largest single cave chamber in North America. The paved trail is also 1.25 miles long and mostly flat, but, there are shortcuts if you’d prefer a shorter walk.
Some of the highlights within the Big Room include Hall of Giants, Sword of Damocles, and the Caveman and Totem Pole. I tried capturing some decent photos during our visit, but unless you have a quality camera, getting good shots can be tricky due to low lighting.
When we finished exploring, we decided to take the elevator back up. For those who want an extra challenge, you can hike out via the same Natural Entrance trail- though keeping in mind it’s a steep 750-ft climb. Since we didn’t have much interest in repeating the trail, we opted to save our legs for the peak hike the next day!
Other Hikes at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Yucca Canyon Trail
- Distance- 3.8 mi
- Elevation Gain- 1,456 ft
- Trail Type- Out & Back
- Time- About 2 1/2 hours
- Level- Challenging
- Slaughter Canyon Cave Trail
- Distance- 1 mi
- Elevation Gain- 452 ft
- Trail Type- Out & Back
- Time- 45 minutes
- Level- Moderate to Challenging
- Walnut Canyon Trail
- Distance- 0.4 mi
- Elevation Gain- 22ft
- Trail Type- Out & Back
- Time- 10 minutes
- Level- Easy
Day 2: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Our second day was dedicated to hiking Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas standing at 8,751 ft. It took us roughly seven hours to complete the 8.4-mile out-and-back trail, which includes a climb of nearly 3000 ft.
The park has a $10 entrance fee unless you have a National Park Pass. Start your visit by checking in at the Pines Spring Visitor Center, then follow the signs to the Pine Springs RV Park. This is where you’ll park to access the trailhead. We arrived a little after 7:30 AM and there was still parking available. If the main parking area fills up, additional parking is available at the visitor center, though, this will add about 0.4 miles to your hike.
There is a bathroom and water station here, and I recommend taking advantage of both, as there are none on the trail.
The hike begins at the Pine Springs Trailhead, which is a junction for several popular trails within the park. Early on, the trail splits- be sure to follow signs for “Guadalupe Peak”.
What to Expect
The first stretch features a consistent series of switchbacks. You’ll feel the elevation gain happening immediately. This portion of the trail gives you an awesome view of the park. At mile two, you’ll curve around and enter into a wooded area. This is the only time you’ll experience some coverage from the trees. You can expect another series of switchbacks here.
Mile three is where you’ll come to the iconic bridge. The incline becomes less drastic for the next mile, offering a little reprieve before your final push. This is where a lot of people opted to take a break. There is plenty of space past the bridge to find a good resting spot.
The final mile may be the most challenging, but is the most rewarding when it comes to views. As you near the top, the trail becomes much narrower and rockier and you’ll need to watch your step for loose areas.
The panoramic view at the top is truly incredible. You’ll have expansive views of the Chihuahuan Desert and El Capitan. We were even able to see the snow-capped mountains in Ruidoso, which is a small mountain village in New Mexico close to where we live. It was obviously the perfect spot to stop for lunch and soak in all of the awesomeness of what we had accomplished.
Despite it being November I removed some layers as we worked our way up the mountain. Once at the top, it only took a matter of minutes before I opted to put my jacket on. It is very windy even on the clearest of days, so be sure to pack some extra layers if you plan to spend some time enjoying the views from the top.
After enjoying the breathtaking views and taking plenty of photos, we began our descent. I hadn’t used trekking poles on the way up, but they were lifesavers on the way down. They help alleviate strain on your knees and stabilize your footing on uneven sections, which is helpful to avoid any missteps.
Although you’ll be heading back down the same path, this is a great opportunity to enjoy the views from a different perspective. Also, keep in mind that the descent will likely take half the time of the ascent, so you can enjoy a more relaxed pace on your way down.
Other Hikes at Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Devil’s Hall
- Distance- 3.8 mi
- Elevation Gain- 603 ft
- Trail Type- Out & Back
- Time- 2 Hours
- Level- Moderate
- Pratt Cabin vis McKittrick Canyon Trail
- Distance- 5 mi
- Elevation Gain- 344 ft
- Trail Type- Out & Back
- Time- 2 Hours
- Level- Easy
- El Capitan Trail
- Distance- 9.1 mi
- Elevation Gain- 1,655 ft
- Trail Type- Out & Back
- Time- 4 1/2 Hours
- Level- Moderate
Final Thoughts
Exploring both Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Park in one weekend is absolutely doable with a bit of planning! While both parks have more trails and sights to offer, the itinerary we followed truly gives a fantastic experience if you’re limited to two days.
Starting at Carlsbad Caverns warms up your legs while allowing you to marvel at the unique formations in the largest single cave chamber in North America. Transitioning to Guadalupe Peak the next day challenges you with a strong hike that includes sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.
Together, these two parks deliver a weekend filled with wonder and adventure I’m sure you’ll never forget.
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