This loop links sections of the Rattlesnake Canyon and the Guadalupe Ridge trails, forming a moderate yet rugged backcountry hike off Desert Loop Road. Enjoy vast yet solemn canyon views along remote trails lined with a selection of juniper, mesquite, sotol, yucca, and plenty of other cactus varieties. As for native wildlife, keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, coyotes, birds, and of course - snakes.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico contains some of the largest caves in North America—a must-visit for vacationers in New Mexico. As you pass through the Chihuahuan Desert and Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico and west Texas, filled with prickly pear, chollas, sotols, and agaves, you might never guess there are more than 300 known caves beneath the surface.

This national park is of course famous for its caves, but Carlsbad offers a stunning and solemn backcountry experience for hikers above the ground as well. While some of the park’s most well-known trails are short in length or within the caverns themselves, others wander quiet canyons lined with stunning views, beautiful plant life, and scattered relics left by native peoples who previously inhabited the area.

Far from the lights of town, Carlsbad Caverns National Park features a wonderfully dark night sky, perfect for stellar viewing. Rangers have telescopes available to see astronomical objects such as planets in our Milky Way and maybe even a few galaxies beyond. Visitors can also sign up to hike half-mile Star Walks and meteor shower viewing, and 1.5 miles for Moon Hikes on a rugged desert trail with an elevation change of 200 feet. Check out the park’s website for more information.

New Mexico's 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. From late-May through October, the park offers nightly bat-flight programs, allowing visitors to witness the bats emerge from the cave to feed. Although the biggest spotlight is on the caves, visitors have access to more than 50 miles of hiking trails on the surface.

Deep within the Carlsbad Caverns National Park are more than 100 underground caves, where stalactites are found magically clinging to the roof. The caverns’ chromatic limestone walls and underground chambers combine to make the Chihuahuan Desert something spectacular.