Our first night in New Mexico we camped in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It was late afternoon, so we set up camp then drove the 7 mile trail that leads back to the bat amphitheater, at the cave’s entrance. Watching the bats come out of Carlsbad Caverns to feed, which they do every night by the millions, was incredible. It was pretty dark by then so I couldn’t get good pictures, but you could see what looked like a pulsing, continuous wave of bats leaving the caves.
The next day we went to White Sands National Park and thought about camping there, but it was midday and way to hot and bright to set up that early. So we wandered the desert, took some pictures, then set off west.
Not far from White Sands, we came upon a sign for Aguirre Springs Campground. The scenery looked great and we took the long winding road for miles before we saw anything. Thank goodness I didn’t turn around, because this was one of the best campsites I’ve ever been to. It was set right at the base of a mountain, cost $5/night, and had bathrooms, fire pits with grills, raised tent areas, and multiple hiking trails. The only downside was no running water, but the view of the valley below on one side and the Organ Mountains on the other was worth it.
“The first symptom in the process of killing our dreams is the lack of time. The busiest people in life always have enough time to do everything. Those who do nothing are always tired and pay no attention to the little amount of work they are required to do. They complain constantly that the day is too short. The truth is, they are afraid to fight the good fight.”
-from “The Pilgrimage”
Wow, gorgeous photos. I really want to see New Mexico during the day; I’ve only driven through it at night and had to peak at the scenery with only the moonlight to see by.
Thank you! There really is a ton of beautiful landscapes here!