Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Have you ever heard of Guadalupe Mountains National Park? Yah, me neither. It straddles the border between New Mexico and Texas along that little section that points west. I almost missed it again, but this time as I was plotting our path, this park jumped out at me. We absolutely love national parks, so I couldn't pass this up and I'm so glad we went. The drive there from Monahans Sandhills State Park was really pretty in places.

We stopped at the Pine Springs Visitor Center for Jr Ranger books and to see the displays before driving to the McKittrick Canyon trailhead.

We planned to hike the Nature Trail, but decided we wanted to check out the McKittrick Canyon Trail instead. It's a long one, but we just hiked for a couple hours and returned. 

At one point the trail drops into a wash, where we found lizards hanging out among the rocks.

Southwestern Fence Lizard

Greater Earless Lizard (left)    An unidentified blue-bellied lizard   (right)

After this we spent the night in the Las Cruces Walmart. In the morning the Daddies took all four kids to White Sands National Park while Denali and I did some birding from the RV. A Gambel's Quail was calling just 10 feet from our window, followed by Verdin and a Ladder-backed Woodpecker!

The kids had fun sledding at White Sands. It looks like snow!

Bandalier National Park

We hiked Bandelier National Park with our Wander Bus friends. First we explored Frijoles Canyon's Main Loop trail which takes you past ancestral Puebloan kivas then thru the village before climbing up into the cliff dwellings.

This kiva is a ceremonial structure right alongside the trail.

Next we walked thru what used to be their village. A circular combination of 

rectangle shaped rooms. Some for living in, some for storing food like corn. 

The view from above.

Inside the visitor center we were able to see models of what the village looked like at one time.

The trail continues up the mountain and along the rock wall. Wooden ladders allow visitors to climb up inside the cavates.

A look inside the cavates.

We love exploring with new friends!

Later we drove 12 miles to a different section of the park to explore the village of Tsankawi. In the 1400s the Ancestral Pueblo people called this home. The ancient paths they walked are worn into the rock, often knee deep, but even hip deep in some places.