Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail

This is the kind of trail you knock out before heading underground — and it deserves more credit than most visitors give it. The paved upper loop rolls out to a shaded viewpoint where the Guadalupe Mountains stack up along the horizon like a geological timeline. From there, the unpaved lower section dips into proper Chihuahuan Desert terrain, weaving past labeled sotol, lechuguilla, and ocotillo that look like something Dr. Seuss would dream up. The interpretive signs are genuinely good — you'll actually learn to tell prickly pear from cholla, which matters when one of them is trying to hitch a ride on your ankle. The whole thing wraps up in about half an hour, making it perfect for families with restless kids, anyone in a wheelchair (upper section), or cave-goers who want sunlight and context before descending into the dark.