Old Guano Trail

You start at the mouth of one of America's most famous caves and walk straight into history. The Old Guano Trail follows the actual road miners used to haul bat guano out of Carlsbad Cavern in the early 1900s, and about a mile in you'll find the ruins to prove it — crumbling walls, rusted equipment, and debris that make you appreciate how miserable that job must have been. The trail drops steadily down the Guadalupe escarpment through classic Chihuahuan Desert: prickly pear, lechuguilla, and ocotillo framing wide views of the valley below. It's a one-way descent to White's City, so unless you've arranged a shuttle, you're climbing back up. The grade is gentle enough that most hikers barely notice it going down, though the return trip earns an honest sweat. History buffs and desert lovers who want a quieter alternative to the cave crowds will find this trail perfectly suited to their taste.