Article Summary: National Parks Near El Paso
National Parks near El Paso. There’s so much more to the Sun City than its delicious Tex-Mex Cuisine. In this article, More Than Just Parks goes deep in the heart of Texas.
I’ve been to so many of these amazing places since retiring from teaching in 2018. Did I mention that I taught history? I spent a lifetime teaching about the history behind these momentous sites. Then I got to see them firsthand. And now I’m sharing the stories of these incredible places with you. It doesn’t get any better than that!
El Paso’s unique desert landscapes are home to diverse flora and fauna, and the city is rich in cultural attractions.
Fun things to do in El Paso and great places to visit include the El Paso Museum of Art with its fine collection of pre-Columbian and Indian art, the Mission Trail, and the Magoffin Home State Historic Site.
It’s also home to some amazing national parks which are within a day’s drive (or less) of the city.
So, What Is A National Park?
We get asked that question a lot because there’s a difference between a “national park” and a “national park site.” To help you understand that difference you might want to check out our article titled: What Is A National Park Really?
If you’re planning a trip to the El Paso area then one book that I highly recommend is: A Walking Tour of El Paso, Texas by Doug Gelbert.
Now let’s go ahead with 5 reasons why you’ll want to hop in your car and make a day’s drive from El Paso to one of these truly amazing places.
Table Of Contents: National Parks Near El Paso
Best National Parks Near El Paso
1. Big Bend National Park
Distance From El Paso: Five hours & 30 minutes via I-10 E & US-90 E.
It’s a day’s drive from El Paso to Big Bend National Park, but well worth the trip. This magnificent park, which is often referred to as Texas “gift to the nation,” is famous for its natural resources and recreational opportunities. It’s also rich in cultural history.
Big Bend National Park covers an area of over 801,163 acres and was established as a national park in 1944.
The park is known for its unique and diverse geography, which includes canyons, deserts, and the Rio Grande river, which forms the boundary between the United States and Mexico. The Chisos Mountains, a range of rugged peaks located within the park, offer stunning vistas and provide habitat for a variety of plant and animal species.
Big Bend National Park is home to a rich array of wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, pronghorns, and numerous bird species. It is also known for its diverse plant life, including cacti, yucca, and agave, which thrive in the arid desert environment.
Visitors to the park can engage in a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and scenic drives. The park also offers opportunities for backcountry exploration and river rafting on the Rio Grande. Big Bend National Park is a popular destination for those seeking scenic beauty, solitude, and adventure in the great outdoors.
RELATED: 12 AMAZING Facts About Big Bend National Park
2. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Distance From El Paso: Two hours & 14 minutes via US-180/US-62 E.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park covers an area of over 46,766 acres and was established as a national park in 1930.
The park is known for its unique and spectacular caves, including the Carlsbad Cavern, which is one of the largest and most famous limestone caves in the world.
The cave system contains a diverse array of mineral formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, and delicate helictites, which have been formed over the course of millions of years by the dripping of water through the cave’s ceilings and walls.
In addition to its caves, Carlsbad Caverns National Park also offers a beautiful landscape of desert and mountains, which provide habitat for a variety of plant and animal species.
Visitors to the park can explore the caves on self-guided tours or with a park ranger, and can also enjoy hiking and wildlife viewing in the park’s wilderness areas.
CHECK OUT: 10 AMAZING Facts About Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Things To Do At Carlsbad Caverns
I recommend you explore Carlsbad at your own pace. There are two trails which you can take. Choose wisely.
The most popular route is the Big Room. It’s the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America. This 1.25 mile trail is relatively flat. It will take about 1.5 hours (on average) to walk it.
Take your time as you will be rewarded with spectacular views, cave formations of all shapes and sizes, and a rope ladder which was used by explorers in 1924.
The other trail is the 1.25 mile (2 km) Natural Entrance Trail, which is not recommended for people with heart or respiratory problems.
Depending on if you decide to hike up or down, you gain or lose about 750 feet (229 m)—equivalent to walking up or down a 75-story building. The hike takes about one hour (on average) to complete. (Source: NPS)
CHECK OUT: 10 EPIC NATIONAL PARKS NEAR ALBUQUERQUE YOU’LL LOVE
The Bat Flight Program
Each evening from late-May through October, you can experience a program about the Brazilian free-tailed bats that live in Carlsbad Cavern. And, best of all, you get to see them emerge from their cave.
This is a spectacle which you should NOT miss. The bat flight takes place around sundown in the summer. The bats pour out of the mouth of the caverns from a place know as the Bat Cave.
You’ll see these creatures emerge in a spiral stream through the entrance and over the rim towards the south.
To protect the bats, electronic devices are not allowed at the Bat Flight Program and surrounding area.
CHECK OUT: 10 EPIC NATIONAL PARKS NEAR SANTA FE YOU’LL LOVE
3. Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Distance From El Paso: One hour & 43 minutes via US-180 E/US-62 E.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park covers an area of over 86,366 acres and was established as a national park in 1966.
The park is known for its towering peaks, including Guadalupe Peak, which at 8,751 feet is the highest point in Texas.
The mountains are composed of ancient marine fossil beds, which were uplifted and exposed over the course of millions of years, creating the rugged and dramatic landscape that is seen today.
The Park Features A Diverse Array Of Hiking Trails
In addition to its stunning peaks, Guadalupe Mountains National Park also offers a diverse array of hiking trails, ranging from easy nature walks to challenging backcountry treks. The park is also home to a rich array of plant and animal life, including species such as black bears, mountain lions, and pronghorns, as well as a variety of bird species.
Visitors to the park can explore its many trails, camp in its scenic wilderness areas, and take part in ranger-led programs and activities.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a popular destination for those seeking scenic beauty, solitude, and adventure in the great outdoors. Whether you are an experienced hiker or simply looking to escape the city, this park offers something for everyone.
CHECK OUT: 10 FASCINATING Facts About Guadalupe Mountains National Park
4. Saguaro National Park
Distance From El Paso: Four hours & 27 minutes via I-10 W.
Saguaro National Park covers an area of over 92,000 acres and was established as a national park in 1994.
The park is named after its signature species, the saguaro cactus, which can grow up to 60 feet tall and can live for hundreds of years. The saguaro cactus is unique to the Sonoran Desert and is found only in a small area of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
In addition to its saguaros, Saguaro National Park also offers a diverse array of landscapes, including deserts, mountains, and riparian areas, which provide habitat for a variety of plant and animal species.
Visitors to the park can explore its many trails, including the popular Douglas Spring Trail and the King Canyon Trail, and can also enjoy scenic drives and ranger-led programs.
CHECK OUT: 10 AMAZING NATIONAL PARKS NEAR TUCSON YOU’LL LOVE
Things To Do At Saguaro National Park East District
Saguaro National Park offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy. Some of the most popular things to do at the park include:
- Hiking: The park has a variety of trails, ranging from easy nature walks to challenging backcountry treks, allowing visitors to explore its diverse landscapes and see its signature saguaro cacti up close.
- Scenic Drives: The park offers several scenic drives, including the Cactus Forest Drive, which provides a scenic tour of the park’s desert landscapes.
- Ranger-led Programs: The park offers a variety of ranger-led programs, including guided hikes, nature walks, and stargazing events, which provide visitors with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the park’s unique ecosystems.
- Wildlife Watching: The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including pronghorns, jackrabbits, rattlesnakes, and a variety of bird species, providing opportunities for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.
- Picnicking: The park has several picnic areas, allowing visitors to enjoy a scenic outdoor meal and take in the beauty of the surrounding desert landscape.
- Photography: Saguaro National Park provides a wealth of photographic opportunities, with its towering saguaro cacti and diverse desert landscapes offering a scenic backdrop for photos.
- Stargazing: With its clear skies and minimal light pollution, the park is an excellent location for stargazing and viewing the night sky.
For a more complete list, check out our article on the best things to do in Saguaro National Park.
Check Out Our Saguaro National Park Film
SAGUARO is the culmination of weeks spent filming in one of the most unique and vibrant deserts in the world, the Sonoran Desert.
Encompassing over 90,000 acres, Saguaro National Park preserves vast forests of the iconic saguaro cactus, rare wildlife, and majestic landscapes.
5. White Sands National Park
Distance From El Paso: One hour & 23 minutes via I-10 W & US-70 E.
White Sands National Park covers an area of over 145,000 acres and was established as a national park in 2019.
White Sands National Park is known for its vast expanse of white gypsum sand dunes, which stretch across the Tularosa Basin, creating a unique and otherworldly landscape.
The sand dunes, which can reach heights of over 60 feet, are formed from the fine, white gypsum crystals that weather out of the surrounding mountains and are carried by the wind into the basin.
In addition to its stunning sand dunes, White Sands National Park also offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, and ranger-led programs. Visitors to the park can explore its many trails, including the popular Alkali Flat Trail, and can also enjoy scenic drives and picnicking in its scenic picnic areas.
CHECK OUT: 18 SURPRISING NEW MEXICO NATIONAL PARKS
Things To Do At White Sands
White Sands National Park offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy. Some of the most popular things to do at the park include:
- Hiking: The park has a variety of trails, including the Alkali Flat Trail, which allows visitors to explore its vast expanse of white sand dunes.
- Sandboarding and Sledding: Visitors can rent sandboards and sleds at the park and enjoy gliding down the white sand dunes.
- Picnicking: The park has several picnic areas, allowing visitors to enjoy a scenic outdoor meal and take in the beauty of the surrounding dunes.
- Wildlife Watching: The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including jackrabbits, kit foxes, and rattlesnakes, providing opportunities for wildlife viewing.
- Photography: White Sands National Park provides a wealth of photographic opportunities, with its vast expanse of white sand dunes and otherworldly landscapes offering a scenic backdrop for photos.
- Ranger-led Programs: The park offers a variety of ranger-led programs, including guided hikes and stargazing events, which provide visitors with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the park’s unique ecosystems.
- Stargazing: With its clear skies and minimal light pollution, the park is an excellent location for stargazing and viewing the night sky.
National Parks Near El Paso FAQ
There are several national parks within a few hours of El Paso. White Sands National Monument,Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Fort Davis National Historic Site, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park are all potential day trips from El Paso.
Despite its immense size, Texas only has two officially designated National Parks: Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Why Trust Us About National Park Near El Paso?
We’re Jim Pattiz and Will Pattiz, collectively known as the Pattiz Brothers (and sometimes the Parks Brothers) and we absolutely LOVE the national parks.
You should probably know that we don’t just make this stuff up out of thin air. We’ve spent our entire adult lives exploring and filming America’s national parks and public lands.
We’ve worked with the National Park Service, the Department of Interior, USDA, and the U.S. Forest Service for years creating films on important places and issues. Our work has been featured in leading publications all over the world and even some people outside of our immediate family call us experts on the national parks.
Meet The Parks Brothers
Map Of National Parks Near El Paso
List Of National Parks Near El Paso
- Big Bend National Park
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Saguaro National Park
- White Sands National Park
We Hope You’ll Follow Our Journey
Our goal here at More Than Just Parks is to share the beauty of America’s national parks and public lands through stunning short films in an effort to get Americans and the world to see the true value in land conservation.
We hope you’ll follow our journey through the parks and help us to keep them the incredible places that they are. If you’re interested in joining the adventure then please sign up below!
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