New Mexico: Caverns, sand and art create a land of enchantment

We made Carlsbad Caverns National Park our first stop in New Mexico, which gave us a great introduction to a fascinating state. We also visited Albuquerque during a flash flood, Santa Fe to see the art community, and included Petroglyph National Monument and Pecos National Historical Park to learn more about the state’s history.

Linda set the pace for our descent into Carlsbad Caverns and never looked back, achieving an Olympic record for completing the 60 switchbacks leading into the caverns. The 1.2-mile trail is as tall as a 79-story building.

Linda set the pace for our descent into Carlsbad Caverns and never looked back, achieving an Olympic record for completing the 60 switchbacks leading into the caverns. The 1.2-mile trail is as tall as a 79-story building.

A long series of switchbacks leads hikers to a huge collection of caverns at the end of the trail.

A long series of switchbacks leads hikers to a huge collection of caverns at the end of the trail.

Carlsbad Caverns feature 120 caves in a national park with 33,000 acres of wilderness.

Carlsbad Caverns feature 120 caves in a national park with 33,000 acres of wilderness.

More than 500,000 people visit Carlsbad Caverns each year. Reservations are required.

More than 500,000 people visit Carlsbad Caverns each year. Reservations are required.

Each turn in the Big Room Trail, which runs through the lower level of the caverns, leads to another unique view of formations made from calcite and other minerals.

Each turn in the Big Room Trail, which runs through the lower level of the caverns, leads to another unique view of formations made from calcite and other minerals.

White Sands National Park includes 275 square miles of desert and the world’s largest gypsum sand dune field.

White Sands National Park includes 275 square miles of desert and the world’s largest gypsum sand dune field.

White Sands features plenty of what the name suggests and hiking trails to help visitors from getting lost in the desert.

White Sands features plenty of what the name suggests and hiking trails to help visitors from getting lost in the desert.

The photographers shot photos of each other at White Sands.

The photographers shot photos of each other at White Sands.

Doug set off on his own to see what was over the next dune.

Doug set off on his own to see what was over the next dune.

Linda took the high ground for a long=range view of the park.

Linda took the high ground for a long=range view of the park.

Petroglyph National Monument is a short drive from Albuquerque and provides a great view of the area and the chance to see designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago.

Petroglyph National Monument is a short drive from Albuquerque and provides a great view of the area and the chance to see designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago.

Carvings on volcanic rock are seen along a trail to the top of a hill used for religious purposes centuries ago.

Carvings on volcanic rock are seen along a trail to the top of a hill used for religious purposes centuries ago.

The carvings are protected by the National Park Service due to their significance in New Mexico’s history.

The carvings are protected by the National Park Service due to their significance in New Mexico’s history.

Santa Fe includes the oldest church in New Mexico and perhaps the oldest in the U.S. Spanish settlers built a church on this spot in 1610 and parts of the original church are believed to still exist in the current structure.

Santa Fe includes the oldest church in New Mexico and perhaps the oldest in the U.S. Spanish settlers built a church on this spot in 1610 and parts of the original church are believed to still exist in the current structure.

Next door to the oldest church is what might be the oldest house in the U.S. It was built in 1646 on the foundation of a Pueblo ruins foundation, which is believed to be at least 800 years old. So, New Mexico clearly has old stuff.

Next door to the oldest church is what might be the oldest house in the U.S. It was built in 1646 on the foundation of a Pueblo ruins foundation, which is believed to be at least 800 years old. So, New Mexico clearly has old stuff.

Santa Fe also has the only round state Capitol in the U.S. The building holds state government offices and houses an outstanding collection of art.

Santa Fe also has the only round state Capitol in the U.S. The building holds state government offices and houses an outstanding collection of art.

Pecos National Historical Park near Santa Fe provides history lessons about the ancestral Pueblo people from thousands of years ago to a Civil War battle in 1862.

Pecos National Historical Park near Santa Fe provides history lessons about the ancestral Pueblo people from thousands of years ago to a Civil War battle in 1862.

Fed up with ill treatment at the hands of the Spaniards, the Pueblos banded together at this site on August 10, 1680 to expel the Spanish government and Franciscan Friars from what is now New Mexico.

Fed up with ill treatment at the hands of the Spaniards, the Pueblos banded together at this site on August 10, 1680 to expel the Spanish government and Franciscan Friars from what is now New Mexico.

Linda briefly considered climbing this ladder into an underground storage facility at Pecos National Historical Park.

Linda briefly considered climbing this ladder into an underground storage facility at Pecos National Historical Park.

Doug Draper