We chose our campground location for the proximity to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, but also for its proximity to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. So we went on a few hikes to enjoy the natural beauty of the desert landscape and the mountains. We did a 4.8 mile hike from the McKittrick Canyon visitor center to Pratt Cabin. Both kids did so well and had fun. We found hiking sticks at the beginning of the trail that the kids carried for almost the whole hike. They certainly kept Kai entertained! We got to see a lot of cool desert vegetation but no wildlife (though with our kids coming through we weren’t really expecting any).

We reached Pratt Cabin at our midway point for some picnic lunch. Pratt Cabin is a rustic stone cabin that was built for a vacation home in the 1930s by Wallace Pratt, an oil geologist. It was fun to learn that all the stone was locally quarried for the cabin, making it a cool piece of history. There was also a small outbuilding that functioned as a garage. We ate our lunch on a picnic table just beside the outbuilding. It was very quiet and very peaceful, though I can’t imagine needing to hike for hours to get groceries!

Overall we enjoyed our hike and our time at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. It was wonderful to spend time with Grandma and Pa in Carlsbad, NM. Now we’re looking forward to what’s next!