Hello again and welcome! This past week/weekend I was blessed enough to travel to El Paso, Texas and I would love to share all of the excitement that this city has to offer. If you are planning a trip to El Paso (or surrounding areas) in the near future I would highly recommend reading this post and consider all of the amazing options from this delightful region 🙂
Hiking
One of the most exciting parts about El Paso is the unique scenery and wildlife. Located right on El Rio Grande, across the Mexican border from Ciudad Juarez, this city is tucked in a beautiful desert valley surrounded by the Franklin Mountains. Independent of your skill level you are bound to find several trails to your liking complete with exquisite views and one-of-a-kind experiences. A few near the area that stand out are the Aztec Cave Trail, the Ron Coleman Trail, and the El Paso Tin Mine Trail. Here you can see picturesque landscapes, the only functional tin mine in the United States, and hieroglyphs left by the Aztec people.
Hueco Tanks State Historic Site
Pronounced whey-coe, Hueco Tanks is the one place that I highly recommend that you call to reserve in advance. Only 70 visitors at a time are allowed within this sacred desert sanctuary and for good reason: the walls of the caves here are lines with gorgeous hieroglyphs and ancient history. Visitors here are able to take a step back in time and become a part of the ancient Aztec civilization. Gravel trails interweave throughout the site and connect all of the major attractions. Feel free to watch for birds, hike, picnic, camp, rock climb, or star-gaze! Hueco Tanks is magical and will be sure to spark your curiosity. Just remember your sun screen!
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss was established in 1854 and named after the famous mathematician LTC William Bliss. Located adjacent to the White Sands National Monument, Fort Bliss is full of exciting events for the entire family. On the post is a mall, numerous restaurants, Industrial-era war artifacts, desert scenery, and (my favorite) the Old Ironsides Museum. Walk around the mall/restaurant area where there are events for all major holidays. Plus whoever is running the museum is doing an excellent job or renovating the exhibits. Everything is highly interactive and personal, and makes learning fun! Enjoy factual videos and try on war garment styles dating back to the 1800’s. This portion of the museum is perfect for a photo-op! Anyone can visit the fort with proof of identification, so if you go visit here be sure to stop by the museum!
Carlsbad Caverns
The Caverns here were easily my favorite part of this trip. After a 2.5 hour drive from El Paso, you will arrive at the site. The lines may get a little long during the spring break season, but do not let this deter you from seeing this natural wonder! Tickets can be purchased in the main lobby area next to the gift shop (admission for military personnel is free). Keep in mind that the temperature of the cave will be about 56 degrees Fahrenheit year round, with 90% humidity. You will want pants or a light jacket during your time here.
From the lobby you have the option to descend into the caves via elevator or by hiking down through the natural entrance. The hike covers about 1.25 miles with a vertical depth of 80 stories. Although 1.25 miles may not seem like a lot, the 80 stories is killer on the knees and I would not advise people hike up this route if they have any health issues. Otherwise, the hike down this trail allows you to see the beautiful rock formations and take in the sheer size of the caverns.
Both the hike through the natural entrance and the elevator will lead you to the “Big Room”. It’s title is spot on! The main portion of the cave is GIGANTIC. Signs are places throughout the cavern to help you keep your sense of direction, but the hike around the cavern is a roughly 1.5 mile loop. You will see gorgeous natural displays such as the “Bottomless Pit”, the “Hall of Giants”, the “Boneyard”, the “Devils Spring” and millions of speleothems. This cavern is also known for having a fantastic bat flight program, where visitors can watch thousands of Brazilian free-tailed bats exit the cave to search for food.
All of the pictures that I took from the self-guided tour do not do this beautiful experience enough justice, and I highly encourage you to make the Carlsbad Caverns a priority for your visit!
L & J Café
If you want to experience delicious authentic Mexican food then look no further than L & J Café in the heart of El Paso. Their guacamole is mind blowing, tacos to die for, and margaritas the ABSOLUTE BEST. Make sure you go here at least once if you are in the area!
I hope that these suggestions help you during your next trip to El Paso Texas. As always, thank you for reading and feel free to leave any comments or questions!