Northwest of town, this state park is a great place to see and learn about reptiles and roadrunners, wolves and elk, along with desert plants such as agave, ocotillo and yucca. A good 1.3-mile trail showcases different habitats of the Chihuahuan Desert.
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
20.78 MILES
While a cave might not sound quite as sexy as redwoods, geysers or the Grand Canyon, there’s no question that this one measures up on the national parks’…
3.12 MILES
This museum displays Apache artifacts, pioneer memorabilia from the region and paintings by artists from the Taos School. Ask staff about the resident…
3.48 MILES
A system of dams and spillways on the Pecos River created the 2-mile-long Lake Carlsbad immediately east of downtown, which holds pleasant trails along…
Nearby attractions
1. Carlsbad Museum & Art Center
3.12 MILES
This museum displays Apache artifacts, pioneer memorabilia from the region and paintings by artists from the Taos School. Ask staff about the resident…
2. Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area
3.48 MILES
A system of dams and spillways on the Pecos River created the 2-mile-long Lake Carlsbad immediately east of downtown, which holds pleasant trails along…
3. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
20.78 MILES
While a cave might not sound quite as sexy as redwoods, geysers or the Grand Canyon, there’s no question that this one measures up on the national parks’…