Carlsbad Caverns and National Park Service Visitor Guide U.S. Department of the Interior summer/fall 2015 Guadalupe Mountains National Parks Fall/Winter 2017-18 Greetings Cosmos WELCOME TO CARLSBAD CAVERNS AND Guadalupe Mountains National Parks. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a World Heritage Site since 1995, features a spectacu- lar cave system of highly decorated cham- bers. Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects one of the world’s best examples of a fossil reef. Both parks are located within the Chihuahuan Desert, a fascinating place to explore desert life. Our park staff are here to help make your visit a truly memorable event and will be happy to help you plan your visit to areas within and without the designated wilder- ness. Guided tours at Carlsbad Caverns can enrich your park experience. These tours of- fer a variety of caving experiences, from easy An Awe-Inspiring Beauty lantern tours to challenging trips involving NPS Photo crawling and squeezing through tight pas- A time-lapsed photo captures the Milky Way overhead in all of its magnificence and light pollution on the horizon. by Carolyn Hunt sages. FOR GENERATIONS OUR ANCESTORS There are many ways in which residents of 3. BRIGHTNESS: Consider the brightness looked to the heavens and saw a sky full of Sedona, Tucson—and other people con- of the light. The brightness of a light is called Guadalupe Mountains National Park has stars. If you have never seen such a sight, it cerned with reducing their light pollution— lumens; the amount of light. A 25 or 40 watt over 80 miles of hiking trails to explore, is something to behold! Imagine the inky decrease light pollution going skyward. If incandescent bulb, or a 9 watt compact fluo- ranging from wheelchair accessible paths to black of night painted with a delicate misty one is to have a night-sky-friendly light you rescent, is usually enough to light a porch or strenuous mountain hikes, including an 8.4 glow; this is the Milky Way. The Milky Way will get a “goldilocks” light. The light is just driveway. mile roundtrip hike to Texas’ highest moun- is joined by bright stars twinkling—flashing right, not too much, not too little. tain, Guadalupe Peak (8751', 2667m). red, blue, green, white. They seem to dance 4. WHEN: Consider when light is needed. in the sky. This view has been described Though my soul may set in dark- Installing sensors can allow the light to come As you travel and spend time in the area as numinous, evoking feelings of mystery, on when people are present and using the please remember to keep safety in mind. holiness, and spirituality. Some cultures even ness, it will rise in perfect light; light. Sensors then turn the light off when it Deer and other wildlife are plentiful—en- had myth, legend, and religion entwined I have loved the stars too fondly to is not needed. joy watching wildlife, but remember they often move across roads, especially in the with the stars. be fearful of the night. 5. COLOR: The color of the light is impor- evenings; be vigilant while driving during Today, the stars often play a diminished —Sarah Williams tant as well. “Warmer” colors, such as am- twilight hours. Hikers should be prepared role in our lives. Most people live in cities for rapidly changing weather conditions. where even the night is bright, living in light Hikers can become dehydrated in our dry 24 hours a day. We often have to travel great climate, so carry plenty of water (one gal- distances to see what is directly overhead. lon per person per day is recommended). The tapestry of the heavens is hidden by Always check trail conditions and weather a veil of human-made light. Consider the forecasts with a ranger before venturing into picture (right). Can you pick out where you the backcountry. are from? Places like Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, Washington, D.C., and the entire We are wholeheartedly committed to our outline of Florida are emblazoned on the mission of preserving and providing for the earth. You can see that cities are in stark enjoyment of our nation’s most outstanding contrast to the nearby, uninhabited water treasures. We wish you a rewarding experi- bodies of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, ence in every way. the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico. Sincerely, This human-caused lighting of the night was noticed by some people, particularly astrono- mers. Astronomers often have a keen interest in light pollution, as they look to the stars to Douglas S. Neighbor The United States at night. Photo by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC. seek answers and make predictions. This is Superintendent because visible-light observations cannot be To get a light that is “just right” follow these bers, are useful for a few reasons. They de- Carlsbad Caverns made with a large amount of light pollution. handy tips.: crease sky brightness, are easier on the eyes, National Park Light can travel hundreds of miles to disrupt and are less susceptible to insects. astronomical observations. Some cities saw 1. WHERE: Use light where you need it. this was occurring and decided to decrease Choose locations of lights carefully and only Efforts like those listed above have contrib- the amount of light they put into the sky. Two install a light where it is truly needed. uted to Sedona, Arizona’s status as a “Dark such cities are Tucson and Sedona, Arizona. Sky Community,” recognized by the Interna- They have less light pollution when com- 2. SHIELD: Pick lighting fixtures that shield tional Dark Sky Association. Eric Brunnemann pared to other cities their size. Tucson has a the light. A fixture which directs light to the Superintendent number of astronomical observatories out- ground is essential. Shielded light fixtures Astronomers are not the only ones who ben- Guadalupe Mountains side its city limits, which have benefited from direct light at the ground, not the sky. efit from darkness. Animals also need night. National Park their choice to reduce light pollution. ...continued on page 3 Inside this Issue StudentsCave Tours............ Help Survey.Page 4-5 CaveHiking Tours Info.............Page pp. 6-7 6 Hiking Information p. 8 Contact Information 2 New Trail p. 3 Hiker Safety 4-5 Stagecoaching Was No Picnic 10 Sitting Bull Falls 11 NPS Photo /Dave Bieri NPS Photo/Michael Medrano NPS Photo/Peter Jones Area Attractions 12 Junior and Senior Ranger Programs Telephone and What Time is It? Web Directory WELCOME TO GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK. Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects one of the world’s Official National Park Service sites include Both parks best examples of a fossil reef. Both parks are located within the Chi- .gov in their web address. huahuan Desert, a fascinating place to explore desert life. Carlsbad Caverns National Park are in the 3225 National Parks Highway Mountain Time Park staff are here to help make your visit a truly memorable event Carlsbad, NM 88220 and will be happy to help you plan your visit to areas within and Visitor Center without the designated wilderness. 727 Carlsbad Caverns Highway Zone. Carlsbad, NM 88220 Guadalupe Mountains National Park has over 80 miles of hiking 575-785-2232 www.nps.gov/cave trails to explore, ranging from wheelchair accessible paths to strenu- www.facebook.com/Carlsbad Caverns ous mountain hikes, including an 8.4-mile roundtrip hike to Texas’ National Park Because Guadalupe highest mountain, Guadalupe Peak (8,751'). Check us out on Twitter: @CavernsNPS Mountains National Guadalupe Mountains National Park Park is close to the MANY NATIONAL PARKS ACROSS AMERICA OFFER A JUNIOR 400 Pine Canyon Drive Ranger program for children to encourage interest in their national Salt Flat, TX 79847 Central Time Zone, parks and to promote a sense of stewardship and ownership for 915-828-3251 ext. 2124 these special places that they come to visit. This self-paced educa- www.nps.gov/gumo your phone will dis- tional program allows children to earn a patch and/or badge and/or www.facebook.com/Guadalupe.Moun- certificate upon completion of required activities that teach them tains play the wrong time Check us out on Twitter: about park resources. Age appropriate activities are included in the @GuadalupeMtnsNP Junior Ranger booklet, typically for pre-kindergarten through upper unless you set it to elementary-aged children. www.meetup.com/Guadalupe-Moun- Mountain Time. tains-National-Park-Meetup-Group/ At Carlsbad Caverns, the Junior Ranger program offers activities that teach children about the resources both above ground and below Food, Lodging, and Camping the surface (including plant and animal life of the desert, cave fea- Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce tures, and history of the park). Younger children have opportunities 575-887-6516 to color and draw, find objects on a visual scavenger hunt, use their www.carlsbadchamber.com senses to experience their surroundings, and complete games. Older ? children will sequence events, complete word searches, and write Van Horn Texas Visitors Bureau stories and poems. Each activity in the booklet is an optional activity 432-283-2682 depending on interest and age-level. The Junior Ranger booklet is available at the visitor center information desk. Children of all ages Weather Conditions ? may participate and earn a badge. The program is free. Carlsbad Weather Watch ? 575-885-1848 ? www.weather.gov Road Conditions Traveling with a Pet? New Mexico: 800-432-4269 On a warm day the temperature inside a car can kill a pet. Do not www.nmroads.com leave your pets unattended. Texas: 800-452-9292 drivetexas.org AT CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK, PETS ARE ALLOWED on all paved roads, pullouts, and parking areas, along Walnut Canyon Emergency: Call 911 Desert Drive (Loop Road), on the paved Nature trail, and at Rattle- snake Springs picnic area.