I wanted a hiking and an outlook experience and this place did not disappoint. Meandering through…read morethe grounds, there are is an aviary, pond, creature cave, outdoor elk & sheep pen, gardens and more. Lots of panoramic views. Indoors, there are a bunch of displays, restrooms and a gift shop. An easy 1 hour exploration of the grounds. Lots of free parking.

*** mountain lions and a bobcat are here now! ***…read more My young daughters and I loved seeing black bear "Maggie" open her 20th birthday present on 1.18.2025. We had no idea this event was happening prior to our visit that Saturday, so it was a special treat. Adult admission is now $10. Kids ages 7-12 are $5. I will always be a fan of this park because of certain staff members and the animals... Chihuahuan desert animals are the absolute best! Note, this go around we did not see the bison or a single scorpion. In saying this, I would NOT plan a trip just for this state park. It's not where it should be. The map they handed us clarifies that a new Framework Plan is in the works, but its implementation has seemingly been prolonged. There needs to be certain renovations and maintenance done before I would ever recommend this as a key destination. Before you visit, check out their hours ahead of time and set aside at least an hour for a self-guided tour. The signage going to this place absolutely still sucks. I'll never understand why New Mexico is like this. How do non-natives of this area even find this place without a GPS? Seriously. Ample free parking for RVs, trucks, my Jeep, and the usual boring cars. Bring water, a hat, & comfy walking shoes.

I'm always impressed at the lengths NPS goes to accommodate all visitors, from infants and toddlers…read moreto the elderly; from hardcore hikers to people with mobility issues. How cool is it that they installed elevators in a cavern this deep (750+ feet underground) just to help everyone enjoy the natural wonder? The park is small but packs a big punch. The cavern is obviously the main attraction, make reservations in advance if at all possible to secure your spot. There's a lot to see down there; just a walk to and around the big room will take 90-120 minutes round trip (take the elevator back up). The path is dimly lit and has guard rails throughout, so it's not particularly challenging. And there are restrooms at the very bottom in case nature calls. The cave is really unique, and there are lots of cool formations to learn about throughout the entire descent and in the big room. Well worth a visit!

Free for active duty military!…read more Beautiful drive to the facility and wonderful inside. There's lots to do/look at while you wait for your elevator down to the cavern. They had sculptures, information about the caverns, and even a junior ranger section stocked with books, coloring pages (upon request), and things you could touch. Bathrooms were excellent and super clean. It's easier to make an online reservation to secure your spot, as tickets sell out quickly. The only downside was there was no separate line for online purchases vs in house ones and we ended up missing our 10:00 elevator and had to wait for the next one down. They have several cave tour options-- a descent from the surface, bat show, self guided, etc. We chose the self guided, as we had small children and it seemed easiest. Strollers are not allowed in the caverns (some-- most-- of it is wheelchair accessible though), so we carried our youngest in a hiking backpack. Inside the actual cavern, there are bathroom facilities, a small cafe, and gift shop. You can only eat in the area provided, otherwise you can bring water into the cave. The entire tour took about an hour and a half and was absolutely wonderful. Our kids are pretty young, so they weren't as impressed, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cave was well lit in most places and there were emergency phones scattered throughout. The path was walkable and had guard railings. I let my 20 month old son walk around for some of our time there, but occasionally picked him up because some spots he could duck under the railing and get into trouble/hurt. They recommend that all children be kept within arms length reach and for good reason. During our stay, a little boy got separated from his family. The rangers were extremely kind to him during his wait for his parents' return. Luckily, he didn't have to wait long, but the whole situation seemed to be handled well, especially communication between rangers to locate the boy's family. The gift shop is huge and stocked with everything from pressed pennies, magnets, ornaments, to shirts, gear, and jams/jellies. Outside, there's ample parking and even picnic areas/senic overlooks. If you're in the area, I would make a stop!

Such a fun playground! Plenty for big and little kids. Beautiful view. Shaded well in the afternoon.read more

Playground on the Pecos…read more.. Loved this playground in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It's situated next to the Pecos River and an exercise path. A bridge is nearby to let the kiddos across to the other side. Free, ample parking is nearby. There were some benches as well as a gazebo with picnic tables within short walking distance for parents. Just a bit further walk away were the restrooms. I highly suggest you bring your own soap or at the least hand sanitizer. Residents came together with an idea for this park - the features correspond with the surrounding environment such as a "caverns" area and a stationary "tic-bat-toe" game. My kids were 8 & 9-years-old when they first visited (10/19/2022) and thought this was a great park. Their favorite areas were the big kid swings, monkey bars, tower lookouts, and tire swing. It has fencing around it, but the gates stay wide open during park hours. It was mostly clean. Please help keep this a safe, clean park.

Awesome…read more Beautiful dog park! Maintained very nicely, and it's right next to the river. It's somewhat like a community that welcomes all new dog parents. It's awesome to see friendly people and responsible dog parents taking care of their pets and being friendly to all people. The dog park has a section for large dogs and smaller dogs. The larger dog side has obstacle course for doggies to become pros for a puppy bowls lol Try this place even if in passing!

Great dog park! Lots of room to run around and super cute decor. While it is right next to the…read moreriver, there is no water access. Still, you can take your dog for a walk on the leash by the river or let them come inside the gates of the dog park to run around. Parking is on street, but easy. Several large trees for shade, benches for the humans to sit on, and a water fountain from the dogs to drink. Very well maintained with its upkeep. Highly recommend a visit!

So I spent part of the week here exploring and I really enjoyed my time here. It is the smaller…read moreNational Park in Texas on about 85,000 acres (compared to Big Bend National Park which is 800,000 acres) but still plenty to explore. This park is more for folks that really like to hike, explore and camp. There are a few entry points into the park but there really is no scenic routes through the park. You are expected to park somewhere and walk to your destination instead which I find very interesting to do (can see alot more too). I've visiting the frijole ranch that had a small museum inside explaining the history of the park. Attach to it there are a few trails you can take off to do. I did the smith springs and it was very pretty to see. Once you manage to get up the hill there were some seats and rails you can hang onto and relax while watching the spring. I also did the Guadalupe Mountain Peak trail, which is the highest peak in Texas. That one takes about 6 to 8 hours to hike (round trip) and it had amazing views. There was also a mark at the to there you can take a picture too which was cool. Definitely need to be prepped to do this or any of the hikes (water, food, first aid, hiking stick and good hiking boots). The Salt Basin Dunes were also really nice to explore but expect to do half a day here. That one you drive over dirt road to get to but very nice views of the mountain. It also had a place you can use the restroom and sit down to eat. The place is exactly what you expect...alot of sand hills you can climb but very soft and cooling (just watch your step). I didn't get to explore all the park since there was a government shut down and closed one of the trails I wanted to do but overall It was definitely worth the trip to visit. I plan to come back next year when it's not too hot (best time for fall colors and cool air for tough hikes). I would absolutely recommend anyone to at least check this park out at least once in your life. Make sure do your research and bring what you need.

My husband and I visited in December 2025 and decided to climb Guadalupe Peak. It was amazing…read more The trail was maintained. A search and rescue ranger was walking the trail to keep a count of the hikers, which made me feel safe. I was so stoked that we were able to summit. We went to the ranger station afterwards to buy souvenirs and share our achievements. The rangers just looked deadpan at us after sharing our news. It left me disheartened. They could have pretended to care about our little victory. Would have liked to hike Devils Hall, but we were beat after the peak.

A wonderful State Park, located on Brantley Lake! There are 47 camp sites with water and electric…read more They also have dispersed sites as well.

We have stayed here for 14 days. It is a nice secluded park, quiet, and dark but still close enough…read moreto Carlsbad and local attractions. We went to Carlsbad Caverns and Bat Flight Program, Sitting Bull Falls and The Flume during our second visit to this area. The park is in need of some trimming and weed control. Our site is filled with Texas Star Thistle. We had to do yardwork before setting up our pet fence. I mean it is everywhere here. There are dead trees at sites which should be taken down before they fall on someone. The sites are not level. The dump station is closed. They said they are taking bids from local companies and should be up in two weeks but it has been two weeks. We were able to use our blue boy and dump at a vacant host site. The park would be so much nicer if a little care was taken to clean the sites of vegetation. I'm not sure if we would stay here again.

Heritage Park is one of the premier keepers of Carlsbad New Mexico's pioneer history…read more It's a quick visit. No staff on site. Free parking. My ten and eleven-year-old daughters and I investigated the area on 1.18.2025. Expect to view the following: + C. B. Eddy House ("first substantial dwelling in this area... built before 1890) + The old Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) campsite + Adams Leaning Wheel Grader #8 + Avery plow (1 Bottom 1 Way Moldboard Breaking Plow) + stagecoach + roadrunner statues + windmill & other structures The Eddy House was not originally built on this site. The core reason I knocked off a star is due to the apparent neglect of the park. The usual negligence such as... Un-readable signs. Trash lying around. Unconditioned wood. Within a short walking distance is the Pecos River Flume, built in 1903. Someone on Google reviews mentioned that the bridge is "eerie at night." Heck, I thought it was eerie in broad daylight with water dripping from it. Lol. Also nearby is Carlsbad Spring Park with a fantastic concrete walking path to one of the springs. If you see one of these historical landmarks, you might as well visit all of them. Just remember the concrete path gets extremely hot during the summer plus desert life (rattlesnakes, scorpions, stickers, etc.) is not particularly dog-friendly. Highly recommend for history buffs and wanderlusts like me.

Green Meadow Park is located on the northwest side of Hobbs, NM…read more It features a large human-made pond with a walking path upon its perimeter. I brought my daughters here for their first time on 8/27/2022. It was my first time visiting the City-maintained park in over ten years. While it has some new-to-me features, I think that in the coming years there could be some major improvements. There was ample parking. On a sidenote, when we were there, two large dogs were not on leashes playing fetch with their owners. My dog is no longer around, so I often walk my brother's pitbull and want to start walking my other brother's German Shepherd... good dog owners know where I'm going with this. Just be careful when going to any park with your dog in this town. The "let's all win, toss it in the bin" campaign certainly seems to help keep waste off the ground. Here, it's printed on large signs with trash cans spread throughout the park. Much appreciated! Now if we could just get all of the morons to stop throwing trash out their car windows... TIP + The Hobbs Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM at Green Meadows Park.

This us a very nice clean park to take your family. New playground equipment , large pond with…read moreducks and geese. You can also fish there. Clean restrooms which is a plus!

Yours truly recently acquired the role of "soccer mom" for the first time ever (3/4/2023)…read more In turn, Jefferson Park became our practice field because 1) it's a free public space & 2) hardly anyone goes here! In Jefferson's defense, it is on the south side of town - meaning it's too far for most Hobbsans to consider - plus it's tucked away in a lesser known area. I used to teach at the elementary nearby over 10 years ago... I don't recall any of this being within short walking distance of the school: + basketball courts + bbq grills + lights + pavilions + picnic tables + playground + restrooms + sand volleyball courts + soccer goals + youth baseball fields (still referred to as Bensing Park) + & a .80-mile walking path I give this city park 4 stars because while it has great amenities, it is not at all debris-free nor is it in a particularly nice neighborhood.

Visiting from Houston, Tx The staff here is friendly and the…read moreplace is HUGE! Basketball, pickleball, weights, indoor soccer field, ping pong, and a lot more. I had a great time experiencing most of what yall offered. Can't wait to come back and check out the rest.

The CORE stands for the Center for Recreational Excellence…read more It's a workout facility in the City of Hobbs which is located in the southeast area of New Mexico. This place has a few pitfalls that keep me from not purchasing a yearly membership: First off, the wait to get to where you're going can be a bit much. The lines are a bit confusing as it is. They've since simplified it within the 9 months that I have lived here, but it could be even more simpler. Second, the clientele are less than appeasing. I tend to cause like a sailor, but not in public. It gets old. Amenities: + cardio equipment on the top floor + free weights, plate loaded, and selectorized machines on the bottom floor + gym (the floor is lined for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, four-square & shuffleboard) + indoor track + lap pool + locker room + personal trainer available + racquetball courts (2 available... reservations also available) + splash pad + spa (for ages 13 years & up) + sports programs (adult & youth) + studio & wellness classes + turf (soccer, flag football, ultimate frisbee, & golf) + water slides (4' & taller) My girls have participated in the volleyball classes here which were okay, but not very competitive. Just this past weekend (5/6/2023) I took the to the splash area for the first time area. Even though I declined to swim, I was still charged admission ($4 for the entire day). My 8 & 9-year-olds were charged $3 apiece for entry. In the splash area which is completely indoors, there are two sets of bleachers and multiple individual lounge chairs and side tables scattered all around. Free parking.