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.

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.

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.

Beautiful out in the Desert with Lake Brantley near…read moreoverlooks the lake, beautiful sunset, long drive on tho but if you go, visit the Desert Gardens nearby as well as Carlsbad Caverns!!!