Most visitors to Carlsbad Caverns National Park head for the caves underground while completely ignoring the 800,000+ acres on the surface.

Rattlesnake Canyon is one of the most popular and scenic surface trails in Carlsbad Caverns.  Yet most hikers will have this trail all to themselves, as we did on this warm November morning.

The hike begins with a steep descent into Rattlesnake Canyon.  Most of the time we hike up a mountain so it’s downhill on the way back.  But this time we know we’ll have a “thigh burner” climb at the very end of this hike.

This was our lunch spot at the bottom of the canyon.  And yes, it’s as dry and prickly as it looks.

“Take me to your leader.”

Though it looks dry and desolate, Rattlesnake Canyon is full of deer food and deer.

Prickly Pear cactus is one of the most common plants found in the Chihuahuan Desert.  About 100 different species have been indentified.  Prickly Pears are widely cultivated for food in Mexico.  Young pads can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable, and the fruits can be made into jams and syrups.  (source) 

Prickly Pears make up a major portion a javelina’s diet.  The little pig-like omnivores love to eat Prickly Pears due to their high water content, but Prickly Pears are actually low in nutrition, containing only about 15 percent fiber and 5 percent protein.  So a javelina would need to consume 20 percent of its body weight in Prickly Pears daily to meet its protein requirements.  Even so, studies have shown that a javelina could survive solely on a diet of Prickly Pear for 3 months.  (source)

This canyon has an old west feel to it.  We expected a rattlesnake to slither out at any moment, but none did.

Theresa is enjoying what little shade there is on this hot, sunny trail.

Thank you for visiting Carlsbad Caverns with us!