El Paso is a great base from which to explore the splendors of the desert, a perfect launch pad for forays deep into the Southwest. To that end, here are some suggestions from the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau for some great day trips:
- Go deep below the desert’s surface and revel in the wonders of another world at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The park harbors this nation’s deepest cave. More than 1,500 feet below the surface lays Lechuguilla Cave. Replete with some of the planet’s largest underground chambers this is a must-see if you’re in this part of the world. Tours are offered year round.
- Find out what a working horse and cattle ranch is all about at Chihenne Ranch. Located in the magnificent foothills of the Black Range, near the Gila National Forest, the ranch offers a rare opportunity to witness the West as it really is today. It’s a great place to hike, horseback ride, or see Native American sites.
- Climb (via car, of course) to Cloudcroft, 9,000 feet above sea level. The tiny town is a Mecca of sorts for folks in search of great mountain biking, serene hiking and challenging cross-country skiing. Town center is stocked with shops, restaurants and a saloon.
- Another fascinating community within day-tripping distance of El Paso is Old Mesilla. A 45-minute drive through pecan grooves and vineyards puts you in a place that Billy the Kid once called home. Now it serves up terrific shopping and food reflective of Native American, Spanish and New Mexican influences.
- Pancho Villa State Park lies on the land from which General Pershing began his epic 11-month, 500-mile pursuit of Villa into the depths of Mexico. Be sure to spend some time in the exhibit hall. It chronicles the history of the 1910 Mexican Revolution.
(Image: Mathieu Lebreton)
