Old Guano Road

This hike goes from White's City to the visitor's center at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. When you hike this trail, you can see much of the native plants (blooming if you hike it in the spring and the rains have been favorable). You also get good views of the gypsum plains below and the Guadalupe Mountains stretching off into Texas.

Diana Northup on the trail and the Guadalupe Mountains in the background

Hike data:

Controlling agency:

National Park Service; Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Location in the state:

Southeast; Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Trailhead waypoint(s):

GTTH

Elevation:

start:	3648ft; 1112m	end:	4399ft; 1341m
min:	3648ft; 1112m	max:	4399ft; 1341m

Elevation gain/loss:

754 ft; 230 m

Length:

3.60 mi; 5.80 km. one-way distance.

How long it took us (HH:MM):

02:00.

Cleanliness:

10/10

Trail usage:

0.00 people/hour. We have never seen anybody else on this trail. Most everybody visits the caverns and forgets that the surface exists and is worth seeing also.

Trail Condition:

Easy to follow and in excellent condition.

Fee:

$0.00.

When we hiked it:

2001-11-22. We have often hiked portions of the trail, including in May 2001 and April 2002.

Trailhead facilities:

Water, trash cans, toilets, picnic area. Picnicing at White's City is not available unless you have paid for the campground. Picnic tables exist on the west side of the park visitor's center.

Special features of the hike:

History, wildflowers, wildlife, scenery, exercise.

When to hike:

All year. Summer will be hot. Start early, and be sure you have sufficient water and sunscreen.

Maps:

Getting to the trailhead:

From Carlsbad, take US 62/180 south towards Carlsbad Caverns National Park. When you turn off of the highway at White's City, find a parking place. The trailhead is in the campground, at the west end. Note that there are two parts to the campground. You want the part furtherest from the road.

The hike:

	The trailhead looks like a jeep road. This appearance is not surprising since at one time, it was a road. In the photo, you can see the shelter and picnic table of one of the campsites just to the left of the trailhead. Almost immediately after heading up the trail, you reach the park boundary (GTBDY).
At times, the trail is marked by cairns. The trail is easy to follow, even when there are no cairns. At other times, fiberglass trail markers indicate the trail. Not surprisingly, the trail is rocky at times.
	In spite of the arid heat, some moss manages to grow between some rocks.
The cholla have bright yellow fruit.
	This cactus has large, showy flowers.
The Shaggy Narrowman (Stenandrium barbatum) is a showy spring flower.
	Desert plantain (Plantago helleri) also bloom in the spring.
The catsclaw is aptly named. Pretty, but it has thorns that grab at you as you walk by.
	You know you are getting close to the visitor's center when you reach a Y in the road (GTY1). Go right. A short distance after the Y, you come across the second natural entrance to Carlsbad Cavern (CAENT2). A short distance further (GTYNT) and the nature trail joins the trail you are on.
When you reach the natural entrance to Carlsbad Cavern on your right, you are done.