Carlsbad Caverns - Rattlesnake Springs

 

This is the only picnic area in Carlsbad Caverns. (In my opinion, picnic tables to the side of parking lots don't count.) It's a bit of a drive from the visitor's center, and it's not contiguous, but it is annexed, so is technically part of the national park. Decades ago, someone discovered the spring and figured out how to pump water from there to the park buildings. Wasn't that nice of them?

The picnic area itself was quite beautiful and peaceful, with plenty of tables and shade. We enjoyed eating our lunch there.

Afterwards we walked down the road to see the actual springs. (Note: it's been "forever" since I've seen an actual turnstile!) The water was clear and beautiful, but there was a lot of algae build-up, along with an abandoned building, so it didn't really feel like a nice place to rest and linger. However, it was fun to discover that the irrigation culverts were still in use.

Bonus: I found a "mostly" flowering yucca plant at this lower elevation. The ones along the trail earlier in the day were past the blooming phase.