Day trips from Roswell

Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge — 7 miles

7 miles northeast of Roswell, in Chaves County, and open sunrise to sunset. Barely a day trip at all — it is a morning, and the closest genuinely special thing to the house.

More than 100 species of dragonflies and damselflies have been recorded here — considered one of the most diverse odonate populations in North America. That is not a small claim and it is the Fish & Wildlife Service’s own. There is wildlife year-round, and fall migration — which typically starts in September — is the popular time to visit.

Getting there: From the south side of Roswell, take US 380 (Second Street) east about three miles to Red Bridge Road, north to Pine Lodge Road, then east to the refuge gate. From the north side, take US 285 (Main Street) north to Pine Lodge Road and east about six miles.

Go at first light. The refuge is at its best early, it is free, and by mid-morning in summer the heat has taken the edge off it.

Bottomless Lakes State Park — 15 miles

Twenty minutes southeast: eight sinkhole lakes 17 to 90 feet deep, a swimming beach at Lea Lake, 4.53 miles of trails, scuba diving and a campground. Day-use entry is $10.00 per vehicle for non-residents.

This is the one to give a whole day rather than an afternoon. The complete guide is here.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park — 103 miles

The big one. The National Park Service’s own driving-distance table lists Roswell at 103 miles from the park, which is roughly two hours each way south on US 285. The park’s only entrance road turns north from US 62/180 at White’s City.

Treat it as a full day and nothing else. Below ground it is one of the great cave systems in the world, and it involves a serious amount of walking — the descent through the natural entrance is a long, steep, sustained walk, and there is an elevator for those who would rather not. Entry requirements, timed reservations and cave tour bookings change, so check the park’s own site before you drive: turning up unprepared at a national park two hours from home is a wasted day.

This is the trip that most rewards a longer stay. On a two-night visit it eats half your trip; on a week it is simply Tuesday.

Lincoln and the mountains — west on US 380

West of Roswell the ground rises out of the Pecos valley into the Sacramento and Capitan mountains, and the temperature drops with it. Lincoln, the historic town at the center of the Lincoln County War, sits along US 380 in that direction, and the mountain resort town of Ruidoso is further on via US 70.

We are not printing drive times for either, because we could not source them to an official publisher and estimating is how people miss last entry somewhere. Both are comfortable day trips; check your own route before you commit to one.

The reason to go is the change of country. In an hour or so you move from high desert to pine forest and pick up several thousand feet of elevation, which in July is not a scenic detail — it is the difference between 94°F and something you would willingly walk around in.