Input needed -- OKC/TX/NM/CO Spring Break Trip

[soonersfan]

Below is our itinerary for Spring Break. I am looking for any input on things to do at each destination and/or things to do/see between destinations (especially Big Bend to Colorado). We have never been to Big Bend so I would like to know what to see and do there. Any and all input is appreciated.

On 3/8 I am headed to Llano, TX to do a Jeep Jamboree with my FIL and my 12 yr old daughter. We will be staying with my FIL in his motor home for the duration of this part of the trip.

On 3/11 we'll make the roughly 10 hr drive to Big Bend National Park. We'll have the option of the motor home again but I am hoping to tent camp in the park. We'll be meeting up with my wife, 16 yr old daughter and 11 year old son there. We'll have 2 days in Big Bend.

Wednesday we will start our journey north with a stop at Carlsbad Caverns in NM. Again, we will have the option of the motor home or tent camping. I'd like to tour the caverns in the afternoon and be there at night to see the bats fly out of the cave.

Thursday morning we have a roughly 8 hr trek to Denver where my 16 yr old will be playing in a volleyball tournament Friday-Sunday. Monday we make the long trip home.

This trip just happens to be thrown together due to the fact that we have Spring Break falling between the Jamboree and the volleyball tournament. However, we will also be using it a shake down for our summer trip to Moab, and the north and south rims of the grand canyon.

 

[MOAK]

2 springs ago we camped at Elephant Tusk for 3 nights. The campsite is on the Black Gap Road, ( high clearance 4wd access from the north, or loop all the way around the bottom with a normal vehicle, but what fun would there be in that?) It is a spectacular site and very easy to pitch a tent there.

 

[echo7tango]

At Carlsbad Caverns, the Slaughter Canyon Cave tour is excellent. The bats are great, too. The main caverns are interesting, although with the concrete trail it’s like a paved highway in there, which is helpful for the access-challenged but I thought it was a little too sterile for my tastes.

On your route to Denver, a little to the west are Santa Fe, Taos and the Pueblo and the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, and Angel Fire — beautiful country.

And then at Colorado Springs there’s Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, and you can tour the USAFA Academy.

Sounds like a nice trip.

 

[Lost in Texas]

In Carlsbad area look up Sitting Bull Falls. Beautiful local waterfall tucked away in the desert. Fantastic place to explore.


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[Lost in Texas]

In fact the whole area around Roswell and Carlsbad is great for Overlanding. I spent years growing up in this area and would be happy to help with out of the way stops or campsites.

 

[srad2]

In Carlsbad area look up Sitting Bull Falls. Beautiful local waterfall tucked away in the desert. Fantastic place to explore.

+1 Agreed.