Guadalupe Back Country Byway is located in southeast New Mexico. It begins about 12 miles north of Carlsbad and travels south to the Lincoln National Forest entrance. Guadalupe follows NM 137, which is a two-lane paved road suitable for all vehicles. The byway is 30 miles long and is open year-round.
Guadalupe ascends nearly 3,000 feet from the Chihuahuan Desert at the beginning of the byway to the Guadalupe Mountains. Opportunities exist for hiking, wildlife viewing, four-wheeling, hunting, and exploring. The area is home to mule deer, pronghorn antelope, hawks and eagles, coyotes, lizards, and rattle snakes. A short side trip from the byway takes you to the scenic Sitting Bull Falls and a picnic area.
Guadalupe Back Country Byway is rich in history. Stone spearheads or dart points have been found in the area that are between 8,000 and 9,000 years old. Various types of pottery have also been found that are associated with the ancient Anasazi Indians. The first ranchers began arriving shortly after the Civil War. West Texas ranchers would also pass through here with their cattle, headed for the railheads in Kansas. Today this area is used for livestock grazing and oil and gas exploration.
Nearby is the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, which has more than 70 underground caverns; some are among the largest in the world. In addition to touring the caverns, the national park offers hiking and picnicking opportunities. Camping facilities are in Brantley Lake State Park, located north of the byway. The state park also offers picnicking, fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities.
Travelers along the byway may wish to continue driving through Lincoln National Forest to the Dog Canyon Ranger Station in Guadalupe National Park. The national park contains what is considered to be one of the finest examples of an ancient marine fossil reef in the world. The park is also home to Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas at 8,749 feet. A small campground is located near the ranger station. Hiking trails that lead to Guadalupe Peak and wilderness camping are also in the area.