Rattlesnake Springs
An area of wetlands in the southwestern section of the park.
Plan Around Rattlesnake Springs
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Rattlesnake Springs Details
The Rattlesnake Springs area of the park contains some rare desert wetlands, caves, and canyons to explore. To get here, take Highway 180/62 a few miles southwest of the park headquarters visitor center. Turn onto Highway 418, which takes you to the Rattlesnake Springs ranger station after just a few miles. The Rattlesnake Springs Preserve is a series of wetlands and small creeks where shrubs and other plant life flourishes. This is the park's main water supply and the park's wildlife depends on it for drinking water, too. Hang out long enough on one of the benches near the spring, and you might be lucky enough to see deer or pronghorn antelope stop for a sip. You might also see lizards and snakes, which frequent the cool, shady wetlands. If you continue on Highway 418 past the springs and the ranger station (the road changes from pavement to gravel), you'll come to Slaughterhouse Canyon and Slaughter Canyon cave. Rangers lead guided tours of the cave, and there are also several hiking trails. The Yucca Canyon Trail and Slaughter Canyon trails travel through deep canyons, with the chance to climb ridges with great views.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Rattlesnake Springs
Compare nearby parks around Rattlesnake Springs when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Rattlesnake Springs
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Rattlesnake Springs while the map context is still fresh.
2.4 mi away
Highway 180/62
Highway 180/62 is the closest major road to the park.
4.3 mi away
Rattlesnake Canyon Trail
This moderate trail descends a side canyon into Rattlesnake Canyon.
4.6 mi away
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Cavern is one of the world's most famous show caves and forms the heart of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
4.6 mi away
Carlsbad Canyon Visitor Center
Your main resource for information about the park, as well as the place to purchase entry and tour tickets.
4.6 mi away
Bat Cave
Most of the cave's bat population lives in this underground chamber.
