Walnut Canyon Desert Drive
This nine-mile gravel loop is one of the few designated scenic drives in the park.
Plan Around Walnut Canyon Desert Drive
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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.
Walnut Canyon Desert Drive Details
Also called Desert Loop Drive, this nine-mile gravel loop is the only designated scenic drive in the park. The loop starts at the park visitor center and ends back on Highway 7 (the park entrance road) a few miles east of the visitor center. You'll drive through a canyon with views of the surrounding desert and, if you come during spring or early summer, a patchwork of bright wildflowers.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
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Region
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Nearby Parks Around Walnut Canyon Desert Drive
Compare nearby parks around Walnut Canyon Desert Drive when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Walnut Canyon Desert Drive
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Walnut Canyon Desert Drive while the map context is still fresh.
0.2 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.
0.2 mi away
Bat Cave
Most of the cave's bat population lives in this underground chamber.
0.3 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.
0.3 mi away
Natural Entrance Trail
The Natural Entrance Trail is one of two options for self-guided touring of the cave.
0.4 mi away
Bat Flight Amphitheater
The amphitheater features rings of stone benches looking down on the cavern's natural entrance, where thousands of bats emerge nightly.
