Our jaunt from our campground in Carlsbad to the Sitting Bull Falls in the Lincoln National Forest was a drive of about 50 miles one way. That 50 miles took a bit over 1.5 hours and took us out of our comfort zone into the Chichuahuan Desert, oil country, cattle country and barrenness. We saw maybe 5 cars on the way over, and a few more, but, not many, on the way back to the campground. Folks, there is a lot of land out there that is NOT inhabited. You know you are in a bit of a different world when the speed limit is 40 MPH for some 23 miles and if you do happen to pass a home, the speed limit drops to 30 MPH around the homestead. It was a bit disconcerning, all those wide open spaces and not many humans, and only a few head of beef on the hoof. It strikes you very fast just how difficult life in the Chichuahuan Dessert really is.
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| This little, errr, large lovely, was just standing along side the road, as were several of his buds and gal friends. This is open range land, I believe that means, he has the right of way. Not a problem, we don't mind giving him the right of way. |
Our route over to the Falls was 62/180 southwest about 9 miles to the Dark Canyon Road (CR 408). 23 miles pretty much west on Dark Canyon Road until you hit 137. Deep Canyon Road is the stretch that is so barren, and wide open, no cell towers here folks. Take 137 southwest about 3 miles to FR 276, follow the signs to Sitting Bull Falls, about another 7 miles. You can drive almost all the way to the falls, just about 150 yards of walking, mostly paved, sorta steep path.
We arrived around 4ish, they start locking the gates and such at 4:30. It was W-I-N-D-Y!!!! And, cccccold. Earmuffs went on in no time, fingers started numbing up, so on went the gloves too. It seems it has been dry here, for the 150-foot waterfall was running a bit on the sparse side of wet. But, still worth a photo (which was considerably darken and tweaked, the bright sun has really been washing out our photos). By the way, the volunteer at the falls told us it gets REALLY cold after the sun sets Brrrr.
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| See, not much water coming over the top, there is a nice pond at the bottom. Almost looks like an oasis, doesn't it? |
As we turned to leave we spied this wonderful view of the surrounding mountains.
Our visit to Sitting Bull Falls was interesting, the drive over took us out of our comfort zone, the first step out. We hope it will not be the last, I mean, this is what this trip is all about, stepping out of our comfort zones and discovery.
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4 comments:
You're in new spots for me now. Love it!
All very interesting. Way north, like Wyoming, there are no people and you can go abt. 70 mph, so I wonder why so slow there. Did you ask anybody why? Stay safe and don't let the wind (not bedbugs) get you.
I'm also wondering about the low speed limits; was it because livestock are out loose? I remember seeing lots of low-population-density areas in travels with my father as a child. Kind of spooky sometimes.
The livestock are wandering loose, there are no fences along the road. I figure that the speed limit was slow so you would see them meandering out into the road and could stop.
Also, the road was quite rough, not gravel, just rolly/rough. At times 40 MPH was too fast under those conditions.
We have seen speed limits on other roads in Texas and/or New Mexico set at 75 MPH. But, the cattle were fenced in and away from the roads.
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