West Texas and east New Mexico aren’t places that are really known for their beauty, yet somehow they have places like this, Sitting Bull Falls. I remember the first time someone told me that Carlsbad, New Mexico had a waterfall and I couldn’t believe it!
I mean if you have ever driven through Carlsbad you would know that it is pretty much a giant desert waste land. It is not somewhere I would ever imagine there being a hill let alone a waterfall. This is not just a small flow or water or a slight trickle off the side of a rock, this is an actual waterfall and it is gorgeous!
Location:
After about a 58 minute drive southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico you will reach the picnic area of Sitting Bull Falls, which is where the trail head is. Good news the entire drive is paved so no worries about dirt or gravel roads.
The majority of the drive is like pretty bland, with nothing but desert and brush. Then all the sudden, about 20 minutes before you arrive, you will start to see gorgeous rock structures. My husband makes fun of me for calling rocks beautiful, but honestly after seeing nothing but dirt for an hour, even he would say the rocks were pretty!
The drive there is slow and curvy so if you get car sick pack some barf bags or just take it slow.
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General Information:
Admission:
$5 per vehicle or $10 for bus/RV (Just cash or check) Once you arrive at the picnic area you will go to the billboard at the entrance where you will self-pay. Grab an envelope from the brown box and fill out the information. Put the money in the envelope, tear off your parking pass, seal the envelope, and put the money back in the brown box.
Okay I am going to get up on my soap box real quick! PLEASE PAY THE FEE! We saw a lot of people just start hiking and didn’t pay the fee! This money goes towards the parks and hikes that we all love to visit. Pay so that we can continue to have wonderful places like this!
Hours:
8:30am-5pm Wed-Mon during winter, and 8:30am-6pm Wed-Mon in summer (visitors must leave by 5pm when the outgoing gate closes)
Parking:
There are plenty of parking spots for regular vehicles, but only 2 for buses/RVs
FAQs:
How long is the trail?
0.7 miles there and back. It is super short!
Is the trail easy or hard?
I don’t know if you can get much easier of a trail than this! It is paved all the way to the falls viewpoint. If you want to get down to the falls, there are stairs and then you have to climb down the rocks to the water. I will suggest wearing a nice pair of nonslip hiking shoes or Keens. The rocks can be pretty slippery.
How deep is the water?
I don’t know exactly how deep it is, but if you get in the water right under the falls, where it is the deepest an adult would have to swim and wouldn’t be able to just stand.
Are there leeches in Sitting Bull Falls?
Yes, be aware that there are leeches. We didn’t get any, but they are there.
Is the water cold or hot?
During the winter it gets pretty cold, but during the summer it stays pretty warm.
Can dogs go in the water?
Yes, you can let your dog’s swim with you.
Can you swim at Sitting Bull Falls?
Yes! Jump right in and enjoy the cool water in the heat!
Is it kid friendly?
YES! I have 4 kids all under the age of 6 and they loved it!! They loved climbing the giant rocks all around, swimming, jumping in the water, and playing by the Falls. They had so much fun and are even asking when we could go back! The hike too is super easy, my toddlers did it no problem. If you want to know how to get your little kids to love hiking click here!
Can I bring my dog?
Yes! My sister brought her husky mix and he loved the water!
Are there grills?
Yes! There are quite a few covered picnic tables of various sizes with areas to grill.
Can you camp at the falls?
No, sadly this area is for day use only.
Our Experience At Sitting Bull Falls:
After a ridiculously long drive from Carlsbad, we finally reached the Sitting Bull Falls. In the parking lot we were surrounded by gigantic gorgeous rocks. There were Yucca plants taller than me all around and they were starting to bloom beautiful bunches of white flowers. The picnic area was huge! There were so many picnic tables and the pavilions that covered them were made out of stacked rock.
We had our picnic lunch in the biggest picnic pavilion and it is surprising how well these pavilions keep you cool in the heat. My kids were even asking for their jackets while they were in the picnic pavilions. They had just about everything you would need for a day at Sitting Bull Falls. A restroom, picnic areas, grills, trash cans, water stations, and even water bowls for dogs.
Something that really surprised me was that there were so many people there! We went in April on a Wednesday and still there had to be at least 7-8 cars there. I heard that it gets super busy during the summer time!
I brought my baby carrier for my baby and a hiking back pack for my 2 year old, but honestly I didn’t need either, the hike was so short and so easy. The entire trail was paved all the way to the viewing area. All we really needed to bring was a backpack with water, sunscreen, towels, and floats in it.
The viewing area gives you a frontal view of the waterfall, but you can actually go down to the water if you would like. There is a staircase that leads you closer to the Falls, but you will have to climb down some rock to get to the water. Thank heavens for Keens shoes! They are nonslip on the rocks and my kids didn’t have to take them off to get in the water.
You will definitely want some kind of non-slip shoe or water shoe while in the water, because the dirt and plants in the water make it VERY slippery.
The waterfall was a lot bigger than I had imagined it would be. I believe it is 150 ft tall. It isn’t a high flowing waterfall, but it certainly was more than a trickle of water. In the middle of the desert the water flowing makes the area around so green and lush. When we went in April, there were giant yellow butterflies all over the place. The water is super clear and that just makes it look even prettier.
The only downside to visiting when we did was that the water was still cold from winter. My mother has visited during the summer though and she said that the water is warm from the sun during the summer.
One thing I thought was cool was the caves surrounding the waterfall. There were several small cave openings, that looked like they would be pretty cool to explore. You have to swim close to the Falls to get to them.
It was such a fun place and we had a blast swimming, throwing rocks, climbing rocks, and just enjoying the view. It is a great place for families and a beautiful oasis in the desert. If you are ever in Carlsbad, New Mexico it is one of my favorite things to do!
Other Fun Things To Do In Carlsbad, New Mexico:
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Living Desert Zoo and Garden State Park
Balzano Family Vineyard and Pumpkin Patch
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