This Byway begins twelve miles north of Carlsbad in the Chihuahuan Desert and ascends about 3,000 feet into the Guadalupe Mountains. 

Large patches of prickly pear and sotol grow out of cream-colored limestone outcrops, as the terrain gets rugged quickly.. Hidden beneath the surface are wild caves of exquisite beauty, which draw scientists and spelunkers from all over the world. Driving south on the byway directs you to Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area, where springs feed a stunning cascade down the 200' foot high wall of tufa. The road continues through southern New Mexico into Texas, and out of the Land of Enchantment.