Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, Nature reserve in Ruidoso, New Mexico, US
Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area is a sprawling nature reserve in the eastern foothills of Sierra Blanca that contains one of America's longest underground rivers. The area blends forested ridges with an extensive network of caves and subterranean waterways beneath the surface.
The U.S. Cavalry established Fort Stanton in 1855 as a military outpost to control the region during territorial expansion. The site played a key role in the frontier history of southern New Mexico in the decades following the American-Mexican War.
The Rio Bonito Petroglyph Trail displays rock etchings that the Jornada Mogollon people created centuries ago, still visible on the canyon walls today. These carvings offer a window into the lives of those who once inhabited this valley.
Rob Jaggers Campground offers basic amenities including parking with electric hookups, picnic areas, and drinking water. The area is accessible by foot and horseback, with several trails that vary in difficulty and length.
The Snowy River passage features an unusual bright white calcite stream bed running through caves deep underground. This is one of the few places where visitors can witness such intense geological formations created by subterranean water flow.
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