Travelling through the cave’s gaping mouth at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, we leave the bright, hot sun behind us. Slowly, with every careful step down the steep trail, we move into the cool, dim darkness. Back and forth, the steep switchbacks take us deeper and deeper into the cave.
We stop to rest, and all around us, we hear the drip drip drip of the cave as the moisture accumulates and drops from the stalagmites above our heads. Each drop temporarily breaks the mirror-like reflection of the ponds they form.
With every drop, both the stalagmite formations and the pond grow larger.
How many drops? How many drips? Thousands? Millions? Only time will tell.
About Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns is the largest single cave in North America and part of the US National Park system. Nestled in the Guadalupe Mountains in the Chihuahuan Desert region of southeastern New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns is visited by over four hundred thousand people each year.
The national park, which encompasses 73 square miles and 119 caves, dates back to prehistoric times. A unique aspect of the caves is the way they were formed — through the dissolving of limestone by sulfuric acid — only 5% of the world’s caves are formed in this manner.
Despite the caverns being formed millions of years ago, their discovery was more recent. In 1898 a teenage cowhand, Jim White, found the first cave, and since then, the rest were identified over the years by scientists and explorers.
Some interesting facts include:
- After discovering the caves, Jim White stayed on and worked at Carlsbad until his death in 1946.
- The Carlsbad Caverns National Park is also home to the Lechuguilla Cave, included in the ten longest caves in the world. Unfortunately, access inside the cave is limited to scientists, exploration and service teams, and National Park Service management-related trips.
Carlsbad Caverns is open 362 days a year, closing on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
At night visitors return for the final show. At dusk, we gather at the same natural entrance where we hiked to watch the free-tailed bats emerge and swarm out for their nightly hunt for food.
Carlsbad Caverns Visitors and Tours
Visitors to the Carlsbad Caverns can either hike through the natural entrance or take an elevator from the visitors centre to the Big Room. Both ranger-guided tours and self-guided tours are available.
The self-guided hike through the Natural Entrance is very steep and unforgiving – 1.25 miles straight down one way and equal to 79 storeys. So, I suggest you only tackle this trail if you are in good shape. There are places to rest now and again along the winding switchback trail, but be aware there is no going back once you start the hike because it’s far easier to hike downhill than up! Not to worry, you can take the elevator back up to the Visitors Centre at the end of the hike. Plan at least 1 to 2-hours to complete the full trail.
The Big Room trail, in contrast, is relatively flat and is mobility-friendly. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to walk the entire path (1.25 miles) or about 45 minutes (0.75 miles) for the “shortcut” route.
Park ranger-guided tours are offered each day. Online reservations are highly recommended if you wish to go into caves and through tunnels and passages that aren’t open to the public. You can choose four cave tours from – King’s Palace, Left Hand Tunnel, Lower Cave and Slaughter Canyon Cave. Each cave tour has different activity levels and fitness requirements.
Buy your Ranger-led tour tickets here. https://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/tour_schedule.htm
If possible, be flexible with your schedule if you wish to take a Ranger-led Tour. Our original plans were to visit on a Monday, and we were upset to find that the King’s Palace Tour was sold out the entire day. We looked again only to see that on Tuesday, they had 20+ tickets available for every tour.
Essential Things to Do while at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Take a Self-Guided Tour
- Hike in through the Natural Entrance
- Tour the Big Room
- Take a Ranger-Guided Tour
- Explore the Visitor Center
- Watch the Park Film
- Eat Lunch in the Cafeteria
- Browse the Gift Shop
- Check out the Bat Flight Programs
- Star Walks
- Moon Hikes
- Watch a Meteor Shower (mid-August)
- Campsites are available
What to Wear While Visiting Carlsbad
I highly recommend dressing in layers. Outside temperatures are very different from the temperature inside the cave. For example, when we were in Carlsbad in May, temperatures above ground were a scorching 30+ C. In contrast, the year-round temperature inside the cave is 56º F (13º C).
I found hiking shoes to be ideal when hiking the Natural Entrance trail. The terrain is steep and slick with moisture. If you don’t have hiking boots, ensure that you have non-slip, comfortable walking shoes. I do not recommend flip-flops or sandals as you could very easily twist an ankle and hurt yourself.
Tips for Travel to Carlsbad Caverns
- Baby strollers are not permitted in the caverns. However, a baby backpack may suit your needs if you need to carry your child.
- Canes and walking sticks are permitted only if medically necessary.
- Don’t forget your camera! Flash photography in the cave is permitted; however, be courteous of the person next to you when you use your flash. Tripods are allowed on self-guided tours but not on those led by rangers.
- The cavern is dimly lit. You are allowed to bring a flashlight or headlamp, but it isn’t vital.
- Plain water is permitted inside the cavern, but no flavoured water or other drinks. Additionally, no gum, mints, candy, or any other food product is allowed that could attract animals inside the cavern where they will not be able to escape.
- Further, tobacco products of any kind, including e-cigarettes/vaping and chewing tobacco, are not permitted.
- There is no cell signal inside the cavern. The park suggests that you put your cell phone in “airplane mode” or turn it off entirely if you are taking it into the cavern with you to conserve the battery.
When visiting, you will be asked if you’ve been to any cave in the past ten years and if you are wearing the same shoes or carrying the same camera equipment.
If you answer “yes,” you will need to wipe these items with disinfectant to prevent the spread of a deadly fungus. The fungus, known as “White-nose Syndrome,” can infect the Brazilian free-tailed bats that call Carlsbad Caverns home.
One of the most unique and fascinating national parks, the Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, is an unforgettable and beautiful experience. Pictures cannot do it justice. Suppose you’re a fan of hiking, bats, and old and impressive caves. In that case, you should check out and visit the Carlsbad Caverns.
Where to Stay near Carlsbad Caverns National Park
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