Carlsbad Caverns National Park New Mexico

Located in the southern region of New Mexico’s Guadalupe Mountains lies the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, home to the renowned Carlsbad Cavern. This cave is a precious relic among the 300 limestone caves in the area and is believed to have been created almost 265 million years ago. 265 million years ago.

The cavern is a large limestone chamber covering a massive 4000 feet and aptly named the ‘Big Room.’ While the park is home to over 119 caves, Carlsbad Caverns is the most popular and has paved trails, lights, and elevators that allow visitors to explore the cavern thoroughly.

Things to do in Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour

You can explore the Carlsbad Caverns by crossing two trails that give you access. You can take the elevator or hike once you’ve bought a ticket at the Visitor Center. Visitors can explore the Big Room Trail and the Natural Entrance Trail. Set aside an hour and a half to hike to the Big Room Trail, North America’s largest single cave chamber by volume.

Natural Entrance Trail

The Natural Entrance Trail is far steeper than the Big Room Trail and takes about an hour to complete. To give you an idea of how strenuous it is, it’s like climbing up and down a 75-story building. But the hike is worth it as you will be rewarded with formations like the Devil’s Spring and the Iceberg Rock.

Ranger Tours

If you want a more in-depth experience of the caves, book a Ranger-Guided tour to explore the Carlsbad Cavern, along with your entrance ticket. The advantage here is the information you’ll get when you explore the various rocks and formations. Rangers provide in-depth knowledge of the history and geology of the caves, thus providing a far more informative experience.

Night Sky Program

This is an exciting activity, but you must time your visit to the park’s calendar to catch a Night Sky Program. The park offers a range of programs, including Star Walks, Moon Hikes, and Star Parties. While the programs are free, they are limited to a certain number of participants. Using a telescope, rangers guide you to explore the night sky.

Watch Bats Fly Out of Caves

Limited to certain months in the year (usually May to September), the Bat Flight Program runs daily, in the evening, with slight changes in timings as per the sunset. Park rangers tell you about the bats in the park and the significance of their movement of migration and exiting of the caves.

This incredible spectacle can be viewed at the theater at the mouth of the Carlsbad Cavern. No prior reservations or bookings are needed, and it’s a free program. Alternatively, you can watch the bats return to their caves at dawn during the Dawn of the Bats Program on the third Saturday of July each year.

Camping at Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico

Camping options are limited to the backcountry area of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Users need to get a permit (which is free) from the Visitor Center if they choose to camp there. Keep in mind that open fires are not permitted anywhere in the park. Only small cooking stoves can be used. And you can’t bring your pets with you if you choose to camp here.

Carlsbad Caverns Getting There

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is about a 4-hour drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico. A two-hour drive from El Paso, Texas. Address 727 Carlsbad Caverns Highway Carlsbad, New Mexico. Website.

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