Greetings from the amazing underground world of Carlsbad Caverns National Park! One of the most unique natural wonders in the United States, this vast network of caves in the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico offers an abundance of adventures.
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These unparalleled National Park experiences include stargazing, guided cave tours, and more.
Explore the Big Room
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Embark on and exciting journey into The Big Room and explore the depths of the earth! The Big Room is the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America and is an experience for people of all walks of life!
While traversing the 1.25-mile mainly flat track, get ready to spend roughly 1.5 hours appreciating the many different and uniquely shaped cave formations.
There is a self-guided tour available through this gigantic cave chamber that is about 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet tall.
For guests who want to enjoy a shorter experience or may have some physical limitations with walking, Big Room provides a shorter experience using a shortcut that reduces the walking distance to about 0.6 miles and the hiking time to about 45 minutes.
Hike the Natural Entrance Trail
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As you begin at the natural entrance to the caverns, this steep and strenuous trail will take you over 800 feet down into the earth for a distance of 1.25 miles. You will see beautiful and remarkable cave formations during this trek. This trail is only recommended for visitors that are in good physical condition.
This trail is super steep, gaining and losing nearly 750 feet (about 229 m). It is like going up or down a 75-storey building! It takes about 1 hour to complete the hike. You will encounter amazing views and unique rock formations called Devil’s Spring, the Whale’s Mouth, and Iceberg Rock. You will also be able to follow the paths of early explorers.
The trail has pavement and handrails, but due to the challenging nature of this trail, it is not suitable for individuals with heart or lung conditions.
Before elevators were added in the 1930’s, the only way to make it to the bottom of the Carlsbad Cavern is by hiking, which adds a significant amount of history and adventure to the experience. When it comes to hiking into the Natural Entrance, please be aware that reservations must be made and can only be done in advance.
Attend a Bat Flight Program
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Participate in the Bat Flight Program to witness as many as 200,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats leave their cave for the night to hunt for insects.
The Bat Flight Amphitheater located at the Natural Entrance of the cavern (a short walk from the visitor center) offers a program every evening from late May to October. The program is free of charge and open to all.
Before the flight, participants will have the opportunity to listen to a ranger talk about bats. If you want to see the most bats, plan your visit for August or September when the young bats and the migratory bats join the flight.
This amazing nature experience will be unforgettable to watch as bats fly out in the evenings and fly back out before dawn. This will allow nature lovers of all ages to be able to watch and learn about bats in the wild.
Night Sky Programs
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Since it is situated remotely, the park is good for stargazing. At certain times of the year, Carlsbad Caverns National Park provides Star Parties and Night Hikes. These no-cost events encourage you to explore the secrets of the cosmos and the nightlife of the desert.
The Park Rangers will show you how to use telescopes to see faraway planets, galaxies, and other features of the night sky. Visitors at the Star Parties will be able to view the night sky with minimal to no light pollution due to the park’s location.
The Night Hikes are enchanting in their own way. You will make a 1.5 mile round trip exploring the desert’s nocturnal ecosystem under the stars.
Don’t forget to bring your water and snacks and always wear pants and closed-toe shoes. A red light flashlight is helpful to keep your night vision, and make sure to wear long pants and comfortable shoes!
King’s Palace Tour
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Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers an exciting subterranian excursion with the King’s Palace Tour. Participants will be able to view four beautifully decorated caverns. This moderately strenuous tour, approximately 1.5 hours, ranger led, and descends 830 feet to the lowest point accessible by the public in the cave.
During this mile adventure, you will see many wonderful cave features such as helictites, draperies, columns, and soda straws. Be ready for total darkness as rangers will turn off all artificial lights and show you the cave’s natural state.
We encourage visitors to consider their tolerance of a steep incline near the end of the tour and some temporary light flickering. The tour does not accommodate children younger than six.
Picnic at Rattlesnake Springs
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The Rattlesnake Springs Picnic Area features a bird sanctuary, so it is a great place to relax, eat and watch birds.
The picnic area has tables, grills, restrooms, and running water. While you eat, appreciate the desert wooded riparian area that the National Audubon Society has designated as an Important Bird Area. It is about 2.5 miles off Highway 62/180. The 40 acre site has an oasis to enjoy.
This region draws bird watchers from all over the world. With over 300 documented species, the area’s unique geographical intersections of the southern Rocky Mountains, northern Chihuahuan Desert, and southwestern Great Plains provide exceptional birding opportunities.
This is not just about food. You get to experience a unique, peaceful environment where you can see some incredible wildlife and birds.
Hike the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail
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The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail allows you to experience the stunning natural beauty of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This outdoor activity is great for all skill levels.
This trail has a path that is fully paved and accessible for everyone, is over half a mile, and an easy 30-minute walk. There is a slight elevation change along the trail. You will be able to see the distinctively different plant life in the Chihuahuan desert. The trail includes markers that will help assist you in your exploration of the rich, diverse plant life found in the desert.
The trail is a great way to see the Guadalupe Mountains and Chihuahuan Desert. Before you head out, visit the visitor center and talk to a ranger to find out the current and expected conditions of the park.
When hiking in this beautiful area, you should be ready for extreme temps, possibly running out of water, and being cut off from other people. Make sure you pack enough water and food.
Visit Slaughter Canyon Cave
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A ranger will help you see some of the biggest bat colonies and amazing formations in the park. This is a 5.5-hour strenuous tour that is offered from March to September.
This adventure includes a trip to a cave with no electricity, narrow and uneven trails, and slippery paths that will make this experience challenging. In this pristine environment, the only source of light is your supplied helmet and headlamp along with a ranger flashlight.
The 89-foot Monarch is one of the tallest columns in the world, as well as a rustic Christmas Tree column and an ankle-high Chinese Wall. Remains of old bat guano mining excavations also tell us about people in this wild space.
Participants need to go to the safety orientation, wear appropriate shoes, like hiking boots with a good grip, and bring water, snacks, hats, and sunscreen for the trail.
Due to the bat’s White-Nose Syndrome, you will need to wash your clothing and decontaminate your shoes. You will need to do this to prevent the spread of this disease. The park lends caving equipment so you can safely and excitingly explore this incredible natural cathedral.
Backcountry Camping on the Guadalupe Ridge Trail
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Camping along the Guadalupe Ridge Trail at Carlsbad Caverns National Park is excited backcountry experience. Your trip will cover over 100 miles of varying ecosystems from the Chihuahuan Desert to mixed coniferous forests and riparian woodlands.
Starting your adventure at Guadalupe Peaks, located within the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, you’ll be at the highest point in Texas! Get ready for steep challenges with gradients of up to 60%! If you’re up for the challenge, there are optional side loops that will take you to Last Chance Canyon and Sitting Bull Falls – a desert oasis with some pretty cool waterfalls and peaceful pools.
While hiking on the Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Bureau of Land Management land, you will be able to enjoy the remarkable views of the challenging yet magnificent Guadalupe Ridge. A backcountry camping trip like this lasts 5-6 days and is offered in the Winter, Spring, and Fall seasons. A reservation is required.
Dawn of the Bats
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Join us for the spectacular natural wonder of the ‘Dawn of the Bats’ at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, an amazing wildlife event. This one-of-a-kind event takes place every third Saturday of July and gives you the opportunity to view the enchanting sunrise exodus of bats (over 300,000) from the caverns, where they live from April to October.
People can experience the phenomenon of the night creatures entering the dark abyss of the cave at dawn. After this great spectacle, visitors can participate in bat-related activities at the visitor center and finish with the evening Bat Flight Program at the amphitheater.
Please remember with regard to the use of electronic devices, including cameras and mobile phones, to help preserve the natural behavior of the bats, and please remember that wheel chair accessible restrooms and fully equipped restrooms will be available. No pets, please.
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