Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Rated as one of the largest in the world, Carlsbad Caverns draws visitors from around the globe to tour this extensive underground labyrinth. Since the early 1900s, when cowboy Jim White first entered the dark cavern, visitors sought out its cool, damp recesses to view spectacular formations.

Perpetually 56 degrees, the cave can be entered through the natural entrance or by elevator. Highlights of the tour include beautiful formations such as the Temple of the Sun, the Frozen Waterfall, and the King's Palace. More in-depth tours are available to other chambers. Spelunkers can also take wild cave tours to see formations few visitors ever view.

The park is located 23 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico on US 62. El Paso lies 150 miles west of the park.

The closest community to the caverns is White’s City, located seven miles from the park. Here you’ll find camping, souvenir shops (and we mean a lot), gasoline, and picnic supplies.

Cave Activities

Inside the park, you’ll be met by 46,775 acres of pristine desert dotted with cacti and small vegetation, little changed from its earliest days. For a quiet look at the Chihuahuan desert, take the 9.5-mile Walnut Canyon scenic drive along the Guadalupe Ridge for an uninterrupted view of the quiet beauty of the desert.

But much of the beauty of Carlsbad Caverns National Park cannot be seen from above ground. To see the spectacular formations that have made this cave famous, you must descend below ground to a world that is perpetually 56 degrees, dark, and damp.
You can enter the cave in one of two ways. The natural entrance tour is a somewhat tough climb. This tour, about three miles in distance, takes about three hours to complete.

Many visitors opt for the elevator tour instead. A high-speed elevator whisks from ground level to the Big Room 750 feet below. This room is 14 acres in size, with a ceiling 255 feet high. This tour takes about half the time of the natural entrance tour, and spans a little over a mile in length.

Enjoy a look at the caverns at your own pace. Instead of keeping up with a group, you can rent CD-ROM audio guide called the Official Cavern Guide for a small charge and listen to information about the cave as you walk. (Got a tired kid and need a break? Your cave entry tickets are good for three days so feel free to break up the tour if you need to.)

Highlights of the tour include beautiful formations such as the Temple of the Sun, the Frozen Waterfall, and the King’s Palace. Formed by deposits left by one water drop at a time, the king-sized formations are a testimony to the million years it took to create this cavern.

If your family is especially interested in caves and wants a more in-depth look (so to speak), there are several other tour options:

Kings Palace Guided Tour. This tour takes about an hour and a half and travels through four chambers to the deepest portion of the cave that’s open to the public. It’s a rugged walk (not as tough as the Natural Entrance tour, though) and children four years and younger cannot participate.

Slaughter Canyon Cave. This two-hour tour takes you into a wild cave without electricity–the only light comes from your flashlights and headlamps. The cave has some spectacular formations including one of the world’s tallest columns. You must make reservations for this tour. Only children age six and older can participate and everyone needs to bring along good walking shoes (there’s a half-mile climb before the cave tour even starts). You’ll also need to bring along some good flashlights (check the batteries!) and water.

Wild Cave Tours. These tours are for those with a real interest in caves and range from one hour excursions appropriate for kids six and up to four hour trips that mean wriggling on your belly to view some formations that few visitors ever have the opportunity to see; these longer tours are available only for children 12 and older. Each of these tours has its own requirements.

When to Visit

The park is open year around except Christmas Day. Expect big crowds in June, July and August (especially on the weekends) but get there early for the best chance to beat the rush.
Even in the summer months, bring a sweater or jacket for everyone. The cave stays about 56 degrees farenheit year around.

How Long To Stay

Most visitors take the tour of the Big Room, a one-mile self-guided trail that takes about an hour. There is easily a full day’s worth of activities at the cave, though, for those with more interest including longer trails, naturalist programs, films, and more. The evening bat flight programs are reason enough to extend your stay through dusk.

What To Bring

Bring rubber soled shoes for everyone. A light jacket is also a must. If you’ll be taking one of the wild cave tours, you’ll need knee pads, gloves, flashlights, and batteries.

Nearby Activities

Location: 23 miles southwest of Carlsbad on US 62 or 150 east of El Paso. For more, visit www.nps.gov/cave.

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