Carlsbad Caverns National Park

a complete guide

Welcome to Carlsbad Caverns! Yup thats right a National Park dedicated to some of the coolest Caves in the United States. This hidden gem is located on the very southern border of New Mexico, so it’s no wonder why it’s one of the less visited Parks on the list. However, if you are ever in New Mexico or on a nice road trip through Texas I cannot recommend putting this pin point on your map enough! It just might blow your mind…

When Rashawn and I set out out drive down to this amazing park, I was very geographically naive. I somehow thought we would have to drive through Mexico to get here and quickly re-routed us. Only to get to the park and tell the ranger ‘I had no idea we were so close to Mexico!’ Her response… that’s Texas. * with a slight eye roll * I vowed right then to always zoom out on the map ha! Now because this park is in such a remote area, it is almost impossible to get here unless you drive. Guadalupe Mountain National Park is only a 40 minute drive from here (and if you are smarter than me) you will take that quick drive and head right there next! I discovered this when we were well on our way home, so I told Rashawn were just gonna have to come back one day 😉

where is it at?

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in Carlsbad New Mexico. This is on the very southern boarder of the State and is accessible by car. It is open Year Round with exceptions on New Years Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Hours of operation

Visitor Center: 8:00 am until 5:00 pm daily
Caverns: 8:00 am until 1:30 pm daily
(meaning last ticket sold at 1:30 pm and you must start your exit of the Cavern by 4:00 pm to be out by 5:00 pm daily)

Address: 727 Carlsbad Cavern Hwy Carlsbad, NM 88220 United States

so Wait it’s a cave…?

Perhaps the most exciting part is discovering that you are headed underground! The Caverns is made up of 120 Caves in total! However, currently on your own exploration only the Carlsbad Cavern is accessible. Spider Cave and Slaughter Canyon Cave are also open to the public but only under Guided Tours from the National Park service which you can learn more about here.

Carlsbad Cavern has in total 30 miles of exploration and quite a few paved hikes or walks inside. The most popular is the Big Room which is just an awe inspiring opening to some of the coolest geographic shapes and limestone creations.

There are lots of signs along the path ways explaining how things were made, and names of certain landmarks in the cave. One thing to keep in mind is how much wildlife actually lives in these caves still! In total the National Park Service had accounted for 67 species on the grounds. As you can imagine a majority of these are Amphibians and Reptiles, but birds make up a large portion too!

The most popular species here are BATS! In fact right as we were walking down, we saw some flying around the entrance! These amazing creatures can be seen almost year round but there are some special days and times to see them in the masses. You can read the full details on when to see them here, but just know between Spring and Fall every night you can see an entire colony of these creatures. You can also see them in flight on the Brazilian Free Trail.

 

how much does it cost?

While there is so much to love about the Carlsbad Caverns, the price point is high on the list! It is obviously free for anyone with the National Park Pass, but other wise is is just a flat fee of $15 per person, and free for children under 15. in 2020 there are also 5 free days to visit the National Parks! To walk through the Carlsbad Cavern it is included in your entrance ticket, as well as any of the Bat sightings. If you wanted to explore any other caves on sight you will also have to purchase a guided tour ticket which more information and prices can be found here.

Is it only Caves Here?

If going down under is not quite your speed, there are other places to explore here! From 50 miles of hiking trails, overnight camping spots (free permit from Visitor Center), picnic areas, and a nine mile scenic drive, there is plenty to do here above the caves. However, they truly are the highlight of the park and worth the walk through. There is also an elevator that will take you into the Cavern if you cannot walk down!

Tips for your visit:

Here are some tips to make your day in the caves the best possible!

1. It’s Cold! As you can imagine you are going underground so the temperature drops. Bring or wear a jacket, long pants, and close toed shoes.

2. Bring water! You are going to be walking a lot, and once in the cave there is no access to food and drink other than what you bring. You are NOT allowed to bring snacks or anything other than water into the cave, but it’s a good idea to have these goodies in the car for when you are done.

3. Lights Out! Also as you can imagine, being underground is dark! There are plenty of lights to show the paths, and natural landmarks but you are more than welcome to bring your own head lamps and flashlights if needed.

4. It’s Wet! Some light natural dripping and puddles can occur inside the cave, so don’t be alarmed! This is why it is important to wear closed toe shoes and ones with good traction. While you’re still allowed to wear your sandals, it is just highly recommended you don’t.

5. Have a pet? Carlsbad has you covered! They obviously understand our four legged friends road trip with us so they offer a free kennel in the Visitor Center for your pup! They are not allowed in the Caverns and it is illegal to leave them in the car, so bring them inside and staff will make sure they are treated just right! Service animals are allowed in the Cavern with you.

6. Take your time! The park is full of so much to see and explore. From seeing bats at night, to walking the trails in the Cave, to picnicking for lunch it is always recommended you spend the whole day here. As long as you exit the Cave by 5pm, you can explore down under as long as you want!

With less than 500,000 visitors a year, this park is still a hidden gem in the National Park Sixty, come join us cool kids and plan your next road tip here! Feel free to drop a comment or email me with any questions, comments, or stories you have from your visit here! Happy Exploring!

pin gallery