"Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, US" Carlsbad Caverns National Park by e7forever

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Travel Guide: 152 reviews and 377 photos

Carlsbad Caverns - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Arrival

Carlsbad Caverns is located about 30 miles from the actual city of Carlsbad. When you arrive to carlsbad caverns you will have to drive up the mountain approximately 5-8 miles. Once you get to the top there is a large parking lot where you can park your vehicle. The entrance and gift shop are right next to the parking lot so you dont have to plan on walking far to get there... the walking comes later.

The Cavern

There are two ways that you can get down to the caverns. One is taking the elevator down to the "big room" below. The other is walking down the natural cave entrance. If possible i would definitely recommend taking the natural entrance. It is about a 45min walk down but it is worth it. Once you get to the bottom you are now in the "big room". This is where the majority of the formations are. The tour in the "big room" takes approximately 1 hour to 1 hour and a half to walk through. The site down there will blow your mind. It's like you are on a different planet!

The Bats

After you have visited the cave i would recommend sticking around or coming back around sundown. This is when the show starts. There are thousands if not millions of bats that live deep in the cave. Around sundown they began to leave the cave through the natural entrance. This is a site to see! Visitors may sit in an amphitheater type thing around the natural entrance. I would recommend getting there early because it fills up quick. There is also cave personel answering questions for the audience about the bats.

I would definitely recommend visiting Carlsbad Caverns if you ever get a chance. You will be amazed! And don't forget to stay for the bat show!

Directions: Located 30 miles Southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico, off of US Highway 62/180.

Hours: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 8am to 7pm. Tours available 8:30am to pm. Last entry into cave via natural entrance is 3:30pm. Last entry into cave via elevator is at 5pm

After Labor day until Memorial weekend, 8am to 5pm. Tours available 8:30am to 3:30pm. Last entry into cave via natural entrance is 2pm. Last entry into cave via elevator is at 3:30pm.

Carlsbad Caverns is on Mountain Time.

Website: http://www.nps.gov/cave

Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:It's like your walking onto another planet!

Last visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Jun 2003
Intro Updated Oct 21, 2005
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Reviews (6)

Lions Tail - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Lion's Tail Things to Do (5)

These two "Lions Tails" are actually hanging from the cavern. This is one of the sites you will see if you take the... more travel advice

Whale's Mouth - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Whale's Mouth Things to Do (5)

This is said to look like the mouth of a whale. It's kind of hard to tell from the picture but it really does. One of... more travel advice

Discovery Things to Do (5)

A ladder leading down to a deeper part of the cave. Many parts of the cave are still being explored and discovered... more travel advice

Whale Tail - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Whales Tail Things to Do (5)

This is one of the formations that you will see if you take the natural entrance route. Hours: Memorial Day weekend... more travel advice

Off The Beaten Path (1)
Guided Tours

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Travelogues (1)

Written Jun 13, 2005

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The Caverns

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Comments (5)

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jeannierivera Dec 18, 2006 at 6:39 PM

Thanks so much for your information. It was very helpful. We are visiting this winter so I hope it won't be too cold. Thanks again.
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Jim_Eliason May 3, 2006 at 5:47 PM

thanks for the tips!
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Shihar Jan 2, 2006 at 10:27 AM

Thanks for the Carlsbad Caverns tips. I'm planning a visit this March.
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Stephen-KarenConn Jul 12, 2005 at 10:27 AM

Good job on this page. A deep cool cavern sounds great on a HOT muggy day like today. Great memories of my 2 visits to Carlsbad, but I would still love to return.
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traveldave Jun 14, 2005 at 4:10 PM

That's one of the must-see places I've never been to. I'll have to get back to NM someday to see the caverns, as well as a lot of other things that I still haven't seen there.