We recently visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico and had fun hiking down from the natural entrance. The 1.25 mile trail is paved and well maintained, however it is steep with lots and lots of switchbacks. You will descend about 750 feet.
It is amazing to see how far down into the caverns you go before reaching the Big Room which is about the size of six football fields. It is the largest single cave chamber in North America. The Big Room contains a ton of stalactites and stalagmites along with cave popcorn, soda straws, and columns.
Where is Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Chihuahuan Desert in southeast New Mexico. It’s an almost 5 hours south of Albuquerque. The closest town is Whites City located right outside the gates of Carlsbad Caverns National Park with gas, an RV park, and cafe. The next closest town is Carlsbad with even more amenities. If you are interested in more places to visit in New Mexico this post shares our road trip itinerary through the state.
Here is some important information that will help make your trip so much smoother at Carlsbad Caverns National Park:
Elevator
If you are short on time or have small children, you may want to take the elevator down and explore the Big Room. It takes about an hour to walk down to the Big Room from the natural entrance and an hour and half to explore the Big Room.
Self-Guided
Your exploration is on your own, so you can go at your pace and there are benches along the way to rest if needed.
Rest Area
There is a rest area in the cavern near the Big Room and elevators with food (sandwiches, salad, yogurt parfaits, drinks, etc.), bathrooms, and souvenirs.
Whisper
Noises can carry up to a 1/4 of mile in the cavern, so be sure to whisper to your travel companions.
What to Bring
Bring water, a camera (you can take photos with flash), and a jacket (it’s about 56˚F in the caverns) and wear close toed shoes with good traction. The entire trail is paved, however you may encounter wet areas on the trail along along with steep areas.
Junior Ranger
Kids (and adults) can participate in the Junior Ranger program for free.
Flashlights
Flashlights and helmets with headlamps are permitted in the cavern, however they are not necessary.
Cell Phones
Turn your cell phones to airplane mode when you are in the caverns, so that you cell phone is not constantly searching for a signal and running your battery down.
Ranger Led Tours
There are also ranger led tours that allow you to visit other areas of the caverns. Be sure to check the National Park Service website for more information.
Have you visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
