Visit the Largest Cave Chamber in the United States: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Hidden beneath the Chihuahuan Desert, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is one of the most impressive natural wonders in the country. It’s hard to describe the sheer scale of the caverns without comparing them to something we’re all familiar with— it’s simply the Grand Canyon of show caves. Begin your adventure at the Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center to present your tour tickets to the rangers before watching the insightful film “Hidden World,” perusing the museum quality exhibits, and checking out the park’s gift shop and bookstore. When you’re ready, The Big Room, measuring almost 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet high is your next stop.

Travel Tip: We highly recommend entering the cave through the Natural Entrance, walking gradually downhill (the equivalent of 75 stories) on a paved path to reach the 1.25-mile Big Room Trail. Alternatively, you can simply take an elevator from the visitor center directly to the start of the trail. Unfortunately, the National Park Service is not operating guided tours this year, but, when they begin again, make sure to book early because they sell out quickly. The park is also operating on a timed-entry system, tickets can be purchase online prior to arrival.

Things to Do

• Enjoy a self-guided tour of the cavern at your own pace. You decide whether to begin at the natural cave entrance for a casual walk or the modern elevator that descends 750 feet into the cavern. Spend a few hours observing the underground rock formations on the Big Room Trail. Bring a light jacket, the year-round temperature in the cavern is about 56ºF.
• Take a ranger guided tour and get off the beaten path. Check the tour schedule— some of them require hiking boots, gloves, and flashlights, while others don’t stray from the relatively flat surfaces to see unique sections of the caverns. A few of the fairly regular tours are Kings Palace, Left Hand Tunnel, Lower Cave, Hall of the White Giant, and Slaughter Canyon.
• Above ground, the national park has an extensive trail network that crisscrosses the Guadalupe Mountains and Chihuahuan Desert. Choose a day hike that’s perfect for you, or plan in advance to backpack along the 100-mile Guadalupe Ridge Trail (GRT). The designated National Recreation Trail traverses both the Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks.
• Take a scenic drive on Walnut Canyon Desert Loop Drive. The unpaved road stretches 9.5 miles across the desert landscapes, offering a closer look at the flora and fauna in the park. On average, the drive takes about an hour to complete.

Wildlife Observations

Possibly the most memorable experience in the park is the ranger-led Evening Bat Program. Find a seat in the small amphitheater near the cavern’s natural entrance and listen to an informative talk that focuses on these often-misunderstood creatures. Expect to be amazed around sunset when the colony of Brazilian free-tailed bats begin to emerge from the cave in search of nourishment. During the months of July and August the bat population is at its peak with bat pups venturing out of the cave along with the adult bats. True nature lovers and bat enthusiasts will also want to observe the bats returning to the cave at dusk the following day. In total, there are 17 different bat species in the park.