New Mexico isn’t the first place most would think of when talking about national parks, as it only has two and both are on the smaller side. However, this leads many people to overlook one of the most unique national parks in the entire country, Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
In our Carlsbad Caverns National Park guide, we will take you on a virtual tour of its extensive cave systems, which are among the most spectacular in the country, as well as the other areas found above ground.
From pointing out what to see and where to stay to helping you decide when to visit and how long for, we will give you everything you need to plan your dream travel itinerary.
So, if you were already planning to explore Carlsbad Caverns National Park, or even if you are just a big fan of exploring caves, I highly recommend reading on.
Facts & Figures About Carlsbad Caverns National Park
With a total area of 46,766.5 acres, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is the 13th smallest national park in the United States. Roughly two thirds of this area has been designated protected wilderness areas, while the remaining sections are filled with the park’s extensive cave systems.
With an average of 350,000 visitors arriving each year, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is also the 20th least visited national park in the system. It is also the 19th oldest national park in the country, having been established on the 14th of May 1930.
Located entirely in the state of New Mexico, the park features at least 119 known caves. However, only 3 of them are currently open to the public. The longest cave in the system runs for 150.4 miles (242 kilometres), and features some of the most iconic cave sections in the world.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park Temperature
The Carlsbad Caverns National Park temperature generally ranges from 33.7°F (0.9°C) to 92.4°F (33.6°C). The lowest temperature ever recorded in the park is 15°F (-9°C), while its highest recorded temperature is 110°F (43°C).
The warmest period in the park runs from mid-May to early October, while the coldest months are usually mid-November to mid-March. The wettest months are July, August, and September, while May, June, and October also see much more precipitation than the rest of the year.
The Wildlife & Landscape Of Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is best known for its extensive network of caves that run beneath the ground.
Most of the caves are carved out of Capitan reef and limestone rock, and feature a range of features including columns, draperies, helictites, popcorn, soda straws, stalactites, and stalagmites.
The caves are home to at least 17 types of bats, most prominently the Mexican free tailed bat and the Brazilian free tailed bat. It is believed to house one of the largest populations of bats anywhere in the United States, although their numbers have fallen significantly in recent years.
Above ground, the park also has extensive wilderness areas, filled with deserts, rock formations, and desert plant life. Here you will find animals like pronghorn, javelina, and over 350 types of birds, which accounts for 70% of all the species known to have been sighted in New Mexico.
How To Get To Carlsbad Caverns National Park
The closest major city to Carlsbad Caverns National Park is El Paso, in Texas, which is 150 miles (240 kilometres) away. This is also the location of the nearest major airport, and it will take roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes to drive between the park and the city.
There are three main entrances to the park, all of which are located off of U.S. Highway Route 62. Two of them can be reached using roads off of the highway around Whites City, while the other, leading to the Slaughter Canyon Cave, requires you to exit just south of the Chosa Campground.
Best Time To Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park
The best time to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park is from mid-May to the end of June. This window means you will arrive at the park at the start of its warm season, but before the heavy rains arrive in July.
It is, however, recommended you avoid the weekends immediately after Memorial Day and Independence Day, as these are the busiest days the park experiences all year.
Top Attractions In Carlsbad Caverns National Park
It is now time to take a look at the top attractions in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. We will examine all of the very best things to do and see during your visit, to ensure you don’t miss any of the highlights and help you fill out your dream travel itinerary.
Take A Guided Tour
While you are free to explore sections of the caverns by yourself, you will have a much more enlightening experience if you take a guided tour. This will not only give you a running commentary, explaining everything you are seeing, but will also prevent you from getting lost.
There are three caves open to the public. Carlsbad Cavern is the largest, most famous and developed, and has 23 iconic named rooms. Spider Cave and Slaughter Canyon Cave are both smaller, darker, and much less developed, but do offer a more natural experience.
You can either do a single tour into the cave that interests you the most or go all out and get the guided experience around the entire park. Either way, it is an excursion well worth the time and money during your visit.
Be Amazed In The Hall Of Giants
Also known simply as “The Big Room”, The Hall Of Giants is a massive limestone chamber in Carlsbad Cavern. Measuring 4,000 feet (1,220 metres) long, 625 feet (191 metres) wide, and 255 feet (78 metres) high, it is North America’s largest chamber, as well as the 31st largest on Earth.
With an incredible number of different geologic features and on a scale unlike anything most people will have ever experienced, this chamber is the single most “can’t miss” location in all of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Explore Caverns Historic District
Caverns Historic District is found in the section of the park located above ground and is filled with Pueblo Revival style buildings that were built from adobe and limestone between 1920 and 1942. These include bunkhouses, dwellings and residences, warehouses, and even a powerhouse.
13 of the buildings are iconic enough to have earned the district a place on the U.S. National Register Of Historic Places. Located at a natural entrance to the caverns, this is also where you will find the park’s Bat Flight Amphitheatre.
Here you can sit and watch as swarms of bats exit the caves to explore the night sky of an evening, an experience which is among the most magical in the entire park.
Pay A Visit To Rattlesnake Springs Historic District
Rattlesnake Springs Historic District is another above ground section of the park and is located in an isolated section best described as a desert oasis. In the 1880s, the area was homesteaded by William Henry Harrison, a relative of the former U.S. President of the same name.
Centred around a spring, he created an irrigation system that was responsible for most of the lush plant life seen in the park to this day.
With a beautiful collection of territorial revival style buildings, it is a fabulous place to see how the park came to be and evolved though the years, in a serene and peaceful location.
Learn About Lechuguilla Cave
Running for 150.4 miles (242 kilometres), Lechuguilla Cave is the 4th longest cave in the United States and 8th longest in the world, while also being the 2nd deepest in the continental U.S. at a depth of 1,604 feet (489 metres).
Famed for its rare geological formations, which remain in perfect condition, the cave’s landscape is said to be extremely fragile.
As a result, access is extremely limited, so, while you can learn about it around the park, you will have to get very lucky if you hope to see its wonders with your own eyes.
Go Hiking In The Wilderness Areas Above Ground
Once you have spent time exploring the caverns themselves and the historic districts above ground, make sure you don’t forget to appreciate the natural beauty of the park’s wilderness areas as well.
Taking a hike in the Carlsbad Caverns National Park wilderness areas gives you the perfect opportunity to see the best of the vibrant animal and plant life that can be found throughout the region, which is often overlooked by many who focus solely on the park’s geological features.
Things To See And Do Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park’s desert location means it isn’t exactly surrounded by a huge number of other things to do or see. That said, there are two things more than worth your attention during your visit.
That is why, we will now look at the best things to see and do near Carlsbad Caverns National Park, to make sure you can fully explore this region of the country while you are here.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
At 86,367.1 acres, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is the 19th smallest national park in the lower 48 states, as well as the 22nd smallest in the country overall.
Being founded in 1966 makes it the 32nd oldest national park in the U.S., while 243,000 annual visitors makes it the 15th least visited. Known for its iconic, mountainous landscape, it features the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak.
With its various peaks and canyons, it is the perfect contrast to the deep caves of Carlsbad Caverns and will help you see the full range of natural features on offer in the region.
Orla Ghost Town
Orla ghost town is located in northwest Texas and known to have a population of just 2 permanent residents.
Originally settled in 1890, this former railroad town saw its peak years in the 1960s, when its population reached 250 people, who came to work in the town’s sulphur, oil, and gas companies.
In recent years, two gas stations and two restaurants have opened up, as well as a few other small businesses. This has helped Orla gain popularity as a ghost town that you can explore without venturing too far from civilisation.
Best Place To Stay Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park – Comfort Suites Carlsbad
Comfort Suites Carlsbad is a wonderful little hotel, complete with facilities like a seasonal outdoor hot tub and swimming pool, and fitness and business centres. It also provides a charming breakfast each morning and laundry services are available on request.
Meanwhile, in the rooms you will find an en suite bathroom and a spacious seating area, as well as an array of amenities including air conditioning, a flat screen cable TV, hairdryer, refrigerator, sofa, and tea and coffee making facilities.
All guests will also receive free parking and access to sitewide Wi-Fi.
How Many Days To Spend In Carlsbad Caverns National Park
As one of the smaller national parks in the country, around 4 to 5 hours will be the ideal amount of time for most people to spend in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
This will give you plenty of time to take a guided tour, do some exploring on your own, and see a few of the sites above ground. Many people will even be able to spend as little as 3 hours here and still get their fill of the caves and their features.
Those seeking a truly comprehensive experience may be able to spend half a day, taking anywhere from 4 to 6 hours to extensively explore the caves, before heading outside and doing the same in the park’s wilderness regions.
Half a day will be the maximum for the vast majority of people though, as most will begin to get bored if they stay any longer.
Conclusion
As our Carlsbad Caverns National Park guide draws to a close, you will hopefully now have a much better idea of how to put together your dream travel itinerary for your trip.
From when to go and how long for to what to see and where to stay, you should now have everything you need to explore Carlsbad Caverns National Park in styles.
All you have left to do is to start getting everything booked. That way, you can look forward to experiencing it all for yourself, as soon as possible.
