Top Things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Countries
10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park That You Shouldn't Miss
Carlsbad Caverns, located in the New Mexican desert, is one of the state's top atractions.
1. Big Room
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 982 reviews
The largest cavern in Carlsbad Caverns.
Reviewed By 277vincentm - New Orleans, United States
My review will focus on what to expect during the Covid pandemic. My caving has gone from Mammoth—the largest cave complex under earth on Earth—to Phra Nang Cave—hardly big enough for pirates to bury a decent-sized chest in, but notable as the sanctuary of a deity who probably pre-dates Buddhism. I’d been to Carlsbad before, but was going cross-country with a buddy and decided take a detour to the cavern. The main event at Carlsbad is the Big Room. Normally there are two ways to get to it: (A) hike down via a diabolically steep and arduous “Natural Entrance” path that goes past the Devil’s Spring and Devil’s Den, ending 750 feet underground, a 1.25 mile / 2-km hike taking you an hour or more; or (B) take an elevator down; normally the line moves reasonably fast. Where the natural entrance reaches the underground floor of the elevator, normally you have three more options: you can (C) take a ranger-guided tour through several spectacular chambers including the King’s Palace and Queen’s Chamber, (D) hike the Big Room route, or (E) do ‘em both. Either (C) or (D) will take you about 75 minutes: so you can do both in under 3 hours. Depends how long you stop to take in the views, and whether you read all the placards—I recommend you do. If you’re in a wheel-chair, you take the elevator down and then do half of the Big Room tour. You have to take a short-cut back, so you won’t see the Top of the Cross, Totem Pole, and views of the lower cave, Mirror Lake, and “bottomless pit.” Tough, but the NPS is right: just past the wheelchair barricade there’s a steep drop. Seeing the Big Room of Carlsbad Caverns really is worth the trip in itself. Three weeks ago, when I checked the website, the Covid-related rules were: (1) the Ranger-guided tours were cancelled—scratch off the royal cave-family. (2) you had to hike down via the Natural Entrance path—the only folks allowed to go by elevator were mobility-impaired visitors. (3) You had to arrive before 1:30 to be allowed in. A week ago, restrictions were relaxed a bit. All visitors can now take the elevator either up or down, but lines are slow, because (a) the elevators take several minutes to go up or down 750 ft, (b) a work crew is frequently wiping down one of the two elevators putting it out of service, and (c) Rangers limit passengers to 2 or 3 per trip—no packing everyone in like sardines. All good reasons. One plus: because folks can now take the elevators both up and down, the last entry time was changed, from 1:30 to 2:45 if memory serves me right. Unfortunately social distancing requirements will probably kill ranger tours, as they should, until the pandemic’s over. The NPS emergency rules are sensible and commendable. You could wait a year or two. I’d say, see Carlsberg now if you can. But my #1 recommendation is that you check the NPS’s Carlsbad Caverns webpage for the latest information, both as you’re planning your trip, and a day or two before your intended arrival. A single Visitor Center ranger contracting Covid-19 might shut the Cavern down.
2. Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,120 reviews
Reviewed By melissabubash - Cincinnati, United States
CCNP is so unique which is why I would put it in my top 5 favorite parks. It won't take a long time to really visit the park which is nice too. Two days is plenty but you could still see a lot in just one day. I would highly recommend booking a tour for Hall of Great White (requires crawling and climbing with a headlamp) which takes half a day and doing a self guided tour through the Big Room and Natural Entrance.
3. Slaughter Canyon Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Don't let the name scare you away from this natural wonder, a dark cave with no electricity or modern conveniences but plenty of awesome sights including an 89-foot column, a dazzling Christmas tree-like column and a rimstone dam. Guided tours must be booked in advance.
4. King's Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 366 reviews
This area of the Caverns contain the most stalactites and stalagmites, and must be visited with a guide.
Reviewed By lanceo53
The King's Palace tour, a 1 1/2 to 2 hour ranger-guided tour through four highly decorated rooms (The KIng's Palace, The Queen's Room, The Papoose Room, and The Green Lake Room) will take you into the deepest portion of the cavern open to the public, 830 feet (253 m) beneath the desert surface. This one mile (1.6 km) tour does require additional descending, and at the end, walking up a very steep hill. Look forward to viewing a variety of cave formations including helictites, draperies, columns and soda straws. Rangers frequently conduct black-outs during this tour, briefly turning off all artificial lights to reveal the natural darkness of the cave. What this tour lacks in the massive magnitude and impressive size of the Big Room tour, more than makes up in the sheer quantity of cave formations and decorations. Totally amazing and astounding. I was so glad that I had set aside time to also do this tour. By being able to do both the ranger-guided King's Palace Tour and then also do the self-guided Big Room Tour, I got to see the most beautiful portions of the caverns...it's a win-win !!! Happy caving !!!
5. Green Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Lake in Carlsbad Caverns with stalactites and stalagmites.
Reviewed By ConnieBuck - Denver, United States
It was so surprising to see the color GREEN on this King's Palace tour! The tour we took to see this was guided by a ranger and he explained about why it was green. I cannot remember now, but it's definitely worth taking the King's Palace tour. You don't see this in the Big Room.
6. Giant Dome
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
One of the most impressive limestone formations in Carlsbad Caverns is the Giant Dome, which stands 62 feet high, 16 feet in diameter, and bears a resemblance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Reviewed By GroverR - Pensacola, United States
When anything has a superlative, it is something you have to see. While the Big Room and Natural Entrance are the most significant draws to Carlsbad Caverns, the largest stalagmites in the world are what make Carlsbad such an incredible cave to visit. For me this is what distinguishes Carlsbad Caverns and they do not disappoint. The pictures just can not do the justice to that visiting does. These are massive stalagmites, height and circumference, that differ from each other but are all ornately decorated. Again, neither words or pictures can describe this. You simply have to see it.
7. Bat Flight Program in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 561 reviews
Reviewed By C_Strache - Orland Park, United States
Here is the setting: a nice, smallish amphitheater, a short introduction by a knowledgeable park ranger, a beautiful evening (I’d guess that it is beautiful there a lot since it is in the desert). Then the bats come out. Thousands of them. They swirl out of the opening and all fly out in the same direction. Not coming near the spectators in case you are worried about that. We were mesmerized by the spectacle and watched until there were just a few bats coming out. Wow. Just so you know, there is no photography though.
8. Bottomless Pit
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 70 reviews
Pit in Carlsbad Caverns that looks "bottomless" but is actually 140-feet deep.
Reviewed By 921adriennen
But it is stupendous. We were enchanted by the stories and the sights of the bottomless pit and everything around it.
9. Rattlesnake Springs
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By jrhales77 - College Station, United States
Rattlesnake Springs is a few miles south of the road entrance to Carlsbad Caverns. It is truly an oasis in the desert. A great variety of wildlife and plant life thrive in the abundant waters of Rattlesnake Springs.
10. Walnut Canyon Desert Drive
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 57 reviews
This is a 9 mile gravel road that makes a loop through Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It is shown on the map at the NPS website, and mentioned in guidebooks such as National Geographic's Guide to the National Parks.
Reviewed By LSUTraveller - Denham Springs, United States
It's a one-way gravel round that loops from the top of the entrance drive, near the visitor center, back towards the entrance. It's a 9.5 mile drive that can be very enjoyable, if you slow down, roll down your windows and take it in. We saw Javelinas, a couple of Mule Deer and a tarantula. To see the most animals - go first thing in the morning (when it's cool) or around dusk (though you'll likely miss the bat flight). Good place to pull over for a picnic. If you didn't want to drive it - it makes a great, easy hike.
