We Explored Carlsbad Cavern Without a Flashlight and Found Thrilling Formations in New Mexico

On what we called our Dream Trip we traveled out west and saw the desert for the first time, hiked through hoodoos, scaled epic mountain peaks, and possibly even saw aliens (Those are all great stories for another time)…During the last part of our trip, it was sad that it was almost over, but not before visiting Carlsbad Caverns! This ended up being one of the best hikes in New Mexico and as much as we liked things at ground level going into the underbelly of the state held some of the greatest treatures just waiting for us in this epic cave.

First things first, I was confused about how to get into this famous national park. I called and asked “Do I need reservations for Carlsbad Caverns” They were kind enough to explain that your timed entrance is to the cave so make sure you have that reservation before you arrive. So we secured our tickets online and check-in was a breeze. Soon we met with a ranger who told us a few safety tips and rules then we were sent on our way into the cave. Carlsbad Caverns really knows how to make a good first impression. The cave entrance was one of the best ones I have ever seen! With several switchbacks leading to a massive opening, it felt like the fitting first steps to our epic underground adventure.

Things got really quiet in the dark until we got underneath the cave opening. With the light pouring in we started to hear the faint sound of several squeaks overhead. The bats had woken up and started to fly around above us. The swirling dance of these creatures completely arrested our progress further into the depths of Carlsbad Caverns. We watched as more and more joined in on the fun until the light from the sun flicked behind the silhouettes of our flying friends. After a long while we moved on to see what sort of other beauty was hidden within the darkness of the cave. 

I am a big fan of caves and have explored many of them over the years but what I loved the most about this cave is that we were left to explore it ourselves. Most caves I have been in require a tour as you follow the ranger, this has its benefits because they tell you alot of cool facts about the cave. I, however, loved having the freedom to be able to explore at our own pace. We spent about almost three hours underground soaking up all the amazing sights.

There were so many rock formations that we were seeing something new every few minutes in the cave. Every corner and staircase offered new possibilities and we never knew what we would find next. Some sections had hundreds of stalactites clinging to the ceiling like the mouth of a large creature or the gates in an ancient castle. The formations and dynamic shadows played in my imagination all throughout the cave. One particular formation looked like a large bearded giant overlooking his kingdom like an elderly guardian.

It didn’t take me long to realize this was the best cave hike in New Mexico, in fact, I think it was one of the best caves I have ever been in! The Big Room was a loop near the lowest point in the caverns and also offered fantastic views and rock formations. This was one of the darkest caves I have been in and even though I didn’t have a flashlight I thoroughly enjoyed my time underground. I would suggest bringing a light to use occasionally when you visit since there are a few things I felt like we missed by not having a way of seeing further into the dark depths and deep crevices. 

I already went in with high expectations but Carlsbad Caverns exceeded those expectations in every way! I loved this cave and would say it is a must for anyone who loves to explore our beautiful underground. It should be noted too that this cave is huge, so you will not need to bend, duck, or maneuver very much at all. You will, however, spend plenty of time walking but fortunately, there is an elevator so you won’t have to climb back out, which should be good news for everyone. 

After visiting Carlsbad Caverns I can confidently say this is the best cave I have ever visited. There are so many formations to see, you can explore at your own pace, and the adorable bats made the whole experience wonderful from start to finish. If you want to book your timed entrance, visit the Carlsbad Caverns National Park website. It is always helpful to know before you go so to further plan your trip to this national park make sure to watch this Adventuring in the Moment video of our trip into the cave.

Another helpful tool that we always use is AllTrails which you can browse through to find some trails above ground in the park too. While exploring the glorious underground make sure to check out these other caves in New Mexico.