One Of New Mexico’s Most Beautiful Attractions Is Hiding Deep Underground
As you drive towards Carlsbad Caverns, the surrounding desert provides no hint of the treasures that lie beneath it. The landscape above ground has a stark appeal that could not be more different from the elaborate rock formations hidden 750-feet below New Mexico’s lone national park. The beauty and scale of the caverns cannot be overstated – you simply need to see them for yourself.
There are two ways to reach the caverns. The first is to take the elevator in the visitor center - the best option if you’re impatient to view the caves or if you have any physical limitations.
Aside from audio guides that you can rent, The Big Room is a place that you explore on your own. That’s not the case with the remaining caverns open to the public.
Although there are hundreds of caves down here, a just handful of others can be viewed on a ranger-led guided tour. This requires booking in advance (here)
and paying extra fees, which vary depending on the cave tour you select.
Prices are higher for the more physically challenging cave adventures.
The easiest of these tours is the King’s Palace. Travel into the deepest depths of the caverns accessible to the public.
There you can admire rock formations known as the Queen’s Draperies and perhaps even see how very dark it is when the rangers extinguish the lights! Tickets for this experience typically cost $8 per adult and $4 for kids.
The Left Hand Tunnel is rated "moderately difficult" and involves a tour illuminated only by lanterns.
The Lower Cave and Slaughter Canyon Cave (the latter is in a separate part of the park) are "difficult." If you’re in good shape, you may well find that the opportunity to wonder at the Monarch, an 89-foot high formation in Slaughter Canyon Cave, makes this worthwhile.
Calling all daredevils… for a belly-crawling, rope-climbing adventure, check out Spider Cave or Hall of the White Giant!
You don’t even need to enter the caverns to experience one of the park’s impressive sights. Simply show up at the amphitheater around sunset for the Bat Flight Program (May through October)…
When visiting the caverns, remember to wear good walking shoes and bring layers of clothing – the temperature below ground is 56 degrees Fahrenheit, with high humidity. For more information, visit the official website here.
Have you been to Carlsbad Caverns yet?
Here are some fun facts about New Mexico’s national park.
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