46,766 acres
Park Size
349,244
Annual Visitors
50 mi
Trail Miles
N/A
Campsites
About Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park protects over 119 limestone caves remarkable for their size, beauty, and diversity of formations. The Big Room, accessible by elevator or a steep 1.25-mile trail through the Natural Entrance, is one of the largest underground chambers in North America. Each summer evening from May through October, hundreds of thousands of Brazilian free-tailed bats spiral out of the cave in a spectacular natural display. The park also protects Lechuguilla Cave, one of the deepest caves in the United States.
Park Highlights
- Big Room
- Natural Entrance
- Bat Flight Program
- Kings Palace
- Lechuguilla Cave
- Hall of Giants
Activities
Wildlife
Visitor Information
$15
Entrance Fee
Spring, Fall
Best Seasons
Visitor Tips
- Cave is constant 56F - bring a jacket
- Bat flight program May-October at sunset
- Self-guided Big Room tour takes 1-2 hours
- Natural entrance hike is 1.25 miles, 750ft descent
Location
Official Resources
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