carlsbad caverns boat tours

Carlsbad Caverns Natural Entrance Tour

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Carlsbad Caverns Natural Entrance Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

What to Expect on the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour

Last Updated on March 10, 2024 by Bonnie

Tucked away in the southeast corner of New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is home to the largest, easily accessible cave chamber in North America. It is also one of the few caves within the National Park Service that you can tour on your own. No need to stress, though, the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour is easy to follow and very informative.

We have now done tours in many different caves, including Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, Timpanogos Cave in Utah and Wind Cave in South Dakota. It’s interesting to us just how different various caves can be. For instance, Mammoth Cave is, generally, not nearly as “decorative” as many other caves. Additionally, the unusual cave formation known as boxwork is only rarely found outside Wind Cave. 

Carlsbad Caverns is known for both its large chambers, like the aptly named “Big Room,” and its decorative mineral features. It is also home to a large colony of Brazilian Free-tail bats, which are a highlight of a summer visit to the park. 

Still, the park is great any time of year! So, let’s take a look at just what you can expect on a self-guided tour of Carlsbad Caverns and around the rest of the park.

(Disclaimer: When we link to places where you can buy our stuff or places we stayed, we are using special codes that earn us commissions on the sales at no additional cost to you. Please see our  Review Policy   for more information.)

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Basic Information

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located just south of Carlsbad, NM in the Chihuahuan Desert of the Guadalupe Mountains. It is a fairly remote park, aside from the town of Carlsbad, which is about 20 miles north. Just outside the park entrance, the tiny enclave of White’s City offers an inn, RV park, gas station and restaurant. It’s not more than two corners of a single intersection, though.

The highlight of the national park is certainly the main cave (Carlsbad Cavern), along with the bat program in the summer. But, the park is home to at least 120 caves. Unfortunately, most of these are off-limits to the public.

Additionally, there are a few above-ground hiking trails and a scenic drive. The park also offers a few night-sky programs in the summer. At the visitor center, you will find a few exhibits, along with a small NPS bookstore and a large concessionaire gift shop and cafe. There is even a small snack bar down in the cave, though it has limited days/hours of operation.

Visitors can access Carlsbad Cavern via a 1.25-mile steep hike down the Natural Entrance or a relatively quick zoom down the elevator. Keep reading for more information on these options.

Be sure to check the Carlsbad Caverns National Park website for current hours of operation. The park enforces strict times for entering and exiting the cave on a self-guided tour. Finally, it is worth noting that the entire park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days.

Carlsbad Caverns Tours

Currently, Carlsbad Cavern can be seen on two different tours: the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour and the ranger-led King’s Palace Tour. Reservations for both must be made ahead of time on the recreation.gov website or app. Pre-COVID-19, the park offered a few other tours of the main cave and other caves. Unfortunately, as of March 2024, these have not resumed.

King’s Palace tours last 1.5 hours and are currently limited to 12 people. As you might guess, these reservations are extremely difficult to secure. Tickets are released 30 days prior at 8 a.m. Mountain Time and typically sell out very quickly. If you are interested in this tour, I suggest trying to secure tickets immediately when they are released.

Thankfully, tickets for the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour are relatively easy to get, especially during non-peak times. Still, you need to secure tickets before arriving at the park. Tickets are available up to 30 days in advance and until 5 a.m. MT the day of the tour, provided space is available. Your ticket allows you to enter the cave within a one-hour window. Once inside the cave, you can stay until the posted exit time.

Note: You must pay the park entrance fee upon arrival to Carlsbad Caverns National Park ($15 per person ages 16 or older, valid for three days) in addition to the ticket fees that are collected with your reservation. National Park pass holders must purchase a tour ticket, as only the park entrance fee is covered by your pass.

Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour

Our visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park was part of a longer road trip in the winter. Since we know that winter weather can always detail a road trip, we opted to keep our itinerary flexible and not make reservations too far in advance. That meant the King’s Palace Tour was not an option for us. 

Honestly, though, for our first visit to Carlsbad Caverns, we were happy to do the Self-Guided Tour. And, now that we’ve done it, I would certainly recommend it to any first-time visitor. It is possible to do both the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour and the King’s Palace Tour on the same day. This would not be a bad option if you have the time.

The Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour allows you to explore the Big Room along a 1.25-mile paved route. This trail is well-lit and relatively level. Much of the trail is even wheelchair accessible. That said, the park recommends that visitors in wheelchairs should only enter the Big Room with assistance. 

Before entering the cave, consider renting a handheld audio guide at the NPS bookstore. While there are a few exhibit signs along the underground trail, the audio tour provides in-depth descriptions of the cave features, history and geology. If you haven’t been in a lot of caves or have a particular interest in the geology or history of Carlsbad Cavern, I would encourage you to rent the audio guide. It’s a nominal rental fee ($5 when we visited) and was very informative and easy to use.

Natural Entrance vs. Elevator for the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour

When you are ready for your Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour, you’ll need to be prepared to tell the ranger if you are planning to enter the cave via the elevator or the natural entrance. Since the natural entrance takes you through 1.25 miles of the cave that you would not see otherwise, we HIGHLY SUGGEST taking this route. That said, it is steep and moderately strenuous, descending more than 750 feet underground. 

Hiking down (or up) the natural entrance also doubles the length of your cave tour, as it is separate from the Big Room. If you have mobility issues, limited stamina or even limited time, then you might want to skip the natural entrance and just take the elevator up and down.

Otherwise, we suggest that you enter the cave via the natural entrance and exit via the elevator. While I suppose it is technically possible to exit via the natural entrance, it would be quite strenuous. And, while we enjoyed the cave along that route, I don’t think you would gain anything by hiking it both down and up. 

The park’s brochure shows the path of the Natural Entrance and Big Room routes. Be sure to look at that and talk to a ranger if you aren’t sure which way to enter or exit the cave. 

The Natural Entrance Route on the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour

If you can make the trek down the natural entrance, you’ll enter the cave by the amphitheater that is used in the summer for the nightly Bat Flight Program. From there, you’ll descend about 200 feet along a series of switchbacks until you reach the entrance to the Bat Cave. 

As you might guess from the name, this is where the bats roost inside the cave. Even if visiting in the summer, when the bats are present, you will not be able to see them from the trail.

From there, the trail flattens out a bit as it continues to descend through the Main Corridor. Still, there are a few steep areas and another set of switchbacks near the area known as Devil’s Den. As you make your way through the cave, you’ll see a variety of features including stalactites, stalagmites and columns. You’ll even pass by a few pools of water.

It took us just under 1.5 hours to make our way down the Natural Entrance Trail to the elevators on the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour. That included quite a bit of stopping or slowing down to take pictures and listen to the audio guide.

Rest Area and Lunchroom

The Natural Entrance Trail meets up with the Big Room Trail right by the elevators, bathrooms and snack bar. At this point, you’re 755 feet below the surface. 

This is a great opportunity to take a potty break, eat a snack and maybe even take a few minutes to rest your legs. While you’re done with the most strenuous part, you’re still only about halfway through your Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour at this point.

It is also worth noting that this is the only area where you are permitted to eat or drink anything other than water. Even the smallest crumbs can make a big impact on the cave’s ecosystem, so all visitors must follow this policy.

Exploring the Big Room on the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour

The 8.2-acre Big Room is the largest single cave chamber in North America. It truly is a must-see for anyone visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It is easily accessible via the elevator and much of the route around its perimeter is wheelchair accessible, making it easy for just about anyone to see.

A 1.25-mile paved trail takes you around the perimeter of the Big Room. A shortcut about halfway through the loop will cut the trail in about half. 

The highly decorated Big Room really is impressive, both in its size and the cave features. You’ll see a large group of stalactites known as the Chandelier and Crystal Spring Dome, an active formation that grows as it flows down a stalagmite into a cave pool. You’ll also be wowed by a variety of both large and small features from Doll’s Theatre where you’ll find extremely fragile soda straw formations to the towering domes at the Hall of Giants. 

In a few places, you’ll even see tools left behind by some of the early cave explorers. In particular, be on the lookout for a very rickety ladder on a cave wall and ropes tied to the cave ceiling. While being inside caves doesn’t really bother me too much, these tools remind me that is true only for well-developed caves!

Even after all the caves we’ve toured, every turn of the trail through the Big Room revealed a new cave feature that left us in awe. Seriously, Carlsbad Cavern is one impressive cave every step of the way. 

We spent about 1 hour and 15 minutes touring the Big Room. Again, that included several stops for pictures and audio guide information.

What to Wear Inside Carlsbad Caverns

As with most caves, the temperature inside Carlsbad Caverns stays a constant 56 degrees. Thus, we recommend wearing pants and long sleeves. You’ll also want to make sure you have shoes that will be comfortable for a 1.25-2.5 mile walk, likely sneakers or hiking shoes. There are a few areas that might be slippery, so I’d go with closed-toes shoes.

If you plan to hike down the natural entrance, you’ll definitely want shoes with good traction (we both wore hiking shoes). If you are taking the elevator and just exploring the Big Room, the path is more level, so regular sneakers are fine.

Read our tips for visiting a National Park Service cave here.

How to Avoid Spreading White-Nose Syndrome

It is also best to not wear clothes that have been inside another cave to reduce the spread of the fungus that causes White-nose syndrome, which affects hibernating bats. You may even have to wipe down your shoes, phone or camera gear before entering the cave or when exiting. 

White-nose syndrome (WNS) gets its name from the white fuzzy fungus that can grow on a bat’s nose. Unfortunately, it can cause bats to be more active than usual during hibernation and burn up the fat that they need to survive the winter. Biologists first found sick and dying bats in 2007. Since then, WNS has killed millions of bats in North America and is considered one of the worst wildlife diseases in modern history.

People can unknowingly spread the fungus that causes WNS, as the spores can live on your clothing and other items even after washing. Thus, you will find that most cave operators (like the National Park Service) request that visitors not wear or carry anything into a cave that has been in another cave.

Pro Tip: Take a picture of each of the people in your group before heading into the cave, making sure all of their gear is in the picture. That way, you will have a record of what you wore and can avoid taking it into another cave.

Interestingly, the ranger we talked to at Carlsbad Caverns National Park said they aren’t too worried about WNS since their bats are migratory rather than hibernating. Still, since there is much that is not known about the spread of WNS, it’s best to wear new clothing that has not been in another cave if at all possible.

Other Things to Do at Carlsbad Caverns

While the cave tours are certainly the highlight of any visit to Carlsbad Caverns, there are a few things to do above ground. 

Bat Flight Program 

Aside from cave tours, one of the most popular things to do at Carlsbad Caverns is the nightly Bat Flight Program, which is held from Memorial Day weekend through October. Each night, thousands of bats rush from the cave’s natural entrance to feed. At the Bat Flight Program, park rangers present a talk about bats before they emerge.

Check times for the Bat Flight Program on the park’s website or at the visitor center. The program is generally held about 30 minutes before sunset. 

Unfortunately, the bats spend their winters in Mexico, so we were not able to see this spectacular event during our January visit. But, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Carlsbad Caverns, so we definitely plan to return sometime in the future when we can see the bats!

It’s also worth noting that the bats typically return to the park in mid to late April. You can watch the bat flight on your own at the amphitheater even if the ranger program hasn’t started yet for the summer. Also, if you are visiting in the fall, it’s worth noting that there is no way to know exactly when the bats will leave and move south. 

Overall, if you think this will be your only visit to Carlsbad Caverns, I’d suggest going when you can be reasonably certain the bats will be there. If you know you will likely have the opportunity to return, though, you can still enjoy a visit to this park even if you miss that special sight.

Hiking Trails and Scenic Drive 

If you are waiting around after your cave tour and before the Bat Flight Program, there are several above-ground hiking trails at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Sadly, flooding in 2022 caused trail erosion and damage to the scenic Walnut Canyon Desert Drive. Currently, most backcountry hiking trails and the scenic drive remain closed. For more information and estimates on reopening, check out the National Park Service website on the flood damage .

As you make your way in or out of the park, we suggest the short, Walnut Canyon Overlook Trail. The trailhead for this 5-minute walk is located right along the main park road as you make your way to the visitor center and cave entrance. It’s worth a quick stop to look out over the vast Chihuahuan Desert!

There also is a 1/2-mile Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail right by the visitor center. Along this mostly paved trail, you’ll find information on the flora of the surrounding desert. 

We certainly hope that the backcountry trails and the scenic drive are open when we return to Carlsbad Caverns!

Where to Stay and Eat When Visiting Carlsbad Caverns

There is no lodging or even a developed campground within the park. Right by the park entrance, you’ll find a small inn and RV park at White’s City. If you want to camp, that isn’t a bad option but it really isn’t a town. 

If you’re looking for a hotel and easy access to restaurants, shopping or other conveniences, I’d suggest staying in Carlsbad. Since we didn’t have the camper with us on this trip, we spent 3 nights at the Home2Suites in Carlsbad , which we used as our base for visiting both Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which is located just across the state line in Texas.

Read more about exploring Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Grant’s article.

The Home2Suites was perfectly comfortable and we enjoyed having the small kitchenette with a refrigerator. It is also located on the south side of town, making it very convenient for getting to the parks.

Read TripAdvisor Reviews | Book the Hotel

Another perk of the Home2Suites is that you can walk to Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company , which is just on the other side of the parking lot. We did this for dinner one night and were not disappointed at all! The beer is quite tasty and they serve a nice variety of pizzas, subs, paninis and a few salads and appetizers. 

If you’re looking for something other than a brewery, we suggest YellowBrix , which is located in the center of town. I thoroughly enjoyed the BRIX Meatloaf, which included a hefty serving of meatloaf along with two sides. Grant opted for the BRIX Mexican Burger, which was a traditional burger but wrapped in a tortilla. They also have a nice beer and wine menu, offering a little something for everyone.

Final Thoughts on the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour

After you’ve visited as many caves as we have, it’s easy to think that you’re going to “just another cave.” While we were excited to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park, we wondered if it would live up to the hype for us. 

I am pleased to say that it did! Even after countless other cave tours, it is easy to see why people like Carlsbad Caverns. And, that was without getting to see the bats or any of the backcountry hiking trails. This was easily one of our favorite caves!

While we always love a good ranger-led tour, doing the Carlsbad Caverns Self-Guided Tour was nice. It allowed us to explore the cave at our own pace, spending as much or as little time at a given formation as we wanted. Honestly, the fast pace of our tour at Mammoth Cave was one of our biggest complaints. It was refreshing to not have to worry about that this time.

We took our time, took the pictures we wanted and rested when we wanted! Seeing both the Natural Entrance and the Big Room was special, even if it did make for a somewhat lengthy walk. All told, we spent a little over 2.5 hours hiking in and around Carlsbad Caverns and we loved every bit of it!

Touring on our own was easy. The route was well-marked. And, there were enough informational signs to know what we were looking at. Having the audio guide provided even more history and information. We certainly did not feel that we missed out on anything by not having a ranger-guided tour. Mostly, we just loved touring on our own and not worrying about a large group.

Travel Resources

What do you use to find a flight.

We use Skyscanner to find deals on flights. Skyscanner has a great interface and compares tons of airlines for the best pricing and routing. That said, it does not always have every airline and some airlines will have better deals on their website. Still, Skyscanner is a great place to start. Click here to search for a flight.

What do you use to find a hotel?

We typically stay at Hilton properties , so we use the Hilton website . You can find good Hilton Honors discounts or AAA discounts for a hotel there. We make great use of our free night certificates from our Hilton Honors American Express. Click here to book a Hilton property.

If there are no Hilton properties available, we use TripAdvisor to read reviews and book the hotel. We find we can get the best price that way. Click here to search for a hotel.

We recently partnered with Stay22 to add interactive maps to each of our destination posts. This will allow you to see a plethora of hotels and vacation rentals all in one responsive map of the area.

What if I need more space than I can get at a hotel?

We use Vrbo for the times when we have rented a cabin for a weekend getaway, like this cabin in Townsend, TN , or needed to rent a house for a large family vacation. We had a great experience with them in terms of refunding deposits when COVID hit and will continue to use them. Click here to search for a vacation rental.

Who do you use for rental cars?

As a general rule, we book with Hertz for rental cars. We have had nothing but good experiences with them. Plus, we really like unlimited mileage and not worrying about crossing state lines. We have even rented from Hertz overseas in both Slovenia and Croatia . Click here to book a rental car.

How about booking a cruise?

We have found some amazing prices for booking a cruise through Cruise Direct . We have saved a lot of money on our cruises compared to what we found elsewhere, making a last-minute Bahamas cruise even cheaper. Click here to book a cruise.

What if I want to rent an RV?

We highly recommend Outdoorsy for RV rentals. We rented a camper van for a week to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the elk rut and Custer State Park for the Buffalo Round-Up and had a blast. The program was easy to use and we really enjoyed the freedom of having a camper van for that trip. Click here to rent an RV.

What do you use for booking tours?

We don’t often book tours. Typically, we like to do stuff on our own. That said, there are some experiences you can’t have any other way. So, when we do want to book a tour, we always check Viator first. Click here to book a tour.

Do you use anything to get discounts on the road?

We make extensive use of both Good Sam and AAA on the road. Good Sam is normally regarded as a discount card for RVers at campgrounds and Camping World but anyone can use the 5 cents off a gallon at the pump at both Pilot and Flying J. Click here to get a Good Sam membership. We have had AAA as long as we have been married and it has more than paid for itself in discounts at hotels, aside from the peace of mind of having roadside assistance. Add in paper maps and the ability to get an international driver’s license and it is more than worth it for any traveler out there. Click here to get a AAA membership.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

I accept the Privacy Policy

Lower Cave Tour Reservation

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Tours

• In 1924, a National Geographic expedition wrote about the wonders of Lower Cave. Today visitors can see these wonders for themselves as well as evidence from early explorations. This exciting adventure begins with a 15 foot (4.5 m) descent down smooth flowstone using a knotted rope. Your journey continues down another 75 feet (17 m) on a series of three steep ladders. From there you continue past clear pools, cave pearls and a myriad of exceptional cave formations. Not recommended for anyone who is afraid of heights, enclosed spaces or darkness. The trail is wet or muddy in many places, making it extremely slippery. 
• Hiking boots or hiking shoes with good aggressive tread are required. No sandals, flip flops, tennis shoes, or similar footwear. You will not be allowed to participate in the tour if you are not wearing proper footwear—no exceptions.
• Only very small fanny packs and very small cameras are permitted on the tour. No backpacks of any kind and size.
• All items not permitted must be brought back to the visitor's vehicle. Helmets, headlamp and gloves will be provided.  
• Children under 12 years of age are not allowed. 
• Note that caving is inherently risky and cave rescues are difficult, dangerous and take hours to accomplish.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

• I have read and agree with the arrival time requirements for guided tours. 
• Reserved tickets must be picked up no later than 30 minutes prior to the posted tour starting time. No refunds for late arrivals . 
• Visitor Center Hours—8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  
• Participants are required to have a general entrance and a tour ticket. Long sleeves or a light jacket recommended. 
• Prices for Inter-agency Senior and Access pass holders are for those pass holders only. All others must purchase a separate full priced tour ticket. 
• Do not wear or bring any items that have been in any other caves or mines. A disease known as White-Nose Syndrome is killing bats in North America. To prevent it from spreading to our bats, do not wear shoes, clothing, or bring any gear into any cave at Carlsbad Caverns National Park that were in another cave.
• Accessibility: There is no handicap accessibility on this tour. 
• Amenities: Restrooms are located in the visitor center and in the cavern Underground Lunchroom. There are no restroom opportunities during the tour. There is a restaurant in the visitor center as well as the possibility of limited food available in the cavern Underground Lunchroom. Bookstore and gift shop are located in the visitor center. Kennel Services are available.

Photo Gallery

Camp, RV, and Explore Outdoors

Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. We provide tools and tips to discover new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, and reservations. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Recreation.gov!

Get to Know Us

• Rules & Reservation Policies
• Accessibility
• Media Center

Plan with Us

• Find Trip Inspiration
• Build a Trip
• Enter a Lottery
• Checkout our Mobile App
• Get Involved
• Use Our Data
• Add Your Facility

Let Us Help You

• Help Center
• Submit Feedback
• Responsible Disclosure

Atlas Obsession

A Guide to the Self Guided Tour at Carlsbad Caverns National Park

During my visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, my mom and I chose to do the self guided tour. Well, I say “chose”, but there wasn’t much of a choice. At the time (November 2021), only one ranger tour was being led. When I looked to buy tickets a month in advance, it had already sold out. If you want a ranger led tour, make sure to book it well in advance as spots are limited and clearly sell out early.

But if you don’t manage to snag a ticket for a ranger led tour, don’t worry. Carlsbad Caverns offers a self guided tour that allows you to explore the caves at your own pace. While it may not be as informative as taking a tour with a ranger, I still had a great time.

Here’s everything that I think you should know before taking the self guided tour at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Table of Contents

Make a Reservation

Reservations are required to visit Carlsbad Caverns, even if you only plan to do the self guided tour. Hundreds of reservations are available daily, but they come with a timed entry. These timed entries spread out visitors so there aren’t massive groups going through the caves at once. We visited in the middle of November and had no problem making our reservation for the self guided tour the day before. For ranger led tours, you’ll want to book these well in advance. For more information, visit the NPS website .

Reservations for the self guided tour cost $1 per person. When you make your reservation you’ll choose an hour window entry time.

Getting To Carlsbad Caverns

From the city of Carlsbad, head south on Highway 62. Once you hit White’s City (the first city you come to once leaving Carlsbad), turn right and follow the signs to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Expect it to take about 35 to 40 minutes to reach Carlsbad Caverns from the city of Carlsbad.

Once you arrive, you’ll park in the main lot and enter the Visitor Center. Follow the signs to the check in desk and show your reservation.

At this point, you’ll also need to pay your park entry fee which is $15 per person. An America the Beautiful Pass, with a photo ID, is also sufficient. Note that the America the Beautiful Pass can be used for the driver as well as all other passengers in the vehicle. The America the Beautiful Pass does not cover the $1 reservation fee for your timed entry.

So, as an example, my mom and I were traveling together. We paid $1 to make a timed entry reservation for each of us ($2 total). Then when we checked in, we used my America the Beautiful Pass which covered the park entry fee. If we had not had the America the Beautiful Pass, we would have needed to pay $15 per person (or $30 total) to enter Carlsbad Caverns.

A Choice – Hike or Elevator

When you check in at Carlsbad Caverns, you’ll be given a choice for your self guided tour. You can choose to hike in to the caves or take the elevator. The elevator is definitely easier, since you save 1.75 miles of hiking. But the hiking is a bit more adventurous and allows you to see more of the caves. My mom and I chose to hike, and I’ll cover that more in detail shortly.

Taking the Elevator

If you have limited mobility, it’s best to take the elevator. The hike into the cave can be steep at certain parts and it even has stairs at certain points. As much as I recommend hiking in, you need to recognize your own limits. So while you will miss some scenery, you will still get to see some of the awesome formations in the cave if you take the elevator. The elevator will take you straight into the Big Room where you’ll meet up with the people who hiked in.

If you choose to hike in, you’ll exit through the museum and go outside (rangers will direct you where to go). You’ll present your receipt (given to you at check in) to the ranger posted outside the entrance. That ranger will then go over the basic safety information. Now, it’s time to start the adventure on your self guided tour at Carlsbad Caverns.

The entire hike into the caves and to the start of the Big Room (where you’ll meet the people who took the elevator) is 1.75 miles and has an overall descent of 700 feet. Since we were hiking downhill, we found this to be pretty easy. Plus once you get further into the cave, you’ll want to stop to take plenty of pictures. It took my mom and I just over an hour to get from the Visitor Center to the Big Room. We could have gone faster, but we stopped for plenty of photos as we walked.

Along the way, you’ll pass loads of informational signs, teaching you about the history of the caves. You can also get an audioguide that can give you information as well, but since we did not do this, I can’t really speak to it.

The Big Room

Once at the Big Room, it’s mostly flat. It’s another 1.75 miles to walk all of the pathways in the Big Room, although it should be noted that not all of the paths are wheelchair accessible. Signs are posted for when wheelchair users should turn around.

The Big Room is full of several different areas, although some parts are cooler than others. Fairyland was definitely our favorite though. Wander and tour the various rock formations.

If you’ve hiked down, you may be losing steam. Once we were about halfway through the Big Room, we started to get bored. Don’t get me wrong, it was very cool, but there’s only so many rock formations you can look at before it starts to feel long winded. Still, we finished the entire loop so we could get the absolute most out of our $1 reservation fee.

Back to the Top

At the end of the Big Room, there’s a small gift shop. Once unique item is their postcards which they can mail for you from within the caves.

Regardless of how you got into the caves, everyone takes the elevator out. Thank goodness, because I would not have wanted to hike those steep hills back out of the cave! Your self guided tour of Carlsbad Caverns ends as you exit the elevator at the main level in the Visitor Center.

How Long Do You Need?

At minimum you’ll want to give yourself two hours to do the self guided tour at Carlsbad Caverns, if you plan to hike in. If you plan to take the elevator, you may only need one hour. But there is no limit to when you have to come out (except for when the park closes).

When To Do This

The cave is constant 56 degrees all year round, so the weather outside doesn’t need to influence your plans. Instead focus on what else may be going on at the park. If you visit between April and September, you could see the bat flight program.

We visited in November and had low crowds and a great time.

Final Thoughts

As an independent traveler, I appreciated the option for a self guided tour at Carlsbad Caverns. It allowed my mom and I to go at our own pace. We stopped for plenty of photos in the beginning, but by the end, we were kind of over it. Although part of it may have been we misread the information and thought we had a one mile hike in and a one mile hike through the Big Room so our expectations were off.

A few months earlier, my mom and I toured Mammoth Caves National Park in Kentucky. While both caves were cool, I think I preferred my overall experience at Mammoth Caves more. Carlsbad Caverns had more “wow!” rock formations, but taking the ranger led tours at Mammoth Caves really helped to give more context to what we were looking at.

So maybe, I would feel differently had we taken a ranger led tour at Carlsbad Caverns. But I have no regrets about visiting. I am especially glad we chose to hike in, as that’s where my mom and I had the most fun.

Continue Your Adventure

New Mexico : Carlsbad Caverns is one of two national parks in New Mexico. The other is White Sands National Park near Alamogordo.

Texas : Just a short drive from Carlsbad Caverns is Guadalupe Mountains National Park .

Itineraries : In one five day road trip , you can visit White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks.

More Caves : If you’re interested in touring caves, you have to add Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park to your bucket list.

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to this park navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to this park information section
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Alerts in effect, things to do.

Last updated: October 14, 2020

Park footer

Contact info, mailing address:.

3225 National Parks Highway Carlsbad, NM 88220

575 785-2232

Stay Connected

WATER  Activities

Pecos river Recreation Area

Great adventures await at the Pecos River Recreation Area, located in the heart of downtown Carlsbad. Enjoy boating , waterskiing and fishing on Lake Carlsbad, where you can rent kayaks and paddle boats or set out on a boat tour. You'll find plenty of picnic areas, parks, golf courses and a lakeside walkway that meanders for nearly five miles. The area also offers tennis and racquetball courts, along with plenty of playgrounds with grills available for use.

Located along Park Dr., Carlsbad, NM 88220

Carlsbad WaterPark

Cool off at the Carlsbad Water Park, a fun family spot on the shores of the Pecos River. Ride the twin speed slides and the  50-foot-tall slide known as “Big Blue,”  then take a leisurely float in the lazy river pool. The park includes a zero entry children's play area as well as locker rooms.

Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Tuesday through Sunday, from 11am to 6pm. Hours will be adjusted mid August-September  $5 admission; those under 4 and over 61 get in for free!

Location: 708 Park Drive, Carlsbad, NM 88220

Sitting Bull Falls

Recreation  Area

The Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area is a rare gem in the hot desert, this oasis offers cool pools of water and the awesome Sitting Bull Falls. Day-use area only. Pavilions, picnic tables, water, and restrooms provided. Access to many trails can be found from this site.

From US285 north of Carlsbad, turn west onto NM137. Continue on NM137 for about 20 miles until you find County Road 409. Turn right on this road and continue. The Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Site is at the end of this road.

Daytime Use Fee: - $5 per vehicle, up to ten people

- $10 per vehicle, 10+ people

- Free entry with Senior/Golden Age/Access/America the Beautiful

(575) 885-4181

Brantley  Lake State Park

By day, Brantley Lake State Park is a popular spot for boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. At night, however, the focus turns to the skies, where stunning sunsets and a canopy of stars take your breath away.

Located less than 20 miles from Carlsbad, this southernmost lake in New Mexico is a great spot for hiking, bird watching, picnicking and camping.

(575) 457-2384

Carlsbad Splash Pads

Carlsbad has TWO SPLASH PADS!!

1. Bob Forrest Youth Sorts Complex (open Mon-Sat 9am until the final game ends)

2. Carlsbad Beach Area off of Park Drive near the bandshell (open 7 days a week 8am to 8pm)

six-mile Dam

Nestled approximately six miles from Carlsbad at the end of Forni Rd.

This area on the Pecos River is a haven for migratory birds, a great place to fish, & "one of the best kept secrets in southeast NM! The area proudly hosts the "Steve West Birding Area”  Steve West was a long-time educator and birding enthusiast who contributed a great deal to this community

From the intersection of Highway 62/285 and E Wood Avenue, head east on E Wood Ave (CR 216) for 3 miles. The road will take a wide long turn to the south. Stay on the main paved road and head south for 1 mile. Take a left on Forni Road. Stay on Forni Road until it dead ends at the dam. From Loving: Take the Pecos Highway (285) north to Carlsbad. Just past mile marker 27, take a right on Grandi Road (CR 706). Drive 2.2 miles and take a right on Forni Road. Stay on Forni Road until it dead ends at the dam.

Lower Tansill Dam

Part of the Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area, Lower Tansill Dam is a great spot for bird watching, fishing, and picnicking. 

Travel South on Riverwalk Drive to find this beautiful Pecos River  reservoir.

Halagueno Arts Park

Lake Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course

Bob Forrest Youth Sports Complex

Living Desert Zoo & Garden

Carlsbad Museum

Carlsbad Public Library

Carlsbad Miniature Golf

Pecos River Flume

Carlsbad Pickleball

Carlsbad Disc Golf

Playground on the Pecos

Friendship Park

Heritage Park

Veterans Memorial Park

Beach Volley ball

Full List of Parks

Guadalupe National Park

Guadalupe Ridge Trail

Cottonwood Day Use Area

La Cueva Bike Trails

Guadalupe BackCountry Byway

Off Highway Vehicle Use

Ocotillo Nature Trail

Rattlesnake Springs

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Pecos River Recreation Area ​

Carlsbad Waterpark

Sitting Bull F alls

Brantley Lake State Park

Carlsbad Splashpads

Six Mile Dam

Carlsbad MainStreet District

Pearl of the Pec os Arts & Culture District

Carlsbad Caverns with Bat Flight Program

September 16, 2024 thru september 17, 2024.

Embark on a captivating one-night journey that promises an intriguing blend of history, mystery, and natural wonder. Travel to Roswell, a town renowned for its UFO encounters. Explore the mysteries of the universe at the International UFO Museum and Research Center, delving into the realm of unidentified flying objects. Witness the mesmerizing Bat Flight Program at Carlsbad Caverns, a unique spectacle that reveals the secrets of the cave’s nocturnal inhabitants. Explore the magnificent Big Room, North America’s largest cave chamber. This unforgettable adventure awaits, promising a blend of earthly and otherworldly experiences in the heart of New Mexico.

Transportation

Deluxe Motorcoach

2 days, 1 night

Activity Level 2

2 meals (1 breakfast, 1 lunch) included

Availability

Tour highlights.

• International UFO Museum and Research Center
• Carlsbad Caverns
• Bat Flight Program
• Transportation by deluxe motorcoach
• 1 nights lodging
• 2 meals (1 breakfast, 1 lunch)
• Admission to all listed attractions
• Your professional SUN TOURS Tour Director
• All taxes and tips for included items (except hotel housekeeping)

Embark on an extraordinary journey filled with intriguing encounters and natural wonders. Your adventure begins with a morning departure from Albuquerque, setting the stage for an exciting day ahead. As you traverse through picturesque landscapes of New Mexico, a comfort stop offers a chance to refuel and refresh.

Next, indulge in a meal at Cattle Baron. Located in arguably the most notorious UFO and extraterrestrial crash site on earth, Roswell, New Mexico.

After our western-themed lunch, we head to the International UFO Museum and Research Center, a hub of extraterrestrial exploration and discovery. Explore the mysteries of the cosmos and dive into the world of unidentified flying objects.

Afterward, check in at the conveniently located Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Enjoy an independent dinner at your leisure.

​ In the evening, embark on a captivating adventure to Carlsbad Caverns. Witness the mesmerizing Bat Flight Program at the Bat Flight Amphitheater, a unique spectacle that promises to leave you in awe. The size of the bat colony fluctuates from night to night and season to season. Between 200,000 and 500,000 bats call the cave home over the summer, swelling to over one million during migration.

Please note that to protect the bats, electronic devices are not allowed during the program.

Meals included: (L)

Your adventure unfolds as you arrive at the Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center. Here, you’ll be immersed in the breathtaking world of underground wonders.

Commence your self-guided tour through the awe-inspiring Big Room. The Big Room is the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America. As you explore the cavern’s depths, marvel at the intricate formations that have taken millennia to sculpt.

​ Following your underground adventure, savor a well-deserved lunch at the Caverns Trading Company Café, where you can refuel and reflect on your subterranean journey.

We will depart from Carlsbad Caverns and begin our journey home. Along the way we will make a couple of comfort stops, allowing you to stretch your legs.

Meals included:   (B)

Itinerary subject to change.

Package Pricing

$520 per person, double occupancy.

Deposit: $100

$620 per person

Single occupancy, final payment due:, july 9, 2024.

Deposit: N/A

Price Includes

• Transportation by deluxe motorcoach • 1 nights lodging • 2 meals (1 breakfast, 1 lunch) • Admission to all listed attractions • Your professional SUN TOURS Tour Director • All taxes and tips for included items (except hotel housekeeping)

Booking Policy

FINAL PAYMENT DUE:   July 9, 2024

CANCELLATION FEES:

None through July 9, 2024

$100 – July 10 – August 13, 2023

100% – August 13, 2024

​ Travel Protection starts at $108

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Level 2: Relaxed

Expectations: This tour requires light physical activity combined with shorter travel days. Tour members should expect intermittent walking, with occasional slight inclines and stair climbs, including boarding the motorcoach. Activities may include an occasional city or nature walking tour, stopping along the way. Guests should be able to climb a set of stairs, walk up or down slight slopes and navigate some uneven terrain or cobblestone.

Appropriate for: Travelers who are somewhat physically fit and comfortable with longer days of touring (both walking tours and coach time).

For your reference, we send to you a detailed itinerary approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the scheduled tour departure. This has day-by-day times and events, hotel information where you can be reached in case of an emergency, and airline information.

The times listed on the itinerary are all approximate. We cannot be held responsible for schedule changes due to unforeseen circumstances with the weather, transportation agents, highway conditions, hotels or contracting agents.

EMERGENCY CONTACT

It is always a good idea to carry on your person a list of medications that you are taking and an emergency contact phone number while you are traveling. And we suggest making a copy of the itinerary and provide it to a friend or family member.

GRATUITIES/ITEMS INCLUDED IN PRICE

The traditional end-of-tour gratuity to your tour director is included on this tour. All hotel porterage and airport skycap (when available) fees are included. We also include the gratuities for the coach drivers. Hotel housekeeping tips are not included.

LODGING REQUESTS

If you would like to request special accommodations at the hotel(s) where we are lodging, please call us as soon as possible and we will forward these requests for you. The phone numbers of the hotel(s) where we are staying are listed on the itinerary.

Many hotels around the country have instituted a "reconditioning fee" of $300 or more that is levied upon a guest that smokes in a non-smoking room. If this occurs during our tour you will be responsible for paying this fee to the hotel prior to check-out.

TRAVEL REQUESTS

We pay close attention to your requests but please realize that these are merely requests and cannot be guaranteed.

RESPONSIBILITY

SUN TOURS acts solely as an agent in arranging hotels, transportation, sightseeing, baggage-handling, and other services and does not assume any liability for injury, damage, loss or delay due to any act or default of any company or person. We, along with our subcontractors, reserve the right to make changes to an itinerary if it is necessary for the proper handling of a tour.

WEATHER AND CLOTHING/MISC. SUGGESTIONS

Average high temperatures in New Mexico in September in the mid 80s, with low temperatures averaging the low 60s. Please be sure to bring a sweater and / or rain jacket, along with good walking shoes and a hat. There are no dress codes for the areas we take you to on this tour.

Inquire About This Tour

Submit your inquiry for more information about a tour. We will get back to you with a (human) response as soon as possible. During the week that’s usually within a couple of hours. Evenings and weekends may take us a little bit longer. Please note that this is an inquiry for tour bookings only and does not constitute or confirm a reservation on a tour.

• Name * First Last
• Tour Name *
• Number of Travelers Select Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+
• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Call 505.889.8888 to Book Today!

If you aren't ready to inquire by email or would rather call and speak to a team member, we look forward to hearing from you.

Not done exploring?

We have plenty of tours to choose from, so take a look around!

Carlsbad Cruises Day Tours

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Carlsbad Cruises Day Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Carlsbad Caverns National Park 360 Virtual Visit

Pictographs near the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns give evidence that Native Americans knew of the site 1,000 years ago, but it wasn’t until the 1880s that nearby settlers rediscovered the location and began mining it for bat guano to use as fertilizer. One of the miners, James Larkin White—who claimed to have discovered the cavern—explored the cave further and began giving tours lit by kerosene lanterns, lowering the curious to a depth of 170 feet (52 meters) in bat-guano buckets. White also guided early scientific expeditions into the caves, including a major reconnaissance conducted for the U.S. Geological Survey in 1924, the year after it was established as a national monument. It was designated a national park in 1930 and a World Heritage site in 1995. – Encyclopedia Britannica --

Early visitors had to use ladders, then wooden stairs, then a switchback ramp that took them 750 feet (230 m) below the surface to the Big Room, the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America. It measures almost 4,000 feet (1,220 m) long, 625 feet (191 m) wide, and 255 feet (78 m) high at its highest point. In 1932 the National Park Service opened a visitor center with two elevators to make the trip fast and easy, although far less interesting.

This 360 virtual visit allows easier access still. It gives you a taste of the otherworldly views you encounter during a self-guided tour. You will quickly appreciate why this is considered one of the best caves in the world. If you have a VR headset, use it with this tour for a truly immersive experience.

Music is by Glenn Harrold. Check out his extensive and mesmerizing collection on YouTube .

If you enjoyed this virtual experience, be sure to check out our virtual visits of Death Valley and Tower Arch (Arches National Park).

For more 360 interactive images and virtual tours visit the main Tour de Force 360 website .