Carlsbad Caverns: What to Know
I’m sure you have heard of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It’s been on my “bucket list” to visit for some time. When we rolled into Carlsbad New, Mexico, I was giddy to find out that the town was home to TWO national parks!
Okay, technically the second national park — Guadalupe Mountains National Park — is about an hour drive south from Carlsbad. And yes, that park is in Texas (not New Mexico). Details. Details. Whatevs. Yet, because Carlsbad Caverns is actually adjacent to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, we knew we had to visit both when in the area. Here’s what we learned about Carlsbad Caverns.
Carlsbad Caverns: What to Know
How Do You See the Bats at Carlsbad Caverns?
No Bat-signal needed here, folks. Instead, just enjoy the nightly bat flight! Yes, just like the Caped Crusader has his Batcave, Carlsbad Caverns has its own underground spectacle – the nightly Bat Flight viewing! During the warmer months, Carlsbad Caverns becomes a significant roosting site for a HUGE colony of Brazilian free-tailed bats.
The bats migrate to the caverns in the spring, typically arriving in April or May, and stay until late October. With temperatures hovering around 56 F all year long, the caverns provide an ideal environment for the bats, offering stable temperatures and high humidity levels.
Just how large is the bat colony? According to the NPS, the colony is estimated to be around 400,000 bats. When we visited Carlsbad Caverns in late October, the park ranger told us that there were still around 100,000 at the national park!
Spectators can watch the bats emerge (in evening) and come home to roost (in the morning) from a large outdoor seating area near the Natural Entrance to the caverns.
Photography and videography are prohibited during the Bat Flight viewing. I took the liberty of taking a couple of photos of the Natural Entrance and then super-imposed some bats to give you an idea of what it might look like. The first photo is more realistic, and the second photo is a complete fabrication. The bats don’t come anywhere close to spectators.
Dramatic reenactment of the Bat Flight at Carlsbad Caverns
Embellishment of the Bats Flight at Carlsbad Caverns. (The bats do NOT get close to spectators at all!)
What are the Tour Options at Carlsbad Caverns?
At the time we visited Carlsbad Caverns in October 2023, the tour options at Carlsbad Caverns were as follows:
King's Palace tour
Ranger-guided
1.5 hours
1 mile
12 person groups
Extra fee
NPS calls the King’s Palace Tour “easy to moderate”
Big Room Tour
Self-guided
1.25 miles
Can take the elevator down to the starting point
NPS calls the Big Room Tour “easy to moderate”
Natural Entrance Tour
Self-guided
1.25 miles
75-floor (750 foot) decent
NPS calls the Natural Entrance Tour “steep and strenuous”
Pro Tip: Visitors Can Walk Multiple Tours in a Single Day.
As for the guided tour, reservations are required, and the slots book up several weeks in advance. One park ranger told us that several people show up on “stand-by” each day in case those with reservations are no-shows. We didn’t have our act together enough to make advance reservations and did not have any luck on “stand-by.”
We started with the Natural Entrance Tour, took the Big Room tour, and then used the elevator to exit -- all in a single morning. I would rate both as “easy” walks. Sure, the Natural Entrance tour would be “steep and strenuous” if someone crazily decided to go up the 75 flights, but the path finishes near the cavern elevator so there’s no need do that.
What Can You Expect to See on the Carlsbad Caverns Tours?
The caverns took us on a mesmerizing journey through a subterranean wonderland, showcasing an array of stunning rock formations that have been sculpted over millions of years. Our photos and videos don’t do the place justice. Carlsbad Caverns is just one of those places that you need to experience in person.
After descending about 200 feet on a series of switchbacks, the Natural Entrance Tour took us right by the main bat cave. We couldn’t see or hear them though. Other notable features on the Natural Entrance Tour include Devil’s Spring, Whale’s Mouth, Natural Bridge, Devil’s Den, Witch’s Fingers, Iceberg Rock, and the Boneyard.
Switchbacks on the Natural Entrance Tour
Whales Mouth at Carlsbad Caverns
Iceberg Rock at Carlsbad Caverns
Pro Tip: Take a flashlight to Carlsbad Caverns. Although the paths are all paved with guardrails in most places, the path is sometimes hard to see. A flashlight is also helpful for illuminating some of the rock formations. However, remember to be courteous in using the flashlight when others are around.
The Big Room Tour included the magnificent Hall of Giants (including the Giant Dome and Twin Dome), Fairyland, Temple of the Sun, Caveman Junction, Statue of Liberty, Totem Pole, Mirror Lake, Bottomless Pit, Top of the Cross, Crystal Spring Dome, Rock of Ages, and Painted Grotto.
Temple of the Sun at Carlsbad Caverns
Map of Carlsbad Caverns
Rock of Ages at Carlsbad Caverns
Pro Tip: We have a lot of fancy video and camera gear and experimented with what worked best at Carlsbad Caverns. The winner? Our Pixel phones on the “night sight” setting took the best photos in the dark caverns.
