Carlsbad Caverns National Park

How to Get to Carlsbad Caverns National Park:

In southeastern New Mexico, accessible by way of US 62/180 from either Carlsbad, New Mexico (23 miles to the northeast) or El Paso, Texas (150 miles to the west). A scenic 7-mile entrance road leads from the park gate at Whites City to the visitor center and cavern entrance.

Recommended Scenic Routes Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park:

The Billy the Kid Scenic Byway is an 84-mile historical route that pays tribute to the infamous "Wild West" outlaw and several other western icons, including Smokey the Bear, as it winds through the rugged beauty of the million-acre Lincoln National Forest. Points of interest include the Hubbard Museum of the American West, Fort Stanton, Lincoln State Monument, and the Smokey Bear Museum and Park.

If travelling south from Albuquerque, you can take I-25 south to US 380 just south of Socorro, then US 380 east to Capitan. This is the northern entrance to the byway, which also includes sections of US 70, and Highway 48. The byway takes about two hours to drive.

Park Size:

46,766 acres

Description:

Established to preserve Carlsbad Cavern and numerous other caves within a Permian-age fossil reef, the park contains more than 85 known caves, including Lechuguilla Cave—the nation's deepest limestone cave at 1,567 feet and third longest. From early spring through October, visitors can watch the evening flight of thousands of Mexican free-tail bats from the outdoor amphitheater at the cave's natural entrance.

Things to Do at Carlsbad Caverns National Park:

All visitors to the park should tour the main section of the cave, the Big Room Self-Guided Route. The Natural Entrance Self-Guided Route is also very impressive, but it is not recommended for visitors with any kind of health problems because it is very steep. Guided tours of other areas are available at varying difficulties. To reserve guided tours call our reservation service at 800-967-2283. In addition to cave tours, rangers provide a variety of talks, walks, demonstrations, and slide programs daily at the visitor center. The Bat Flight Program occurs daily between Memorial Day weekend and late September. Program titles and times change daily and are displayed at the visitor center. A bat flight breakfast is held annually on the second Thursday in August, from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Operating Hours:

The park is open every day except for December 25. Regular hours: After Labor Day until Memorial Day weekend, 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tours available 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Expanded hours: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tours available 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

History:

Proclaimed Carlsbad Cave National Monument on October 25, 1923; established as Carlsbad Caverns National Park on May 14, 1930; designated a World Heritage Site on December 9, 1995.

Contact Information:

Carlsbad Caverns National Park
3225 National Parks Highway
Carlsbad, NM 88220
505-785-2232