Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park lies in the Guadalupe Mountains of south-eastern New Mexico, about 30 kilometres south-west of the town of Carlsbad. It protects more than 119 known caves and is managed by the National Park Service.

The caves formed when sulfuric acid, produced as hydrogen sulfide from oil deposits mixed with oxygen-rich groundwater, dissolved the limestone of an ancient reef. A local cowboy, Jim White, explored the main cave from the late 1890s and promoted it to visitors. It became a national monument in 1923 and a national park in 1930. UNESCO inscribed the park as a World Heritage Site in 1995.

Carlsbad Cavern has two main entry routes: the Natural Entrance, a steep paved trail of switchbacks about 2 kilometres long, and an elevator to the underground rest area. The Big Room is one of the largest cave chambers in North America, with a self-guided trail of about 2 kilometres past stalagmites, stalactites and features such as the Rock of Ages and the Bottomless Pit. Ranger-guided tours visit other parts of the cave, from easy paved routes to off-trail trips. From about April or May to late October, large numbers of Mexican free-tailed bats fly out of the Natural Entrance at dusk, watched from an amphitheatre.

Entry to the cave requires a timed reservation in addition to the park entrance fee. The reservation only fixes the entry time; the entrance fee is paid separately.

How much does Carlsbad Caverns cost? Every visitor aged 16 and over pays a USD 15 entrance fee, sold at the visitor centre by cash or card, and children under 16 enter free. The cave also needs a timed-entry reservation on Recreation.gov, which costs USD 1. The entrance pass covers both the elevator and the walk down through the Natural Entrance. The America the Beautiful pass is accepted.

The visitor centre opens from 9 am to 5 pm. Entry to the cavern by elevator or on foot runs from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm, the last entry ticket is sold at 2.15 pm, and the last elevator back to the surface leaves at 4.45 pm. Hikers using the Natural Entrance must begin by 2.30 pm and reach the bottom by 3.30 pm. The park closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Planning the day. Ranger-guided tours carry an extra fee and are not open to children under six. In November 2026 the park listed all guided tours as suspended, so check before you travel. The cave stays at about 13 degrees Celsius all year, so bring a light jacket even in a desert summer. Carlsbad, with motels and restaurants, is about 30 minutes by car, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas is a short drive south-west.