Land of Liberty Explorers

Carlsbad Caverns National Park contains 119 caves, but is best known for Carlsbad Cavern – the large cave that park visitors explore. Teenager Jim White explored the cavern in 1898. He named many of the rooms and cave formations during his exploration. President Calvin Coolidge designated Carlsbad Cavern a national monument in 1923, and the area was elevated to a national park in 1930. In 1932, a large visitor center was built which includes two elevators to take visitors down into the cave.

Getting to Carlsbad Caverns National Park

The park is located near Whites City, which is 18 mies southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico on US Highway 180. Park visitors must make a reservation in advance in order to explore the cavern. Timed reservations can be made online at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Upon arriving at the visitor’s center, park guests check in and pay the park entry fee. Guests then choose whether to hike into the cave through the natural entrance or take the elevator down into the Big Room. The natural entrance trail is an extremely steep 1.25 mile hike into the cave.

The Big Room Trail

Park visitors can explore the Big Room at their own pace on the Big Room Trail. The 1.25 mile trail circles the largest cave chamber in North America. Will Rogers called the Big Room “the Grand Canyon with a roof on it.” We enjoyed reading the informative signs along the trail that explained the cave’s geology, as well as, human history in the park. One sign described a plan devised in the 1930s that called for the cave’s walls to be dynamited to allow cars to drive through the Big Room – what a disaster that would have been!

The cave has many unique features. We were intrigued by the draperies, which are formed by water dripping down sloped roof surfaces, and lily pads that formed on the surface of pools. Leftover ropes and ladders are visible in several areas, reminders of the brave explorers who climbed between the chambers of the huge cave.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, rangers led guided tours into other parts of the cave; unfortunately, those tours have been suspended indefinitely.

Carlsbad, New Mexico Recommendations

We stayed in a lovely little airbnb in Carlsbad. Jenn’s place was perfect for our needs, and she has several other listings that may be right for your trip. We loved the authentic Mexican flavors from Carniceria San Juan de los Lagos. The carne asada tacos were delicious and the nacho plates are huge! For breakfast, check out Blue House Bakery and Cafe. We had hearty breakfast sandwiches on fresh baked croissants that included New Mexico’s famous green chilies. The baked goods in the counter were also very tempting! The Carniceria and Blue House are definitely two local favorites based on the number of customers inside! Both also have nice outdoor seating options available.