Things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
A Chihuahuan Desert park protecting a world-class limestone cave system, deep underground chambers, bat flights, desert canyons, springs, and rugged surface trails.
Best months: April, May, September, October
What is worth your time in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Big Room TrailDo not miss
The Big Room is the essential self-guided cavern experience, with huge chambers and dense formations.
Cave Tour · 2 hr4.9
Natural Entrance TrailDo not miss
The steep descent follows the historic route into the cave and makes the underground scale feel dramatic from the start.
Hike · 1.5 hr4.9
Bat Flight AmphitheaterDo not miss
Evening bat flight programs reveal the living cave ecosystem as thousands of bats leave the cavern.
Ranger Program · 1.5 hr4.8
Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center
The visitor center is the required hub for tickets, exhibits, current cave status, food, restrooms, and ranger advice.
Ranger Program · 53 min4.9
Guadalupe Ridge Trail
This long-distance trail segment offers a serious desert-and-mountain outing above the cavern landscape.
Hike · 7.5 hr4.9
Kings Palace Tour
The guided tour visits highly decorated chambers below the main self-guided route.
Cave Tour · 1.8 hr4.9
Left Hand Tunnel Tour
This lantern-style ranger tour offers a quieter historic cave experience when scheduled.
Cave Tour · 2.3 hr4.9
Lower Cave Tour
The more adventurous ranger-guided route uses ladders and uneven surfaces to explore deeper cave passages.
Cave Tour · 3.3 hr4.9
Old Guano Road
This historic route follows remnants of early guano-mining access across desert terrain near the cavern entrance.
Hike · 2.3 hr4.9
Slaughter Canyon Cave Tour
This remote guided cave tour adds a wilder, less-developed cave experience away from the main cavern.
Cave Tour · 3.5 hr4.9
Walnut Canyon Desert Drive
The gravel loop gives a low-effort look at Chihuahuan Desert, canyon slopes, and surface park scenery.
Scenic Drive · 1.1 hr4.9
Rattlesnake Springs
The desert oasis is a strong birding and picnic stop that shows the park beyond the cavern.
Wildlife · 1.4 hr4.6
Rattlesnake Canyon Trail
The canyon route gives a quieter surface hike through desert slopes and Chihuahuan habitat.
Hike · 3 hr4.4
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail
The short surface loop introduces desert plants, geology, and views right by the visitor center.
Hike · 45 min
And 1 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Carlsbad Caverns is famous for the Big Room, Natural Entrance, ranger-guided cave tours, dramatic speleothems, and summer Brazilian free-tailed bat flights.