Top 5 Must-Do Experiences at Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad Caverns is a surreal underground world in New Mexico. Do not miss these 5 things on your visit!

[{"selector":"#anim-fdbb6f1d-bd50-4886-94df-e3a276ab9d1a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4e11ec9-1b2a-45cf-8fc4-50bc84049b5e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7418857-b493-4ac1-aec6-0d6c45a94e69","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d8ca038-0483-4523-91f8-042abf8908b4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ef59fb1-e19e-4705-85c2-58ea8493bd0b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

The park's visitor center has gifts, amazing exhibits, and an educational film.

[{"selector":"#anim-e9d3e7be-4dd0-43d8-8f85-bb882d5a9732 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34edb906-ae93-4f64-b756-8722167e740c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-49b4a7ac-53a8-4dad-9327-23068b7c0c9b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dfa2690f-b141-4882-8855-685df833bbef","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-009e4a80-776c-4692-aed0-a807c5ec794e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b484ecc-5a12-4779-b217-ce5165da9afe","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed7fc022-4f93-4d25-a3c2-fdfe77e3c0e7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36678975-0c25-4895-b918-a0c0cc986afb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-749bd6ef-cb5d-428b-bc8a-cfa1ada232a2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] 5 Learn more

Above ground, explore rugged terrain on one of the park's desert hiking trails.

[{"selector":"#anim-64dd3f4f-4c3d-4c65-b6af-4c31a6b105ba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-760b31b4-e7d2-4024-a622-561d76481777","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f51214e-8007-40b1-90e1-a3b4221e2b46","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ca731bf-4b9e-4aa1-a064-6749663d00f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a836ce5-3c84-496f-94f2-7152252cec66","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01a89a47-f06c-467c-b83e-3c0715e388bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5b6a348-bbe7-473e-8f86-d7757f3e1b62","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ba8f142-3552-46f3-b907-727886adc456","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0f6ea9b7-7077-48b2-be9c-1691395455a0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] 4 Learn more

Watch bats fly out of the cave in the evenings from late May through October.

[{"selector":"#anim-3e97ccdf-3393-4eae-a535-60c352ced6b5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e78042a-ef15-42bf-a9f8-b9a1ec6b6c92","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b92225b-95a1-48e0-b757-4cee91e97783","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-956a38c5-88ce-48b9-972a-6b2200c18fcf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-661ea1ce-aae3-454b-b660-52b536b67584","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14c70c35-6f22-480a-98d1-6806eb4e3690","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8956e38-3947-453d-8152-89e7f06142c3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5524006a-96cc-43ed-b460-17c07bf55f70","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24b1c7f3-7a6e-457b-8bf0-b8f63f7db1d0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] 3 Learn more

The rewarding 1.25-mile hike is steep with many switchbacks, taking you 750 feet underground.

[{"selector":"#anim-455c47e4-86de-424b-a9bf-fc3f8fde332b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5508bc02-c3dd-4f58-b2d3-46182afdc72a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b64985e-d4ac-4039-8e19-12de3c765cb3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8fa410a-667d-44b4-a666-b47ed0cdf64f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b32ad69e-79a4-4878-a799-0a9b577f2d1c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ff6fde0-1393-443a-be72-800f875d291b","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a2667fb-91db-4e6a-9365-03aeeb15a42c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66421f9e-3e20-4abc-a8d6-6d8f0c6ec360","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47deff74-266c-4404-8502-4dda13ac19d4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] 2 Learn more

Enjoy surreal views of stalactites and stalagmites in the legendary Big Room.

[{"selector":"#anim-29f59cb1-33aa-4aef-8566-692783708bca [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0bb8942a-d4ec-4928-b1ef-623fc1adaa3b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc6a0a79-7e0f-4de7-a042-c75dc2d22591","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56c20424-3a0d-4b31-a940-44f097f035ee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25b8b675-7709-43db-853a-093ca122d93f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b8cecf9-a032-4382-b212-68c087750dcf","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10cd1c69-72d0-4fa0-9915-126286e52962","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-195d51b4-9b8d-4403-9cb1-3f144aedab26","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-964fd6fe-1a8c-4756-ba0e-68798efb827d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] 1 Learn more

Click below

[{"selector":"#anim-34ce70be-0529-49e1-93fd-d72c17eb1a8c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.25)","scale(0.975)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":2000,"duration":2000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c884f20-b082-4220-ad95-e964dadfd386","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-def8cdac-3b58-4619-b20c-0c373d37019c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

click below for More articles like

[{"selector":"#anim-5655924e-d5da-4ddd-b13d-99456e5affc7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fb67c84-b3c7-4552-9bc2-8c3c53713131","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.25)","scale(0.975)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-bbfc2382-82d1-4cce-9168-f57b712664b6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.25)","scale(0.975)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-4131c4f3-98c7-4d16-a1f8-8e459862ef8a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.25)","scale(0.975)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":2000,"duration":2000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] Hard To Reach Cape Cod Lighthouses Ultimate Cruise Packing List All 37 Amazing Amtrak Routes Across the US Miles with McConkey

Carlsbad Caverns is a surreal underground world in New Mexico. Do not miss these 5 things on your visit!

The park's visitor center has gifts, amazing exhibits, and an educational film.

Visitor Center

Above ground, explore rugged terrain on one of the park's desert hiking trails.

Hike a Desert Trail

Watch bats fly out of the cave in the evenings from late May through October.

Bat Flight Program

The rewarding 1.25-mile hike is steep with many switchbacks, taking you 750 feet underground.

Natural Entrance Trail

Enjoy surreal views of stalactites and stalagmites in the legendary Big Room.

Big Room Trail

Click below

For a complete guide to plan your park visit,

click below for More articles like

AND OTHER TRAVEL GUIDES AROUND THE WORLD