Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park On October 25, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge signed a proclamation creating Carlsbad Cave National Monument. But the fun and beauty are not only underground.

The monument was designated as Carlsbad Caverns National Park by Congress on May 14, 1930. Beauty and wonder; above and below

Rocky slopes and canyons, cactus, grass, thorny shrubs, and the occasional tree, who could guess at the hidden treasures deep underground? Beneath this rugged land are more than 119 known caves - all formed when sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding limestone. To plan yo

ur visit, go to the park's official website: www.nps.gov/cave . Activities

A variety of cave tours are available—from the self-guided Natural Entrance and Big Room routes to guided tours that range from walking the paved trails of Scenic Rooms, called the Kings Palace Tour, to crawling through narrow passageways in Hall of the White Giant or Spider Cave. In the park Visitor Center, you will find educational exhibits, ranger led talks and programs, a bookstore run by non-profit partner, Western National Parks Association, and a restaurant, gift shop and kennel operated by park concessioner, Carlsbad Caverns Trading Company. Outdoors there are opportunities for hiking, backcountry camping, picnicking, and from May to October, watching the incredible exodus of Brazilian free-tail bats out of Carlsbad Cavern at dusk. About posting:
Welcome to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park page. We hope this will become a place where fans feel comfortable sharing information and experiences about this and other national parks and one another. While this is an open forum, it is also a family friendly one, so please keep your comments and wall posts clean. Please be considerate of other fan's opinions. In addition to keeping it family friendly, we ask that you follow our posting guidelines here. If you do not comply, your message will be removed. We do not allow graphic, obscene, explicit or racial comments or submissions, nor do we allow comments that are abusive, hateful or intended to defame anyone or any organization. We do not allow solicitations or advertisements. This includes statements, photographs or external links that promote or endorse any financial, commercial or non-governmental agency. Such posts and/or links are subject to deletion. People who continue to post such content and/or links may be subject to page participation restrictions and/or removal from the page. We do not allow attempts to defame or defraud any financial, commercial or non-governmental agency. We do not allow comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity. You participate at your own risk, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your username and any information provided. Finally, the appearance of external links on this site does not constitute an official endorsement on behalf of the U.S. National Park Service or the U.S. Department of the Interior.

What is this? Rangers Zach and Zach have finally caught up with the visitor that they have been searching for. Time for ...
09/02/2026

What is this? Rangers Zach and Zach have finally caught up with the visitor that they have been searching for. Time for the big reveal: the mysterious visitor is... Ranger Joe, the head Leave No trace Ranger at Carlsbad Caverns?!

They are shocked, “What? How? Why did you do this?” they asked. Ranger Joe explains that as the Leave No Trace team lead at the park, he wanted to test Zach and Zach on their LNT knowledge because a previous Ranger had given Joe a similar experience. “I had to make sure you knew your stuff first before I could tell you both a big secret,” Joe tells them. Zach and Zach are obsessed with what this big secret could be! They lean in and listen as Joe tells them that the secret to Leave No Trace is that anyone can be an expert if they take time to learn and practice the 7 Principles that they have learned about on this journey!

They all ponder that thought for a second before smiling at each other. As they start to walk back to the visitor center, they realize that they are late for their shifts and start running. Thanks for joining Rangers Zach and Zach (and Joe) on this adventure! Till next time.

National Park Week is coming to a close, but we are saving the best day for last! Join us tomorrow for Junior Ranger Day...
08/29/2026

National Park Week is coming to a close, but we are saving the best day for last! Join us tomorrow for Junior Ranger Day! From 10:00am - 2:00pm in the visitor center we will have crafts, activities, storytelling with a ranger, and a photo opportunity with Carl S. Bat. No reservation is needed, so come on down!

Graphic: NPS/ M. Kinney

Please join us tomorrow, Saturday 8/29, at 11am for our next Artist in Residence program! Artist Jenny Young has been ve...
08/28/2026

Please join us tomorrow, Saturday 8/29, at 11am for our next Artist in Residence program! Artist Jenny Young has been very busy creating beautiful landscape pieces in her time here and she would love to help you create your own keepsake from your visit to the Caverns.

The program will begin at 11am in our Artist Studio, is free to all, has no age limit, and will provide you with your own take-home piece to remember your visit!

We can’t wait to see you! 🎨

Descending into a cavern, hiking up a mountain, volunteering, making a reservation, being sworn in as a Junior Ranger – ...
08/25/2026

Descending into a cavern, hiking up a mountain, volunteering, making a reservation, being sworn in as a Junior Ranger – how will you celebrate the National Park Service 110th birthday?

The National Park Service (NPS) manages 433 sites across the US and its territories, including Carlsbad Caverns. There are 19 different designations that all fall under the NPS. From national parks and preserves to historical sites, battlefields, and waterways.

The NPS goes beyond just managing these areas. Park staff work to protect, preserve, and educate visitors about these special places. Through ranger programs and signage, staff aim to build both an intellectual and emotional connection for the visitors. These connections help develop a meaning for visitors beyond just a pretty site or vacation spot.

For over 100 years the NPS has been creating memories for millions of people around the world. Each site creates special meaning and memories to those who visit. At Carlsbad Caverns National Park, you can walk the Big Room, go on a ranger tour, hike a surface trail, or watch the bats emerge from the cave. Each experience provides new information and new memories.

What is your favorite memory from an NPS site? What does the NPS mean to you?

photo 1: NPS
photo 2: NPS/E. O'Connor
photo 3: NPS/B.Leck
photo 4: NPS/D.A. Buehler
photo 5: NPS
photo 6: NPS/ P. Jones
photo 7: NPS

Slaughter Fire update: The lightning-caused Slaughter Fire, discovered within Carlsbad Caverns National Park on the afte...
08/21/2026

Slaughter Fire update: The lightning-caused Slaughter Fire, discovered within Carlsbad Caverns National Park on the afternoon of August 17, is now 100% contained at 37 acres in size.

U.S. Wildland Fire Service firefighters accessed the fire by helicopter on Wednesday and Thursday to construct line around the fire’s perimeter. They were supported by bucket drops from a Type 3 helicopter.

Firefighters will be monitoring the fire by helicopter on Friday. Light smoke may be visible as fuels inside the perimeter smolder. This is the last update on the Slaughter Fire unless significant events occur.

[8/19/26 - 8:00AM] Due to construction in the park, the Natural Entrance will be closed on 8/26 and 8/27. Elevators will...
08/19/2026

[8/19/26 - 8:00AM] Due to construction in the park, the Natural Entrance will be closed on 8/26 and 8/27. Elevators will be the only way to enter and exit the cavern. The live bat camera will also be temporarily out of commission due to the power being turned off for construction. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for understanding.

[8/18/26 - 2:05PM] U.S. Wildland Fire Service firefighters are responding to the lightning-caused Slaughter Fire within ...
08/18/2026

[8/18/26 - 2:05PM] U.S. Wildland Fire Service firefighters are responding to the lightning-caused Slaughter Fire within Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The fire is in rugged terrain 12 miles west of Whites City, NM and is approximately 30 acres in size.

Firefighters will be accessing the fire today by helicopter. A helicopter may be dipping out of Brantley Lake throughout the afternoon to support firefighters, if needed.

There are currently no impacts on park operations although smoke may be visible from Carlsbad Caverns National Park lands and Whites City. As temperatures cool in the evenings, smoke may settle into low-lying areas.

Rangers Zach and Zach feel like they are getting close. After an interaction with another hiker their suspicions are con...
08/16/2026

Rangers Zach and Zach feel like they are getting close. After an interaction with another hiker their suspicions are confirmed!

The hiker recalls seeing someone pass by recently that was very considerate. He tells the rangers that they were not loud or obnoxious and weren’t hogging the trail. This visitor even moved to the side to let them pass as they climbed a small hill. The hiker mentioned how rare it is to see people who know proper trail etiquette and who are considerate to others using these natural spaces.

They continued to talk, and Rangers Zach and Zach answered some questions before heading out to catch up to the visitor. Could this be it? Will they finally find out who this LNT visitor is?

NPS Graphic

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this weekend's bat flight and star viewing programs have been cancelled. Thank you for ...
08/14/2026

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this weekend's bat flight and star viewing programs have been cancelled. Thank you for understanding.

Just because something is pretty doesn’t mean you should touch it. This life advice is something we park rangers tell pe...
08/14/2026

Just because something is pretty doesn’t mean you should touch it.

This life advice is something we park rangers tell people daily about our cave speleothems. However, the very same can be said about many of our surface dwellers!

This cactus is appropriately named Devil's Head (Echinocactus horizonthalonius) but has also been known as "Eagle's Claw" or "Horse Crippler". It is one of the 26 species of cacti found in the park.

This flower bloom only lasted for one day, opening mid-day and closed by nightfall. The desert is full of ephemeral beauty if you are willing to look and be patient.

Photo. NPS/T.Gleason

Address

727 Carlsbad Caverns Highway
Carlsbad, NM
88220

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 2:15pm
Tuesday 9am - 2:15pm
Wednesday 9am - 2:15pm
Thursday 9am - 2:15pm
Friday 9am - 2:15pm
Saturday 9am - 2:15pm
Sunday 9am - 2:15pm

Telephone

+15757852232

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Carlsbad Caverns National Park posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Carlsbad Caverns National Park:

Shortcuts

Share

Category