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.

Please join us tomorrow, 6/11, for a special program featuring our artist in residence, Ayla Yarbrough! This program is ...
06/10/2026

Please join us tomorrow, 6/11, for a special program featuring our artist in residence, Ayla Yarbrough! This program is free, open to all ages, and no reservations are required. Stop by, get inspired, and get creative! Program starts at 11:00am in the visitor center.

Due to bird guano cleaning, the Natural Entrance trail will be closed starting Wednesday, June 17 and will reopen on Thu...
06/10/2026

Due to bird guano cleaning, the Natural Entrance trail will be closed starting Wednesday, June 17 and will reopen on Thursday, June 18th. During this time the cave will be accessible only by elevators. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

06/04/2026

We had our first big bat flight of the season yesterday! Bats flew out in a thick and steady stream for around 15 minutes before eventually thinning out. Every bat flight is different; whether they fly out sporadically, in small groups, or in a dense flight like the one shown in this clip. This flight was captured on our new Bat Cam stream which you can watch here https://www.nps.gov/cave/learn/photosmultimedia/index.htm

Rangers Zach and Zach are back on the trail of the mysterious Leave No Trace visitor. As they walk along the Nature Trai...
05/31/2026

Rangers Zach and Zach are back on the trail of the mysterious Leave No Trace visitor. As they walk along the Nature Trail, they find a new clue—a footprint!

But this footprint stays right on the path. They never step off the trail. The rangers know this person understands the importance of walking on durable surfaces and protecting fragile desert plants.

Trails exist for a reason. They help reduce damage to the landscape. Over the years, the rangers have seen many “social trails” that visitors create by walking off the path. These unofficial trails harm plants and disturb areas that were once untouched. Over time, that damage adds up.

It’s important to travel and camp on durable surfaces to help protect the desert.

Now the rangers know which way the visitor went. Are they getting closer? Will this Leave No Trace traveler slip away again? Stay tuned to find out!

This week is ! The week of June 1st through June 7th is all about exploring the wonders of the world beneath our feet. ...
05/30/2026

This week is ! The week of June 1st through June 7th is all about exploring the wonders of the world beneath our feet. We have fun and educational events planned all week long, and would love to have you join us.

Even if you aren’t going into a cave this week, you are still connected to caves in many ways. From the water you drink, to technology developed through cave science, to the cave creatures who share our world, caves play important roles both below and above the Earth’s surface. Learn more with us this Cave Week!

And of course, if you love caves and want to help us celebrate, drop a line to share your favorite cave fact or fun memory.

Due to lightning in the area, tonight‘s astronomy program has been canceled, 5/25/26. We apologize for the inconvenience...
05/26/2026

Due to lightning in the area, tonight‘s astronomy program has been canceled, 5/25/26. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to seeing you for our next star party!

05/25/2026

Carlsbad Caverns is excited to announce our new Bat Camera! Perched above the natural entrance, this camera captures the famous colony of Brazilian Free-Tailed bats that call this cave home. The best time to view the bats is from April-October; the number of bats peaks in August and September with the arrival of migratory bats and when bat pups who were born in the cave take their first flights. Cave swallows nest in the entrance wall and can be seen flying around during the day. The camera is streaming 24hrs a day and turns infrared at night.

The camera also captures other wildlife such as owls, hawks, and ringtails. What will you see on the Bat Cam?

Link to our Bat Cam is https://www.nps.gov/cave/learn/photosmultimedia/index.htm

Rangers Zach and Zach are back on the trail of the mysterious Leave No Trace visitor. Their search leads them to the sta...
05/18/2026

Rangers Zach and Zach are back on the trail of the mysterious Leave No Trace visitor. Their search leads them to the start of the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail, where they spot their first clue.
On the ground before them lies an assortment of items. To the untrained eye, it might look like a bunch of random camping gear, but to the LNT rangers it means more. These are not just random items; they are the 10 essentials for outdoor activities. Things such as a map and compass, extra food and water, proper clothing, a light source, and a first aid kit are all key things to bring on any outdoor excursion. Though not a part of the 10 essentials any tickets or permits needed for activities are just as important to have.

This clue shows the Zach’s that they are on the right track, because the first principle of LNT is to plan ahead and prepare. These are not items left by just anybody, but by the visitor they are looking for.

As they discuss their next step, Ranger Zach spots someone off in the distance, and off they go again. Stay tuned to see what clues these Rangers uncover next time.

Squad goals.Tomorrow, Sunday, May 17th, we are celebrating our 96th year as a National Park. We will have fun, free, ran...
05/16/2026

Squad goals.
Tomorrow, Sunday, May 17th, we are celebrating our 96th year as a National Park. We will have fun, free, ranger-approved activities, including an opportunity to earn a limited-edition Jr. Park Historian badge. Until then, here's our mascot Carl S. Bat through the years!

Join us for the following activities:
Meet Carl S. Bat (9:00-10:00)- Say hello and take a picture with our mascot.
Story Time with Ranger (10:00-11:00)- Come listen to a story read by a ranger.
Chat With a Ranger: Meet the Barbary Sheep (11:00-12:00)- Learn about the story of barbary sheep in the park.
Craft: What Bat Are You? (11:00-1:00)- Learn about bats and make your own free handprint bat craft.
Chat with a Ranger: Same Guano Different Day (1:15-2:15)- Chat with a ranger about guano mining in the park.
Craft: Letters Home (1:15-3:15)- Explore historic postcards and souvenir while making your own free postcard.
Chat with a Ranger: Trash or Treasure? (2:15-3:15)- Chat with a ranger about what people leave behind in the cave.
Story Time with a Ranger (2:45-3:45)- Come listen to a story read by a ranger. Note: Book read will be different than earlier story time.
Meet the Bemis’ (3:30-5:00)- Listen to stories from former park guides and local cavers.

Join us tomorrow, 5/15, at 11 a.m. in the Visitor Center for a special event with our Artist in Residence, Meghan Gopara...
05/14/2026

Join us tomorrow, 5/15, at 11 a.m. in the Visitor Center for a special event with our Artist in Residence, Meghan Goparaju!
This program is free, open to all ages, and no reservations are required. Stop by and join in on the fun!

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

Website

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