CARLSBAD, N.M. — Carlsbad Caverns is a unique oasis among state parks, located hundreds of feet below ground.
Centered just about 20 miles from the town of Carlsbad, the park provides a variety of unique experiences you can’t get at many other state parks in the United States.
“The bats [are] our most famous resident in Carlsbad Caverns National Park,” said Interpretive Park Ranger Dan Pawlak.
“Our most famous population is the Brazilian freetails that we have, they make up the largest portion of the colony that exists here.”
The caverns are home to a gorgeous array of structures, worn away and reformed after years and years of water erosion.
“Most caves are created in a way that water is flowing through the earth’s surface created by rainwater coming in and snow melt, it has a little bit of acid inside it called carbonic acid,” said Pawlak.
“Those two actions, the mechanical erosion of the water and the chemical erosion dissolved them and chip away at the rock creating spaces underground.”
Unlike most underground caverns however, Carlsbad Caverns’ history is a little different
“Carlsbad Caverns is different because we did have water, but we had a different acid that was affecting the cave in a different way-it was sulfuric acid.”
Walking thousands of feet below the surface, you’ll see formation after formation that will blow you away.
“This whole process of actually just creating the passages took about 4 to 6 million years. The older passages are at the top, and as the water level dropped inside the earth it dissolves younger and younger passages deeper down,” Pawlak said.
If you’re looking for a more intense cave diving experience than just what the natural entrance and basic path allows, the caverns can provide that too.
“We do have 133 known caves inside this park. Visitors are able, on a ranger guided tour basis, they are able to go into three of them,” said Pawlak.
“There are other caves that are able for back country permits as well that you must be experienced in caving and single rope techniques in order to get into.”
Outside of the caverns there are also hiking and camping opportunities available, though it isn’t your average camping experience.
“There’s only back country camping inside the park so you must hike into your destination and make sure you are ready to camp in a rugged desert environment.”
The caverns allow for family-friendly adventures for all ages, but if you’re looking for a spot to picnic or grill this probably isn’t the place for you.
“No food, gum, candy, chewing tobacco anything like that goes inside the cave,” Pawlak said. Water is able to be taken in, however, and there is a snack bar at the bottom of the cavern.
While it might be tempting to bring your furry friend, they should probably sit this one out.
“Pets are allowed inside the park,” said Pawlak. “They can be walked on the paved areas like the parking lot but unfortunately they can’t go any further than that.”
Close-toed shoes are not required for the basic self-guided path but they are recommended.
So if you’re looking for inspiration, adventure, or just a cool place to spend your summer, Carlsbad Caverns might just be the perfect place for you.
Day passes for the park are $15 for those 16 and up, while children 15 and younger get in for free. Other types of park passes like the annual pass are considered valid at Carlsbad Caverns.
For more information on the park or to book passes, you can visit the National Park Service’s official website.