Carlsbad Caverns is the most unique national park in the state. It is a breathtaking place with large caves and spectacular rock formation. You get to explore the stunning underground world in Carlsbad Caverns. The park has over 119 caves but only three caves are open to public tours. These caves are developed with electric lights, paved trails. Here we have mentioned the best places to visit in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Natural Entrance Trail
Natural Entrance Trail is a steep 1.25 mile trail with several curving switchbacks that 750 feet into the caverns. It takes about 1 to two hours to complete the trail. It gives you a challenging experience with incredible rock formations and standing in huge underground rooms.
To reach the trailhead you have to head to the Visitor Center and then to a Ranger Check Point where you will be given a brief overview of the cavern rules. The trail gives you a jaw-dropping experience that you shouldn’t miss. The trail leads you to the large natural cave entrance. Once you enter inside, it’s a unique experience to look back outside at that blinding light.
King’s Palace Tour
King’s Palace tour is a 1.0 mile trail which is a 1.5-hour ranger-guided tour. The tour is through four chambers that will take you into the deepest portion of the cave open to the public. The cave is 830 feet beneath the desert surface. But not as difficult as the Natural Entrance Trail. You get a chance to see a variety of cave formations like columns, helictites, draperies, and soda straws.
The tour includes a maximum of 30 people and the ranger will provide information about the tour, instructions to keep the group on track. During the tour the rangers frequently conduct black-outs, where all the artificial lights are turned off so you get to see the natural darkness of the cave.
Bat Flight
Bat Flight is one of the most popular events in the park which take place at Bat Flight Amphitheater, located at the Natural Entrance. You get to see thousands of bats flying out of the cavern and into the night sky. People visit the park to see the finest in the form of the Brazilian free-tailed bats leaving the cave. The size of the colony differs from night to night and season to season.
You can see the Bat Flight Program from late May to October every evening. The start time changes as the summer progresses and sunset times change. There is no reservations needed for this program. If there is lightning or bad weather condition the Programs may be cancelled.
Big Room Trail
Big Room is a large limestone chamber that is almost 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet tall at its highest point. It contains a snaking loop trail that passes thousands of rock formations and delicate sculptures, columns, helictites, tubes, spires, fossils, ribbons, soda straws, and more. Hiking through the trail gives you a different and unique experience.
It is a flat 1.25 mile trail through the largest single cave chamber that has the capability of six football fields. It is the fifth largest chamber in North America. It takes about 1.5 hours to complete the trail. If you like to go for shorter trail you can choose the short cuts which are about 0.6 miles and can be completed within 45 minutes.