Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southeast New Mexico is one of the coolest (almost always 56°) places I’ve ever been to and one of my favorite caves I’ve ever explored. It may be a bit out of the way but it’s worth a visit and exploration in the very very old once coral reef underwater massive cavern which sits below the Guadalupe Mountains. If you have the time and you’re visiting between May and October, be sure not to miss the Bat Flight Program that starts around sundown where up to half a million bats leave the cave in search for food. No cameras during the Bat Flight Program but feel free to snap some good ones inside the cave. There are endless sights to marvel at with jaw dropping beauty as you take the guided path through the subterranean alien landscape. But make sure you secure your TIMED ENTRY TICKETS!

The best way to see the amazing cave is to hike down the Nature Entrance Trail (1.25 miles and 750 feet down, so 80 stories of walking down) and connecting with the thankfully level Big Room Trail (1.25 miles) and then taking the elevator back up to the Visitor Center. There’s also the guided Kings Palace Tour but I know nothing of that excursion.

While in the massive cave the discoverer cowboy Jim White said was a “whale of a cave” after he witnessed the bat flight, make sure to be on the lookout for many of the features he named. There are the amazing formations such as the Whale’s Mouth, the Bottomless Pit, The Temple of the Sun, the Totem Pole, The Lion’s Tale, The Chandelier, The Hall of Giants, and so many more amazing features, stalactites, stalagmites, columns, ceilings, and truly wonderful natural sculptures. There are also beautifully reflective pools of water that mirror the cave’s personality. One of the cave’s sculptures looked like the giant eggs from the ALIEN movie franchise. I even saw a squid emerging from the ancient seabed cave walls! Another memorable creature was the Walrus/Alligator holding the clock from the movie HOOK. Use your imagination as you explore and you’ll have endless fun!

There are also many hikes above the cave as well that include Slaughter Canyon , Rattlesnake Canyon , and Juniper Ridge Trail (5.5 miles roundtrip).

And don’t forget, these days you need a reservation to enter the park so be sure to go online and book your spot for the day you want to visit.

The story of the cave started 250 million years ago, during the Permian Geological Period, when the area was the coastline of an inland sea that was filled with sponges, bryozoans, and tons of other sea creatures. All of these beings died and became the caves walls. Below the cave though, there is a huge reserve of petroleum that would go on to mix with rainwater which created sulphuric acid. That acid was pushed up and into the limestone of the cave and ate away all the caverns you walk through now. Eventually tectonic plates pushed the cave and the Guadalupe Mountains above the surface where it sits today.

Then, teenage Jim White saw bats flying out of the natural opening and figured well, that’s got to be, “a whale of a cave.” He was right. In 1923 it became a National Monument but by ‘30, it was a National Park. Elevators were eventually built which severely disrupted airflow into and out of the cave, effectively drying it out and possibly destroying subsequent growth of the features. The NPS apparently fixed this problem in the 70s with better ventilation. There are tons of plaques throughout the cave that are worth reading and enjoying.

Before you reach Carlsbad Caverns, just off of the so called National Parks Hwy, you will reach White’s City which has restaurants, a lodge, and a gift shop. Make sure to stop by and stock up on some snacks and souvenirs if you’re so inclined. There’s also some good photo opportunities.