Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Beneath the Chihuahuan Desert's rugged landscape lies one of the world's most spectacular cave systems. Carlsbad Caverns National Park protects over 119 known caves formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone along an ancient reef. The Big Room, a natural limestone chamber, spans 14 football fields in size with ceilings reaching 255 feet high. Each evening from April through October, hundreds of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats spiral from the cave entrance in a mesmerizing wildlife spectacle. These aerial acrobats consume tons of insects nightly, their exodus darkening desert skies. Deep within, delicate formations create an alien landscape - massive stalagmites, delicate soda straws, and flowing stone draperies crafted over millennia. The park encompasses both subterranean wonders and Chihuahuan Desert wilderness above. Rare cacti dot rocky slopes while mountain lions prowl remote canyons. Whether descending 750 feet via elevator or hiking switchbacks into the natural entrance, visitors enter a realm where geological time becomes tangible and darkness reveals unexpected beauty.

Water Features

Underground pools, flowstone formations

Ecosystem

This destination features a desert ecosystem.