Carlsbad Caverns National Park - A Must See and an Easy Cave Adventure

If you are new to spelunking (caving), or if you've been doing it for years, Carlsbad Caverns is a definite "not to be missed" attraction.  This natural wonder is located in the heart of the Guadalupe Mountains in Southeastern New Mexico.  It is a National Park, so it is very well maintained and protected.  There are easily traversed paths so that even novices and children can enjoy. With several guided tours, including King's Palace, Left Hand Tunnel, Slaughter Canyon Cave, Lower Cave, Hall of the White Giant, and Spider Cave, there is something for every level of spelunker.  Check the schedule before arrival to see which tours are running and what ability level they are at.  Here is the link: http://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/tour_schedule.htm.

Before I go on, let me start by clearing something up.  Many people ask, "What is the difference between a cave and caverns?"  Simply put, all caverns can be called caves, but not all caves can be called caverns.  A cave is a whole in in the ground or rock where some part of it doesn't get sunlight.  There are many different types of caves.  A cavern, on the other hand, is formed out of soluble rock (the rock of Carlsbad is Limestone) that has been naturally hollowed out with the ability to form speleothems (draperies, stalactites, stalagmites, ,etc.).  For instance, we love the lava tubes at Lava Beds National monuments.  These are great caves to explore, but they would not be considered caverns because 1. they are not made of soluble rock (they are made of lava flows) and 2. they do not have the ability to form speleothems. 

Upon arrival you will stop at the visitors' center to pay your entrance fee. The current fee is $35 for 16 and older and is good for 3 days.  People aged 15 and under are free.  Also, if you have your America the Beautiful Pass which includes the Senior Pass, Access Pass, Military Pass or Volunteer Pass, the cardholder plus three adults are admitted free of charge.  The National Parks also have five fee free periods throughout the year.  These include January 18th (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), April 16th through April 24th (National Park Week), August 25th through August 8th (National Park Service Birthday), September 24th (National Public Lands Day), and November 11th (Veterans Day). These are a great time to visit if you'd like to avoid the fee; however, these are also very busy times.

After paying the fee and viewing the exhibits at the visitors' center, you begin your self guided tour of the caverns.  The paved path is switch back into the impressive entrance of the cave.  This is the same massive opening that the bats exit during the bat flight viewing that are so enamored with.  The bats are not at Carlsbad during the winter; however, the return during the spring to have their young.  Bat flight programs begin just before dusk with a ranger led program in a viewing area in front of this opening.  The best time for viewing the bat flight is between August and September when the newly born Brazilian free tail bats join the parents in their flights.  It truly is a spectacular event!  Here is the link to learn more about the bat flight: http://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/bat_flight_program.htm.

Amphitheater for viewing the bat flight

Once inside you will be amazed at some of the incredible features.  It is true that you won't see the colors here that you may see in other caves, such as Kartchner Caverns (another truly "not to be missed" adventure), but the sheer size and flow of these creations are incredible.  This is a living or active cave.  The majority of these formations are still in the process of being formed.  You will notice that everything is still quite wet.  

While touring, it is extremely important that visitors do not touch any of the formations, as wherever a visitor lays their hand, the formation will stop growing if it is not properly cleaned.  Remember, OIL AND WATER DON'T MIX!  Since all of these formations are formed by water carrying the calcite and depositing as it outgasses, if it runs into oil, it has to go around, and that can totally change a formation or even stop it from growing!!!

In the picture above you will notice a large column with beautiful curtains forming in it.  Just one of a plethora of columns throughout the caverns

Here's a great example of what's affectionately called "cave popcorn".  We often laugh about how many cave formations are named after food.  When we go caving, it is advisable not to take food into a cave.  If you are on a long cave expedition, you begin to get hungry.  My wife and I always said that the cavers before us named these formations after food because they were hungry when they saw them and subconsciously named them after food!  Notice in this picture the little tiny stalactites hanging down.  Some of them have become columns.  (Stalactites hang down from the ceiling - notice the c in the name and they hang "tite" to the ceiling.  Stalagmite grows up from the ground - notice the g in the name and they "mite" grow up to the ceiling. A column goes from the ceiling to the ground)

Here are a couple of columns in the hall of giants!

This is the decent for one of the ranger guided tours.  We took this tour.  It is about an hour and a half long and is an intermediate tour.  It was great for photography!

This is an amazing formation called the Whales Mouth, as it resembles the baleen of a whale.
Here we have a large column with soda straw stalactites hanging from the ceiling.

I can never get over the beauty of these draperies!

We have been to Carlsbad Caverns National Park many times.  We took our boys there when they were teenagers.  This summer we will be taking our 7 year old grandson.  If you have never been, this is a place you will definitely want to make plans to visit Carlsbad Caverns soon!

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