Carlsbad Caverns National Park - map, photos and other informations

Research checked: 2026-10-11. Check linked official notices before travel.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southeastern New Mexico pairs an underground walking visit with the desert landscape above it. The main choice is how to reach the Big Room: ride the elevator or descend the steep Natural Entrance Trail. Reserve a cavern entry time before building your day around the drive, and leave room for the seasonal evening bat program if it is running.

Highlights above and below ground

• The Big Room: a walking route among cave formations, with a shorter option for visitors who do not want the full circuit.
• The Natural Entrance: a steep descent that makes the transition from daylight into the cavern part of the visit.
• Bat flight: an evening ranger program at the cavern entrance, followed by the opportunity to watch Brazilian free-tailed bats leave to feed.
• Rattlesnake Springs: a separate day-use area with cottonwoods, picnic facilities, and birdwatching.

Know before entering the cavern

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

The official fees page explains admission and pass eligibility. A reservation for a time slot is not the entrance ticket.

Steep paths and slippery surfaces

Wear closed-toe shoes with good traction. Water drips can make paved cave trails slippery, and dim lighting can make uneven surfaces harder to see. Use handrails where needed. NPS does not recommend the Natural Entrance route for visitors with heart or respiratory conditions. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.

The park also has active fire restrictions and several closed backcountry trails. Consult the conditions and closure notices before a surface hike or camping trip. Do not assume a road mentioned in an older brochure is open.

Protect the cavern and its wildlife

Stay on the permitted routes and leave natural and cultural objects in place. Plain water is the only ordinary food or drink allowed inside the cave; visitors with medical dietary needs should discuss the exception with staff. Use the required bio-cleaning mats when leaving the cavern to help protect bats from the fungus associated with white-nose syndrome.

Pets cannot enter the cavern, visitor center, unpaved trails, or bat-flight area. They must not be left unattended in vehicles. A kennel is available at the visitor center. Service animals have separate provisions. Ordinary strollers are prohibited underground, with a limited exception for medically necessary mobility use in designated areas.

Book the entry time, then collect admission

Timed entry is required for the cavern. Advance booking is strongly recommended through the Recreation.gov link on the park's fee page, or by calling 877-444-6777. Stop at the visitor center ticket counter on arrival, including when using a qualifying pass.

There is no developed campground. Backcountry camping requires a free permit issued at the visitor center on the day of arrival; it cannot be reserved in advance. Ask staff which areas are accessible under the current closures and fire restrictions. Overnight RV parking is prohibited.

Location, entrance road, and maps

From US 62/180 at White's City, take Carlsbad Caverns Highway north to the park. The entrance road continues seven miles to the visitor center at 727 Carlsbad Caverns Highway, Carlsbad, NM 88220. White's City is southwest of the city of Carlsbad; the park's mailing address is a different destination.

Use the official park map for the surface area, and ask at the visitor center for the cavern accessibility map. Rattlesnake Springs has a separate approach from US 62/180 and County Road 418.

Nearby parks by road

• Guadalupe Mountains National Park: continue southwest on US 62/180 into Texas for the Pine Springs entrance.
• Brantley Lake State Park: north of Carlsbad, reached along the US 285 corridor after returning through the city.

Choose your underground walk

The Big Room route is 1.25 miles, with a shortcut that reduces the walk to about 0.6 miles. Taking the elevator avoids the Natural Entrance descent, but does not remove slopes or wet sections from the walking route. The self-guided trail descriptions help compare the two choices.

The Natural Entrance Trail is also 1.25 miles, with about 750 feet of elevation change. Descending it and then walking the full Big Room makes a substantially longer outing than taking the elevator directly to the chamber. The uphill return has an earlier cutoff than the elevator, so confirm your exit plan with staff.

The free Bat Flight Program runs seasonally, with no reservation required and seating filled in arrival order. The dedicated program page lists April through October. Start times vary with sunset, and lightning can cancel the program. Electronic devices are not allowed in the viewing area to limit disturbance to the bats.

Visitor facilities and accessibility

The visitor center provides restrooms, a bookstore, a gift shop, and limited food and drink sales, including bottled water. Picnic tables are available near the parking area. RV spaces are in the rear of the west parking lot. Overnight lodging is outside the park.

Accessible parking and ramps serve the visitor center. Only designated portions of the Big Room Trail can be used with a wheelchair, reached by elevator. The trail is not fully accessible: wet surfaces, narrow sections, and slopes can require assistance. The Natural Entrance is not wheelchair accessible. The park does not loan mobility equipment. The bat-flight amphitheater has reserved wheelchair space and accessible restrooms.

About Carlsbad Caverns

From earlier land use to national park

Indigenous occupation of the surrounding Guadalupe Mountains long predates tourism. Cooking sites and pictographs remain among the evidence of that history. Later uses included guano mining and the development of visitor access underground. The area became Carlsbad Cave National Monument in 1923 and Carlsbad Caverns National Park on May 14, 1930.

Bats and desert habitats

Brazilian free-tailed bats leave the cavern to hunt insects. Their emergence is a natural event, so the number visible and the character of a flight vary. Above ground, the desert and the spring-fed vegetation at Rattlesnake Springs offer different habitats. Watch for wildlife along roads, and observe animals without approaching or feeding them.

Contact the park

Visitor information: 575-236-1309. The official contact page includes an email form and arrival details.

Mail: Carlsbad Caverns National Park Headquarters, 3225 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad, NM 88220. Use the visitor-center address in the location section for your trip.