Mother nature never fails to amaze and the surreal beauty beneath the surface can be rightly experienced at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This is one of the places that top the list when visiting New Mexico. Nestled in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico, the cave’s limestone formations are some marvelous landscapes that will boggle one’s mind away.
There are more than 100 caves in the park but the main attraction of Carlsbad Cavern includes a large chamber called ” The Big Room”, a natural limestone chamber that is almost 4,000 feet (1,220 m) long, 625 feet (191 m) wide, and 255 feet (78 m) high at the highest point. It is the third-largest chamber in North America and the seventh-largest worldwide.
Before we talk about getting to The Big Room, the most important first step is always to check National Park websites for recent updates and any new guidelines. Another helpful tip while visiting any National Park is to always stop by Visitor centers and talk to park officials/rangers about the best possible ways to get to know and enjoy the park.
How to Get to “The Big Room” Trail
The Big Room trail is accessible in two ways, the first is through the natural entrance trail which is an extremely steep hike of about 1.25 miles to the entrance of “The Big Room”. From there it is a mostly leveled trail of 1.25 miles, a total of 2.5 miles one-way trip. From there either you hike back or take the elevator to the visitor center.
The second way is to ride the elevator down to the cave, the Big Room trail starts right there, walk at your own pace (1.25 miles approx), and then take the elevator back to the visitor center.
What to expect in “The Big Room”
Actor and comedian Will Rogers called the cavern, “The Grand Canyon with a roof over it.” The Big Room has these striking rock formations and shapes that look more or less like canyons. I was personally in awe of these tall pastel color hoodoos structures. It’s actually hard to put in words and believe me your camera will not do the justice either. It would be best if you witnessed this wonder firsthand with your own eyes so don’t hurry up, take the slowest pace to soak it all in. Recommended time would be 2-3 hrs to do the whole trail. There is also a shortcut trail that takes about 45 minutes and that’s where you will see the major limestone formations.
The room is dimly lit and flash photography is permitted. Restrooms are available in the Big Room elevator area. There is also a snack station at the cave entrance but it is not open every day. There is a cafe/gift shop at the visitor center. For more information about dos and don’t, check out the park website or talk to park officials at the visitor center.
Other Guided Tours
The Park also offers guided tours for more close-up interaction and exploration in the caves. The most popular is the Kings Palace Tour, which departs from the Big Room’s elevator area. The tickets can be reserved in advance as they sell out very fast.
Visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park with Younger Kids
Carlsbad Caverns National Park was the first National Park that I visited with my 3-year-old daughter. Initially, I didn’t know what to expect but the park rangers were very helpful in guiding us through and we decided to do The Big Room via the elevator and back. When we started the trail, my daughter was scared( the room is dimly lit) but eventually she came around as I started pointing her different shapes. Most guided tours start at age 4 and above so if you have young children,” The Big Room” is the most accessible trail.
Other Unique Attractions in the Park
Carlsbad Caverns is also home to Brazilian free-tailed bats from April through October. Bat Flight Programme is one of the many ways to see this event at Bat Flight Amphitheater. Check out the National Park website for more information.
Food & Lodging
Cactus Cafe in Whites City is the nearest food option outside the caverns serving some unique delicious twists on the menu(vegetarian options are also available). We had our lunch here after visiting the Caverns and loved the food and overall cafe vibe. Inside the park, there is a restaurant/gift shop at the visitor center. There is a snack station at the Big Room trail entrance but it is not open every day.
There is no lodging/camping inside the park. The nearest cities are Whites City and Carlsbad where there is limited lodging available. I stayed at Carlsbad city at MainStay Suites which has studio-like rooms equipped with a full-size kitchen. This was really helpful as there are very few restaurants nearby and traveling with kids, it was easier to cook a simple meal and call it a day than searching around for food. The Buffet breakfast was also decent and our overall stay was comfortable.
Visiting Carlsbad for me was a truly wonderful and quite interesting experience. Even though I have been to different types of caves around the country, Carlsbad Caverns National Park certainly ranks first. Have you been to Carlsbad Caverns National Park? Please do share what you think about these stunning cave formations. Interested in another National Park in New Mexico, read my post on White Sands National Park.
