Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
320
Carlsbad Cavern Tour Tips
Wear flat shoes with rubber soles and heels because of the slippery paths. A light
sweater or jacket feels good in the constant temperature of 56°F (13°C), espe-
cially when it's 100°F (38°C) outside in the sun. The cavern is well lit, but you may
want to bring along a flashlight as well. Rangers are stationed in the cave to
answer questions.
Carlsbad Cavern Tours
You can tour Carlsbad Cavern in one of three ways, depending on your time, interest,
and level of ability. The first, and least difficult, option is to take the elevator from the
visitor center down 750 feet to the start of the self-guided tour of the Big Room. More
difficult and time-consuming, but vastly more rewarding, is the 1-mile self-guided tour
along the Natural Entrance route, which follows the traditional explorer's route, entering
the cavern through the large historic natural entrance. The paved walkway through the
natural entrance winds into the depths of the cavern and leads through a series of under-
ground rooms; this tour takes about an hour. Parts of it are steep. At its lowest point, the
trail reaches 750 feet below the surface, ending finally at an underground rest area.
Visitors who take either the elevator or the Natural Entrance route begin the self-
guided tour of the spectacular Big Room near the rest area. The floor of this room covers
14 acres; the tour, over a relatively level path, is 1.25 miles long and takes about an
hour.
The third option is the 1
1
/
2
-hour ranger-guided Kings Palace tour, which also departs
from the underground rest area. This tour descends 830 feet beneath the surface of the
desert to the deepest portion of the cavern open to the public. Reservations are required,
and an additional fee is charged.
Other Guided Tours
Be sure to ask about the Slaughter Canyon Cave, Left Hand Tunnel, Lower Cave, Hall
of the White Giant, and Spider Cave tours. These vary in degree of difficulty and adven-
ture, from Left Hand, which is an easy half-mile lantern tour; to Spider Cave, where you
can expect tight crawlways and canyonlike passages; to Hall of the White Giant, a
strenuous tour in which you're required to crawl long distances, squeeze through tight
crevices, and climb up slippery flow-stone-lined passages. Call in advance for times of
each tour. All these tours depart from the visitor center.
11
BAT FLIGHTS
Every sunset from May to October, a crowd gathers at the natural entrance of the cave
to watch a quarter-million bats take flight for a night of insect feasting. (The bats winter
in Mexico.) All day long, the Mexican free-tailed bats sleep in the cavern; at night, they
strike out on an insect hunt. A ranger program is offered around 7:30pm (verify the time
at the visitor center) at the outdoor Bat Flight Amphitheater. Midsummer, the park spon-
sors a
Bat Flight Breakfast,
beginning at 5am, during which visitors watch the bats
return to the cavern. The cost is $7 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. For
information and specific date, call
&
575/785-2232,
ext. 0; or check www.nps.gov/
cave.
