How long carlsbad caverns

During the off season, the last time to walk into the cave is p. In summer, the Carlsbad Caverns tour hours are for the last walk in and 5 p. You can also pay extra for ranger led or other Carlsbad Caverns guided tours. Here was our report on how long does it take to tour Carlsbad Caverns. We got there about 2 p. We had the option to hike down it supposedly takes another hour or just take the elevator — we opted for the elevator down.

The Carlsbad Caverns elevator goes feet below the surface in about a minute. In my opinion a half day is more than enough to tour Carlsbad Caverns. We took the elevator down and took the self-guided Carlsbad Caverns tour through the Big Room.

We stopped and read every informational side, took tons of pictures and were back to the surface in about 75 minutes. Have you been to Carlsbad Caverns National Park? How long would you say it takes to tour Carlsbad Caverns? It was quite the site and well worth being there to see it! If you want you can head out before sunset and catch the sunset over the Chihuahuan desert from the Visitor Center.

A New Mexico sunset is beautiful. The Natural Entrance takes you back to the Big Room. But instead of taking the elevator you take a trail that starts from the same entrance the bats flew out of the night before. The trail itself has lots of great things you can see. And the nice thing is when you get the bottom you can either choose to walk the Big Room trail again or just head straight to the elevator for the foot trip up.

We have heard it can be slick and there were some steep inclines and declines so keep that in mind. In order to get to the Natural Entrance Trail you will need to go back into the Visitor Center and check in at the tour desk same one you did for the Big Room. You can use your National Park pass again to get in for free. Once you have your recipet in hand you walk down to the trail entrance — where a Ranger is waiting to take your ticket, give you a brief overview with some rules, and send you onto the trail.

When you take the elevator up you end up back at the Visitor Center. We opted to walk around the museum area again and then found a table to sit down to work on the Junior Ranger books with the kids. If you enjoy guided tours you could choose to do one of them in the afternoon. For ranger-guided tours , advance reservations are required.

Click for ranger-guided tours information. Enter and exit the cavern by elevator and walk the Big Room Trail. To learn more as you walk, rent an audio guide at the bookstore. Yes, part of the Big Room Trail is wheelchair accessible with assistance. An accessibility guide brochure contains a map and can be picked up at the visitor center information desk. Turn-around points ensure you avoid steep areas. The park does not provide wheelchairs. Strollers, baby carriages, and similar devices are prohibited in all caves except as necessary for children with mobility issues within the wheelchair-designated portions of the Big Room of Carlsbad Cavern.

Yes, and you may use a flash. Tripods or monopods are allowed on the Big Room and Natural Entrance trails, but are not allowed on ranger-guided tours.

Cameras and other electronic equipment are not permitted during bat flight. Only plain water is permitted in the cavern. Eating and drinking anything except plain water is not allowed because food attract animals like raccoons and ringtails into the cavern.

You may eat and drink in the Underground Lunchroom snack bar area only. Recreational walking sticks canes and walking sticks for medical purposes are permitted , baby strollers, and pets are not permitted in the cavern, except service dogs. A kennel for pets is available for a fee in the visitor center.

Pets may not be left unattended in a vehicle. A light jacket or long-sleeved shirt is recommended. The trails and cavern features are electrically lit, but bring a flashlight if you'd like. Some areas of the Big Room and Natural Entrance trails are wet from natural water drips and steep.

All things considered, one day in Carlsbad Caverns should be budgeted and another half day is worth considering if you are thinking of visiting either the Living Desert State Park or Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area. You must drive to the park, and from there will need to explore by foot. There is some wheelchair accessibility, but it is extremely limited. All journeys will begin at the visitor center where you will provide your reservation details and buy your ticket s.

Whether you plan on buying your ticket on arrival or are a pass holder, at present, you will still need to reserve a time slot to enter the park online in advance.

Click here to visit recreation. All trails are paved and well-lit, and temperatures are moderate. If you run cold, you may want to bring a light jacket. Likewise, if you have trouble seeing you may want to bring a headlamp. From the visitor center, you can chose to explore the caverns via the Natural Entrance Route, or skip this section and take an elevator to go straight to the Big Room Route.

I highly recommend the Natural Entrance Route for anyone who is physically able. Once you have arrived at the Big Room, whether by way of the Natural Entrance or by elevator, you are free to enjoy a 1. This is without question the most impressive part of the cave that is available on a self-guided tour. When they are operating, visitors can also book a number of different ranger-guided tours. This tour takes 1. The tour descends to the deepest portion of the cavern that is accessible to the public.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing May , ranger-led tours are temporarily unavailable but you can find more information on the NPS website. There is no developed camping of any kind vehicle or tent anywhere within the Carlsbad National park boundaries! It is possible to backcountry camp within the park, however, there are a number of restrictions and you will need to obtain a free permit at the visitor centre. Check the NPS website for more information.

It is the closest place to find all options for accommodation including a small inn, RV park, and tent camping. The town is small so reservations are encouraged, especially in peak season. You will also find a cafe, general store, and gas station.

Located about 25 miles from the national park is the city of Carlsbad. I was personally surprised by how large the city was. Check here for current accommodation availability and prices. While your individual packing list will vary depending on the type of vacation you intend to have, there are a few essentials that you will want to consider taking with you to Carlsbad Caverns.

Additionally, it grants admission to over federal recreation sites! Discounted passes are offered to some groups, including seniors, military personnel, and 4th graders.

Check the NPS website for up-to-date information and to purchase your pass. We use the Sony a7riii and have loved it ever since the first photo we took with it. However, for beginners, you may wish to consider an entry-level DSLR. This will allow you to start learning manual settings and decide whether photography is something you enjoy enough to invest in.

If you have one, you will want to take a tripod with you to help capture photos of the caves. As they are dark, you will need a tripod to stabilize your camera during slower shutter speeds.

However, the Amazon basic tripod is a good starter tripod and cheaper alternative. Closed-toe, hiking shoes with good traction are recommended for the caves. Some trails are steep and can be wet from natural water drips.

Bring your own bottle to prevent wasting single-use plastic bottles! Water is available at trailheads and visitor centers.