How Long Is The Carlsbad Cavern Tour?

Most visitors will only need

3-4 hours

for a self-guided tour through the caverns.

How long is the self guided tour at Carlsbad Caverns?

The entire self-guided tour is

1.25 miles roundtrip

, but you can shorten it to 0.6 miles if you don’t complete the second loop. Tickets are required for the Big Room, so you’ll need to stop in at the Visitor Center Ticket Desk when you arrive at the park.

Is Carlsbad Caverns worth seeing?

Carlsbad Caverns is a breathtaking place — and likely somewhere you will talk about for many years

. This cave will blow you away with its gigantic rooms covered in spectacular rock formations. Out of all the caves in the NPS system, this one is by far my favorite! There are some fantastic things to do here.

How long are the Carlsbad Caverns?

Carlsbad Cavern has a labyrinth of underground chambers, including one of the largest ever discovered. The total length of the rooms and passages is still unknown, but the explored part of the main cavern is

more than 30 miles (48 km) long

, of which 3 miles (5 km) are open to visitors.

Why is Carlsbad Caverns closed?

As of 12:30 p.m. (MT) Carlsbad Caverns National Park is closing due to

potential road flooding

. As rains increase, so does the potential for safety issues for drivers. The decision was made to close the park completely and ask all visitors and employees to evacuate.

What is the best time to visit Carlsbad Caverns?

The best time of year to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park is

winter, spring or fall

. Summers tend to be sweltering hot, with temperatures around 100+ degrees being the norm, and later in the summer, afternoon rains downpour across the desert.

Do you have to wear a mask in Carlsbad Caverns?

Alert 1 , Severity ,closure ,,COVID-19 Face Mask NoticeConsistent with CDC community level guidance,

face masks are currently optional for visitors to Carlsbad Caverns National Park inside all park buildings and the cavern

.

How deep is the elevator in Carlsbad Caverns?

Carlsbad Caverns’ elevator shaft is one of a kind, descending

754 feet

underground without any stops along the way, through solid limestone.

Can you go to Carlsbad Caverns without reservation?

Reservations Required to Enter Carlsbad Cavern. Reservations must be purchased online or by calling 877-444-6777.

No reservations available at the park

. Reservations are only for selecting the entry time.

How do people dress in Carlsbad Caverns?

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.

Can you see Carlsbad Caverns in one day?

If you have more time to stay in the Carlsbad Cavern National Park than one day, it is worth considering guided tours

. The Park offers some adventure tours with a park ranger. You can see several other, less famous, caves and learn more details about the geology of this place.

Can you drive through Carlsbad Caverns?

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located near Carlsbad, New Mexico, and

can be reached via U.S. Highway 62/180

. It is about 18 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. The driving distance is 149 miles east of El Paso, Texas. There is only one entrance road to the park, the Carlsbad Caverns Highway.

What is the largest cavern in the US?

How far is the walk through Carlsbad Caverns?

The

1.25 mile (2 km)

Natural Entrance Trail is extremely steep. Depending on if you decide to hike up or down, you gain or lose about 750 feet (229 m)—equivalent to walking up or down a 75-story building. The hike takes about one hour (on average) to complete.

How many bats are at Carlsbad Caverns?

Between 200,000 and 500,000

bats call the cave home over the summer, swelling to over one million during migration.

Is Carlsbad Caverns opened?

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is

open every day of the year except Christmas Day

. Visitors to the cave can hike in on their own via the natural entrance or take an elevator from the visitor center. The park entrance is located on US Highway 62/180 approximately 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico.

How long is the elevator ride at Carlsbad Caverns?

The Carlsbad Caverns elevator ride takes only

one minute

at a speed of nine miles per hour.

How much does it cost to go to Carlsbad Caverns?

How deep is the bottomless pit in Carlsbad Caverns?

Pit in Carlsbad Caverns that looks “bottomless” but is actually

140-feet

deep.

What is the average temperature inside the Carlsbad Caverns?

Temperature and relative humidity reach fairly stable conditions a short distance into the cave. The average temperature throughout the cave is also

68°F (20oC)

and the relative humidity remains close to a constant 100%.

What time do the bats fly out of Carlsbad Caverns?

What time do the bats come out of Carlsbad Caverns? The bats typically leave at

28 minutes past sunset

, known as civil twilight. Depending on a number of factors. The bats typically return to the cave entrance between 4 and 6 AM, with the peak number of bats entering at dawn.

Is Carlsbad Caverns open during shutdown?

Open: Visitor Center and Cavern

.

Hours of Operations

. Suspended: Ranger-Guided Tours.

Is Carlsbad Caverns closing?

A temporary COVID-19 coronavirus closure at Carlsbad Caverns National Park was lifted

, according to the U.S. National Parks Service (NPS). The closure was lifted Tuesday after being put in place in March, according to the NPS website. Howver, the number of visitors and park’s operating hours are limited.

Are Carlsbad Caverns safe?

The park is considered safe for visitors

, per a Friday news release. Park staff plan to monitor the hours employees spend in the Caverns, while providing training as to the possible effects of exposure and making modifications to the visitor center to mitigate the risk.

Is the elevator open at Carlsbad Caverns?

Until the cable is repaired, there is no elevator service into and out of the cavern

. Visitors will still be able to enjoy the cavern by hiking the Natural Entrance Trail. This 1.25 mile trail involves a steep 75-story hike into and out of the cavern.