Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico
Located 18 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico, Carlsbad Cavern is actually the largest of 83 separate caves that were believed to have been formed when a prehistoric inland sea evaporated and rain water began dissolving the underlying limestone. Deep oil and gas deposits gave rise to hydrogen sulfide gas which combined with the ground water to form sulfuric acid, further dissolving the limestone and creating large underground passageways in the Guadalupe Mountains. These hollow cave formations are filled with interesting mineral deposits forming "decorations" that include stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, columns, draperies, soda straws, and cave popcorn.
Carlsbad Cavern is part of Carlsbad Caverns National Park and offers visitors the chance to hike through these underground caves on self-guided trails or with the aide of a ranger. Access is permitted through a natural entrance or elevator from the visitor's center, which is open every day of the year except Christmas. A one mile self-guided walk will lead visitors to the impressive "Big Room", a 4,000 x 625 ft limestone chamber that reaches a height of 255 ft, making it the third largest chamber in North America.
Carlsbad Cavern is also home to over seven different types of bats which can be seen hanging from the ceiling and sleeping during the day before they leave the caves at nightfall. The most prevalent species is the Mexican free-tailed bat, with over one million living in the caves from early spring through October.
Little is known about the history of the discovery of Carlsbad Cavern and its surrounding caves, except for the fact that Native Americans used it for shelter over 1,000 years ago and left interesting etchings near the cave entrance. In the 1800's, settlers were drawn in by the thousands of bats exiting the caves in the early evening. One such settler was a cowboy named Jim White, who spent hours exploring it, but whose stories were largely disbelieved until the first pictures were taken by Ray V. Davis in 1915. These black and white photos created a stir that led to many of the cavern's first "tourists", led by their guide Jim White. They still remain a fascinating natural wonder to this day, drawing more than 400,000 people each year. Will you be one of them?
Carlsbad Cavern is part of Carlsbad Caverns National Park and offers visitors the chance to hike through these underground caves on self-guided trails or with the aide of a ranger. Access is permitted through a natural entrance or elevator from the visitor's center, which is open every day of the year except Christmas. A one mile self-guided walk will lead visitors to the impressive "Big Room", a 4,000 x 625 ft limestone chamber that reaches a height of 255 ft, making it the third largest chamber in North America.
Carlsbad Cavern is also home to over seven different types of bats which can be seen hanging from the ceiling and sleeping during the day before they leave the caves at nightfall. The most prevalent species is the Mexican free-tailed bat, with over one million living in the caves from early spring through October.
Little is known about the history of the discovery of Carlsbad Cavern and its surrounding caves, except for the fact that Native Americans used it for shelter over 1,000 years ago and left interesting etchings near the cave entrance. In the 1800's, settlers were drawn in by the thousands of bats exiting the caves in the early evening. One such settler was a cowboy named Jim White, who spent hours exploring it, but whose stories were largely disbelieved until the first pictures were taken by Ray V. Davis in 1915. These black and white photos created a stir that led to many of the cavern's first "tourists", led by their guide Jim White. They still remain a fascinating natural wonder to this day, drawing more than 400,000 people each year. Will you be one of them?
Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico