Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Summary

💵

$15 + $1

Cave entry + timed entry

📷

1 live

Camera

Historic Crowd Data

Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Light Moderate Busy Very Busy

Peak season is July, when around 15% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for November–February.

Plan Your Visit

⚠️Cave & Desert SafetySlippery trails▾

🦶 Sections of the Big Room and Natural Entrance trails stay wet from natural mineral drips and are steep in places — closed-toe shoes with real traction are required; sandals and flip-flops aren't allowed. The cave holds a steady 56°F year-round, noticeably cooler than the desert surface, so bring a light layer. On the surface, watch the road for deer, javelina, and other wildlife, and never approach or feed any animal. NPS safety info ↗

🎟️Cave Entry & ToursTours limited▾

ℹ️ Self-guided access to the Big Room and Natural Entrance requires a $15 cave entry pass plus a $1 timed-entry reservation, bookable via Recreation.gov. Ranger-led tours beyond the main route (King's Palace, Lower Cave, and others) currently run on a day-to-day basis depending on staffing, with walk-up tickets only — online sales for these tours are currently paused. Check conditions before planning a trip around a specific guided tour. Current tour schedule ↗

Fees

Cave entry (16+)$15

Timed entry reservation$1

Under 16Free

America the Beautiful passes honored for entry fee

🦇Bat Flight ProgramSeasonal, free▾

🌙 Each spring, roughly 400,000 Mexican (Brazilian) free-tailed bats arrive from central Mexico to roost deep in the cavern. A free ranger talk runs nightly at the Bat Flight Amphitheater near the Natural Entrance from Memorial Day weekend through October, just before the bats stream out at dusk to feed. No reservations needed — but no cameras, phones, or other electronics are allowed at the amphitheater to protect the bats. Bat Flight Program details ↗

🥾Things to Do5 categories▾

Self-Guided Cave Tours2 routes▾

Natural Entrance TrailSteep

Steep switchback descent through the cave's original entrance, dropping roughly 750 ft to the underground rest area

1.25 mi · ~1 hr

Big Room Trail1.25 mi (0.6 mi shortcut) · ~1.5 hr

Mostly flat loop through the cavern's main chamber, with a shorter cutoff partway through; portions wheelchair-accessible

Ranger-Guided Cave Tours2 tours▾

King's Palace Tour10:30 AM & 1:30 PM, Thu–Tue · Age 6+

Ranger-led walk through the cave's ornately decorated lower chambers; walk-up tickets only, picked up at the visitor center 30 min ahead

Lower Cave Tour9:30 AM Wed only · Reservation req.

Ranger-led route into an undeveloped section of the cave involving climbing and crawling; knee pads and gloves provided

Surface Hiking Trails2 trails▾

Walnut Canyon OverlookEasy

Short paved walk from the park road to a viewpoint over Walnut Canyon and the Guadalupe Mountains

180 yd · ~5 min

Chihuahuan Desert Nature TrailEasy

Paved interpretive loop near the visitor center with signage on desert plant life; closes during the evening Bat Flight Program

0.5 mi · ~30 min

Backcountry Hiking & Camping2 options▾

Guadalupe Ridge TrailPermit for overnight

Designated National Recreation Trail following the park's high desert ridgeline into the surrounding backcountry

Desert Canyon TrailsFree permit · Age 18+

Ungraded backcountry routes through Rattlesnake, Slaughter & Yucca canyons; no reliable water source anywhere in the backcountry

Bird WatchingTop 5 species▾

Cave Swallow

Nests at the cave's natural entrance

Greater Roadrunner

Common on the desert surface trails

Golden Eagle

Soars over Walnut Canyon

Turkey Vulture

Circles above the cave entrance

Canyon Wren

Cascading song echoes off cliffs

🏕CampingBackcountry permit▾

🎒 There's no developed campground inside Carlsbad Caverns — overnight stays are backcountry-only, in the Chihuahuan Desert terrain above the cave, with a free permit obtained at the visitor center. Nearby Carlsbad and Whites City have private RV parks and campgrounds for a more traditional setup. Backcountry permit info ↗

Conditions

Refreshing in 60s

Live Camera Feed

🦇 Official explore.org live cave-entrance cam. Bat flight is best viewed at dusk during the summer season (roughly May–October); the cave entrance itself is visible around the clock.

Park Contact Information

📞 Phone: (575) 785-3012 · Mailing Address: 727 Carlsbad Caverns Highway, Carlsbad, NM 88220 · Official NPS contact page ↗