This visits a different part of the caverns than the self-guided tour. I was thinking of Guandalope but heres how my tentative plan is 1) My flight gets me in late on a tuesday at 630p so i will be near carlsbad around 9p ish 2) Now on day 2, I was thinking of doing caverns for 1/2 day and then drive west to white sands to catch sunset 3) Day 3, do the alkali trail at white sands and catch the evening flight around 7p back home. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK: Check out our Big Bend National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. If youve read this post and planned ahead, youll have the whole day planned out and will definitely have snagged tickets for a ranger-led tour. You will also pass by the Devils Spring, a cave pool. The closest lodging to Carlsbad Caverns National Park is Whites City Caverns Inn. Contact Us Tools. A cavern entrance ticket must also be purchased. Park footer. I was planning on doing natural entrance + big room. I took the photos in this section during my trip, under a very dark moonless sky. The Permian-aged Capitan Reef complex (in which Carlsbad Caverns, Lechuguilla and other caves formed) is one of the best preserved and most accessible complexes available for scientific study . Sounds a lot like Denali National Park, eh? Is that only on east going lane on highway 70? Hike a trail at the surface of the park. Best known as the place to view New Mexico's yearly bat migrations, Carlsbad Caverns National Park encompasses 73 square miles of the Chihuahuan Desertwhile also featuring over a hundred caves for which the park is named. But if you were to do a hike in Guadalupe that isnt on the longer side, I recommend Devils Hall. This trail can be started in two different ways. I lived for 15 years in Alaska, as well as four years each in California and Washington. Climb down 60 feet of ladders and see more amazing cave formations. You can take the elevator directly down to the start of the Big Room Trail. You can learn more about each program and the specific dateshere. There was a short line and it moved very fast. Learn more in the Cambridge English-Chinese traditional Dictionary. The star viewing a park ranger leads this program and educates visitors about astronomy. Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! You do not need a reservation but seating is first-come, first-served. Every night from Memorial Day weekend through October, a ranger will lead this FREE program to educate visitors on the bats before their flight. This is where we stayed. Spending a day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park will be the highlight of your New Mexico trip. The water receded and tectonic movements created the Guadalupe Mountains. Rangers will conduct blackouts by turning off all artificial lights to reveal the natural darkness of the cave. 250 millon years ago, the area around Carlsbad Caverns was a coastline. Admission is $15/person or free for 4 people with an America the Beautiful Pass. On our two-week road trip, we went to (in order) White Sands National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Big Bend National Park. Note: This post contains affiliate links. You will have to hike fast to finish it in 2 hours (its 4 miles long, so at a 2 mph pace, thats 2 hoursbut there is a lot of rock scrambling that makes it slower, but it is lots of fun). This is a more adventurous tour. No matter what, you will enjoy anything New Mexico has to offer. The better hikes, in my opinion, are at least 4 miles long, so it will be challenging to add on a hike, too, with the long drive to White Sands. But you will have plenty of time to explore this park and still be able to get to your flight on time. January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. One of the most popular tours is the Kings Palace Tour. Once you arrive at the Visitor Center and find parking, youll need to check in; usually this means you can go right to the caverns. This park has a ton of awesome hiking trails and viewpoints. I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest but my heart will always be out West. Its much different than the ones in the main parts of the caverns; Slaughter Canyon Cave is unlit, so visitors must hike up to the entrance and use headlamps/helmets inside the cave to admire this cave. They serve salads, steak, burgers, sandwiches and pasta. Masks are based on Community Health Level . On Today's Adventure, can we explore both Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands National Parks in one day?Its Ep. Your email address will not be published. Although there are a few hiking trails, the main site to see during one day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park is the caverns! Okay, that just about covers it what to do for a day in Carlsbad Caverns, all the logistics and tour details, AND where to stay after an epic day. Your email address will not be published. Discover the desert southwest night sky with a ranger. It looks so awesome. You can visit both of these parks in a weekend getaway or as part of a larger road trip. Your email address will not be published. In this post, I promote travel to a national park that is the traditional lands of the Mescalero Apache and Nd Knits Gokyaa (Lipan Apache) peoples. This is a hotel that I would consider on a return visit to Carlsbad. You MUST make a reservation 30 days in advance on Recreation.gov. This restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating. But this means Ive no place to fit Guandalope. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In this post, learn how to plan the perfect visit to Carlsbad Caverns. Tours sell out 30 days in advance, so set a calendar reminder for 8am Mountain Time 30 days before your planned visit, and grab tickets as quickly as possible. It was on Highway 54 south of Alamogordo. I had a trip planned to Carlsbad Caverns that was cancelled due to the pandemic! Currently, there are five ranger guided tours that you can choose from. On the day we visited, the ranger told Marissa and me that there was still space on the 1pm tour we were there at 9:30am, so I dont know how long that lasted. Its so beautiful! Mailing Address: 3225 National Parks Highway Carlsbad, NM 88220 Phone: 575 785-2232. Touring the caverns is the main attraction, but there are also miles of hiking trails and a scenic drive that winds its way through the mountains. An adult must accompany anyone under 16; children under four years old are not permitted on the Kings Palace Tour. Thanks for the great guide . The best part is you can enjoy the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park all in one day! We stayed there for the bat show too. Tour Carlsbad Caverns by candle-lit lantern, just like the first visitors who toured the caverns in the past. Tucson or El Paso are fun cities to add on or Venture to White Sands National Park. Follow our 3 day itinerary to experience the best that Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns have to offer. This dirt road sets out from near the visitor center on an 8.3-mile path atop the mesa, with access to other trails and caves you can visit on your own. With that thought in mind, this itinerary will include a proposed tour time. You can bring a flashlight or headlamp but everything is pretty well lit. (Children under 16 are free.) Some sky viewing dates include seeing a meteor shower and a super moon. I have plans to publish our Things to Do in White Sands post later this week, so check back, because we hiked every trail in this park and have them ranked. If you have a green thumb, you cannot miss hiking the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail. This hotel gets good reviews. Allow one-to-two hours for this 1-1/4 mile (2 km) walk. The Scenic Walnut Canyon Desert Drive is a one-way 9-mile gravel road through the mountains of Carlsbad Caverns. Never heard of Carlsbad Caverns but it looks amazing . Currently, the Kings Palace is the only operating tour. I recommend packing a light jacket and closed-toe shoes with good traction because the caverns are 56F, and the pathways are slippery. Id love to visit the Carlsbad Caverns and explore more of New Mexico soon! With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. Read more in my Privacy Policy. Whether you did the self-guided tour in the morning, lunch, and then the afternoon ranger-led tour or vice versa, youll probably be feeling a bit hungry again and that means its the perfect time to visit the underground snack bar for a treat. Walnut Canyon Overlook Trail: Paved and only a 5 minute hike from the parking lot to the overlook. One Day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. You can see the different trails here. It takes about one hour to complete the scenic drive. Please note that only unflavored water is permitted inside the caverns. I really need to visit more national parks. You could spend the morning at Guadalupe Mountains National Park and the afternoon at Carlsbad Caverns. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open from 8am to 3pm. March to May is a bit colder and windier while August and September get more rain. How to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park with a pet. This is a bit of extra driving though, so Id only do that if I wasnt going to go back in the park which I recommend if you only have one day in Carlsbad Caverns. Some require crawling and climbing, so make sure to read the requirements prior to booking the tour. On May 14, 1930, Carlsbad Caverns officially became a national park. Learn more on the National Park Service website. I am 56 , not an athlete, just an every day person. ****Masks are optional at this time.****. Whites City Caverns Innoffers an RV park, campground, and hotel rooms with amenities and a restaurant on-site. The ticket is good for 3 days. Last but certainly not least, you need to know where to stay near Carlsbad Caverns, even if youre only spending one day in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Note that there are specific requirements for each type of tour. Visitors are not allowed to bring outside food and drinks. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. These tours take you deeper into the caverns and some through some pretty unique areas. Adults (16 years and older): $15 per person Children (15 years and under): free. This is an incredibly cool and historic space, and there are displays up in the area to learn about it. Carlsbad Caverns is breathtaking in its beauty. Now that you have all the information needed to plan the perfect day in Carlsbad Caverns, here is an itinerary you may use at your leisure. Carlsbad Caverns, the extensive network of caves from which the park takes its name, is one of the largest underground caverns in North America.This american landmark run by the National Park Service is located deep within the Guadalupe Mountains in New Mexico (not California) just north of Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Lonesome Ridge Wilderness Area and is well worth the drive. 1 of our 5,000 mile road trip from Texas to Oreg. Get updates on road conditions and trail closures, as you plan your trip and just before your visit, on the National Park Service website. Hi! Additionally, you can find more information on the other ranger-guided tourshere. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is an incredible natural wonder in New Mexico. Day 3 I can do a bigger hike at White sands and catch my 7pm evening flight back home (since el paso should be only about 1.5hrs or less from White sands area), Yes, you could hike Devils Hall first thing in the morning and then spend midday in Carlsbad Caverns. Do a self-guided cave tour. Sadly they werent doing the bat show because we were too early but it looked so coo. So, you can at least see El Capitan from the road (the viewpoint is called El Capitan Lookout). Or am thinking, maybe I can squeeze in Guadalupe on Day 2 from say 6a-8a (maybe a short hike or two), then 3-4hrs at Caverns doing Natural entrance and Big Room and then drive 3hrs ish west to White sands to catch the sunset (In April the sunset should be around 745pm and park closes around 9pm). You get to go through the coolest-looking entrance. Carlsbad Caverns National Park Near Carlsbad, New Mexico. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Once you arrive in the Big Room, it takes about an hour to make your way around the loop; youll want to stop, read signs, take photos, and just generally stand in awe of the work of Mother Nature in this hidden place. This tour is a 1-mile loop, accesses the caverns by elevator, and requires the ability to climb 80 ft/8 stories up and down on sloped trails. No food is allowed in the caverns, plain water only. You cannot make reservations at the park, only ahead of time at this website or by calling 877-444-6777. COVID-19 Operations Update:Reservations Required to Enter Carlsbad Cavern. Jan 1-Dec 31 Cost $1.00 A entrance time reservation must be purchased to enter Carlsbad Cavern. IMPORTANT NOTE: Only the Kings Palace Tour is currently being offered (as of April 2023). White Sands in one day is plenty of time. These names dont mean anything to you now, but youll soon see them and theyre dramatic and different than even the Big Room with all it offers. So you will need to plan your hike or take the elevator according to the operating hours of the caverns. From 8 am to 5 pm . The closest town is Carlsbad, New Mexico. Then each spring nearly 400,000 Brazilian free tail bats roost and brood in the cavern. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. So visitors can enjoy the Big Room at their own pace. If you were the one that discovered Carlsbad Caverns, this gaping hole is the way you would have entered the unknown cave! The most popular and basic tour route during one day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park is the Big Room Route. It is also my favorite experience at the park. Unfortunately, due to heavy rains in summer 2022, major portions of the road washed away and the entire area was closed including the backcountry trails accessible along the road. October 12, 2022 by Bryanna We had no idea what to do (besides knowing there was a cave) when we went to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. . The parks share the Guadalupe Mountains range and are only a 45-minute drive apart. Thanks for sharing You ar doing amazing work. This 1.5-hour tour is through four scenic chambers and descends to the deepest portion of the cave at 830 feet. . Time entry ensures a more enjoyable experience and helps to protect the cave formations. It includes an example of the perfect day at Carlsbad Caverns with a self-guided and ranger-guided tour. Required fields are marked *. Carlsbad Caverns is located in southeast New Mexico. Carlsbad also has a Wal-Mart in case you forget anything. Enjoy a ranger program and watch thousands of bats emerge from Carlsbad Cavern. Locals love The Pronto - a breakfast burrito filled with scrambled eggs, hash browns, thick-cut bacon, and spicy sausage. The easy paved trail is only .5 mile long and takes 30 minutes to complete. Your email address will not be published. Best Things to Do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, McKittrick Canyon Trail to Pratt Cabin, the Grotto, and the Notch, Mammoth Cave National Park: How to Plan Your Visit, 6 Amazing Things to Do in Wind Cave National Park, A Weekend in Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Yellowstone Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 5 Days in Yellowstone, One Perfect Day in Canyonlands National Park, 8 Amazing Things to do in Saguaro National Park, Best US National Parks to Visit in February, 10 Day Texas New Mexico National Parks Road Trip Itinerary, Mammoth Cave National Park: How to Pick the Best Tour, 15 Best National Parks to Visit in August 2023 (USA). The self-guided cavern is open from 8:30 am, with the last entry time of 2:30 pm. My one day in Carlsbad Caverns itinerary has everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip. The Carlsbad cavern, at the entrance to the cave tunnels, is one of more than 300 limestone caves which form a fossil reef formed by an ancient sea, over 265 million years ago. I dont think you miss much by not doing the ranger guided tourswe loved the Natural Entrance and Big Room tours. During this summer/pupping season, hundreds of thousands of bats call Carlsbad Caverns home; youll pass their home within the cave if you enter by way of the Natural Entrance trail. You will see the entrance to the park on the left. Full of endless gorgeous calcite formations, it is most well known for its limestone Big Room. The Big Room is almost 4,000 feet long and 625 feet wide. Whites City Cavern Inn is a decent overnight/multi-night stop; Marissa and I stayed here for two nights of our three-night national parks trip in this part of the country. Caverns in one day 9 years ago Save There in June, does it make sense to do Left Hand Tunnel at 9, stay there for lunch and then do King;s Palace in afternoon maybe at 3. This hike is just under 4 miles long and takes you to a slot canyon. Post Time Inn. Use quiet voices in the cave as sound carries. Park at the Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center. Before jumping into the step-by-step itinerary I recommend for one day in Carlsbad Caverns, here are a few important logistical details to cover first and which make sense for my suggestions later. There are two different night sky programs star viewing and night hikes. Make tour reservations by calling 877-444-6777 or visiting www.recreation.gov. If you opt to take the elevator into the caverns, this is where it will take you. Im here to help! If it's summer, hike the surface trails early in the day to beat the summer heat. This looks like somewhere we would love to visit! Heres a link to the map. A disease called White-Nose Syndrome is spreading through the USA, killing bat populations. Some are more adventurous with rock scrambling, free climbing, and crawling through tight passageways. (I also have resources on nearby Guadalupe Mountains and White Sands national parks, which all together make for a great road trip itinerary.). Read Next: Ultimate Itinerary for 3 Days in Big Bend National Park. There is no registration for the sky viewing, but the night hike has a first-come, first-serve basis sign up at the visitor center. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. As for White Sands, the Alkali Trail is great and it only takes a few hours. Ironically, we were just looking to travel back to Guadalupe and New Mexico in the next few weeks (March 2021), but with the mandatory 2 week quarantine right now in New Mexico our plans are still going to have to wait. Thanks so much for this informative guide! The caverns look incredible! It also includes one of the best cavern experiences, total darkness. After stargazing and a long day of exploring Carlsbad Caverns, its time to turn in and rest for your next adventure. We flew home early (we did this March of 2020 and flew home early because of COVID) so we never got to hike in Guadalupe, although we drove through it twice. During our trek back to Texas for the holidays, we finally knocked two spots off of our "must-see" list: White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. You can read more about the fees and check that the above is accurate on theCarlsbad Caverns NPS website. Cheers, Julie, Overall your plan looks great. Over time, the water evaporated, and silt and sediment filled the sea. At this time, Carlsbad Caverns National Park requires visitors to make reservations to enter the caverns. IMPORTANT NOTE: Reservations are required to enter Carlsbad Caverns, even the self-guided tours. TownePlace by Marriott Carlsbad. Caves are so unique and each one is different. 5. Some tour options include The Lower Cave, the Hall of the White Giant, Slaughter Canyon Cave, and Left Hand Tunnel Tours. When I visited, there was only one ranger-led tour available (the Kings Palace Tour), and there were only 12 spots per tour, twice each day; as of April 2023, those two tours are at 10:30am and 12:00pm. This is awesome. Did you see them while driving East on 70? The tour takes you through the Big Room Trail. Im not a big fan of caves and caverns but I found this place to be unexpectedly amazing. About 200,000 500,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats call Carlsbad Caverns National Park home, and guests can watch them fly out of the cave and into the sky to search for food. How to Get There. The Devils Hall Trail is a fun hike to unique looking canyon. Bat Flight Program. So grab your pencil, take some notes, and get ready to dive deep underground with me. Some tours only offer a small number of spots so they can sell out ahead of time. You can tour the caverns on your own or join a ranger-guided walk for an even more in-depth experience. Outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the caverns. The national park service also requests that you do not wear any clothing or shoes to Carlsbad Caverns that you have worn in another cave. There are 300 tickets per time slot (every hour on the half-hour from 8:30am to 1:30pm) so you can usually wait as late as a day or two before your visit and still get a reservation. This looks like a fun place to visit Im hoping to visit all the national parks in the US someday! Prices start from $100/night, which is also very reasonable and way more convenient than Carlsbad for the same price (since you wont have to make the 25-30 minute drive each way to/from Carlsbad). Make sure to bring plenty of water and try not to hike at the hottest part of the day. FAQ; The park is off US 62/180, 20 miles southwest of Carlsbad and 164 miles east of El Paso, Texas.