Carlsbad Caverns National Park (Bat Cave)
Updated: Feb 16
From our campsite at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, we drove the 35-mile drive back to White’s City the next day and into Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
When we were there in March it wasn’t very crowded however you do need a reservation to enter the Cavern for the Self Guided Tour. We have been in 4 other cave systems and this was by far the largest. For the start of this road trip go to
We took The Natural Entrance Trail down. As you can see there are switchbacks down into a long cool tunnel that leads to the first gallery.
On The Big Room Trail, the cavern was immense with giant stalactite and stalagmite formations and a nice walkway with handrails. At the end of the tour, we took the elevator back to the surface and had a nice drive back to the Campground.
Lorna’s Tips and Lessons
Most Caverns and Caves are now following established nationwide protocols to prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease that is killing bats. They request that if you have been in another cave or mine since 2005 you do not wear or bring any of the same clothes or shoes as on your other cave trips. I don’t remember what I wore last year but acknowledge I tend to wear a comfortable pair of hiking boots until they are falling apart. Therefore, there is a good chance they have been worn in another cavern. That is not the case with my walking shoes. Therefore, when going to caverns, pack a newer pair of good walking shoes. If going to more than one cavern, pack an extra pair (which is not a bad idea for many reasons).
On to White Sands National Park