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3/27/2025, Thursday - Toured Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico

  • joraintree
  • Mar 27
  • 2 min read

Ever since getting an America The Beautiful (National Park) Pass for our Everglades bike trip we decided to make sure we get our money's worth out of it. So, we are on a mission to visit as many National Parks and National Monuments as we feasibly can this year.


We had never been to Carlsbad Caverns before, and it was along our general route, so we had to go! Flat Deedra came along, too, of course.
We had never been to Carlsbad Caverns before, and it was along our general route, so we had to go! Flat Deedra came along, too, of course.

The visitor center there is nice, and this 3D illustration of the cave system is particularly cool.
The visitor center there is nice, and this 3D illustration of the cave system is particularly cool.

You can take an elevator down directly into the cave, or you can walk about a mile and a quarter to the natural entrance. We chose the natural entrance route, of course.
You can take an elevator down directly into the cave, or you can walk about a mile and a quarter to the natural entrance. We chose the natural entrance route, of course.

During the summer months bats come flooding out of the cave near sunset, and you can watch from this amphitheater. Now you just walk through it to the natural entrance.
During the summer months bats come flooding out of the cave near sunset, and you can watch from this amphitheater. Now you just walk through it to the natural entrance.

Down, down, down we go! It's a descent of 750 feet - about 75 stories! (Our calves hurt for days after this, lol.)
Down, down, down we go! It's a descent of 750 feet - about 75 stories! (Our calves hurt for days after this, lol.)



The cave is truly enormous! It took us about three hours to tour the whole thing. (The path for the cave tour is about 1.25 miles long.)
The cave is truly enormous! It took us about three hours to tour the whole thing. (The path for the cave tour is about 1.25 miles long.)

So many cool formations!!! Wish I could remember what kind they all are.
So many cool formations!!! Wish I could remember what kind they all are.

"Whale's Mouth"
"Whale's Mouth"

Notice the path to the far right to get some scale and appreciate the enormity of the cave.
Notice the path to the far right to get some scale and appreciate the enormity of the cave.















"Silent Bell"
"Silent Bell"



Coming from Indiana (where there are lots of caves), and having spent many years in Belize (where there are lots of caves), we have seen our share. Still, we never get tired of caves because they're all so beautiful and different.
Coming from Indiana (where there are lots of caves), and having spent many years in Belize (where there are lots of caves), we have seen our share. Still, we never get tired of caves because they're all so beautiful and different.

After the cave tour we got new kicks (tires) for our van, Pearl, then drove on to Alamogordo, New Mexico. These high desert views are starkly spectacular.
After the cave tour we got new kicks (tires) for our van, Pearl, then drove on to Alamogordo, New Mexico. These high desert views are starkly spectacular.

On the drive we saw a bunch of dust devils off in the distance.
On the drive we saw a bunch of dust devils off in the distance.

Having never seen them before, it took us a moment to figure out what they were. At seeing the first one there was a passing thought of it being a tornado, lol.
Having never seen them before, it took us a moment to figure out what they were. At seeing the first one there was a passing thought of it being a tornado, lol.

 
 
 

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