• Photo of the steep natural entrance of Carlsbad Caverns

    Carlsbad Caverns

    National Park New Mexico

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  • Elevator Renovations

    Allow more time to visit and expect lines for small elevators while large elevator system is renovated. Walking exit is steep.

Be A Junior Ranger

Become a Carlsbad Caverns National Park Junior Ranger! Learn about the natural wonders of the park and how you can help preserve them for the future. To become a Junior Ranger, request a free junior ranger activity book at the visitor center. While the program is available for download below, only children visiting the park can complete the requirements necessary to earn the patch or badge.

After completing the age appropriate requirements, and reviewing their work with a ranger, participants will be awarded an official Junior Ranger patch or badge.

To download the Junior Ranger Program:

0 - 6 years

7 - 12 years


Take a look at the World Heritage Site Junior Ranger webpage.

You may also be interested in the National Park Service WebRanger Program. Children can earn a patch through the mail by playing games and learning about National Parks online.

Did You Know?

Jim White in Carlsbad Cavern.

Jim White is the cowboy credited with being the premier explorer of Carlsbad Cavern. He began to explore the cave as a teenager in 1898, using a handmade wire ladder to decend 60 feet into the cave. For more than a decade, he couldn't convince many locals that there was much to Carlsbad Cavern.