• 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.

Opportunities for Exploration

Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers many levels of exploration or adventure trips to the public. The park offers ranger-guided tours of off trail areas in Carlsbad Cavern, Slaughter Canyon Cave, and Spider Cave. For those people with technical caving skills, the park also offers both self-guided and ranger- guided permits to several caves in the park backcountry.

Ranger Guided, Off-Trail Tours
Recreational Permit Caves

Did You Know?

The Hall of Giants in Carlsbad Cavern.

The 117-plus caves of Carlsbad Caverns National Park were carved out not by running water and streams like many limestone caves in the world, rather these caves were dissolved by very aggressive sulfuric acid.