News Release

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Closed During Upcoming Holidays

Date: November 11, 2021
Contact: Michael Larson

Carlsbad Caverns National Park will be closed on November 25, December 25, and January 1. This includes the visitor center, cavern, entrance gates to vehicles for public safety, and all park roads and trails.

Winter is a great time to visit Carlsbad Caverns and the Chihuahuan Desert. Frosty mornings can turn into warm afternoons with mule deer grazing. Even with cold temperatures outside, the cavern is a constant 56 degrees F.

"We look forward to welcoming visitors during the holiday season to experience the park's unique desert and cavern environments," said Acting Superintendent Dave Roemer.

Carlsbad Caverns' regular operating hours are:
 

• Visitor Center: 8 am to 5 pm daily. The visitor center includes educational exhibits, park film, gift shop, bookstore, and restaurant.
   

• Carlsbad Cavern: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm daily. Reservations are required to enter the cavern and are available at recreation.gov or 877-444-6777. The cavern entrance fee is $15 per person or free with a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

Each year, the National Park Service provides several fee free days to visit park sites. The next fee free day is Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 17. The entrance fee is free that day, but reservations are still required.

More information about Carlsbad Caverns National Park is available at www.nps.gov/cave.