Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

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Last Updated: January 28th, 2020

Park Information

Rating: ★★★★★(5/5) - Must Visit

Of all the caves in the U.S., Carlsbad Caverns might be the most spectacular. Two and a half hours away from El Paso and a little under an hour from Guadalupe Mountains National Park, this is a destination worth planning a trip to visit.

You can tour the cave without a guide, an experience not found in many other parks. Descend 700 feet into the cave via the Natural Entrance Trail, and you'll appreciate the depth and magnitude of this cave (luckily you can take an elevator up and out of the cave later). On the Big Room Loop, you'll enjoy thousands of cave formations decorating every square inch of rock. For some above ground adventures, you can hike the trail into Rattlesnake Canyon.

Hikes

The first stalactites you
Natural Entrance Trail
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
★★★★★(5/5)
The Chandelier as seen from the Top of the Cross
Big Room Loop
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
★★★★★(5/5)

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