Carlsbad Caverns National Park New Mexico

Exploring passages along a cavern trail deep underneath the Chihuahuan Desert

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Spring

14 - 29 ºC

Summer

18 - 31 ºC

Fall

6 - 18 ºC

Winter

3 - 16 ºC

January

1 - 13 ºC

February

2 - 16 ºC

March

6 - 19 ºC

April

9 - 24 ºC

May

14 - 29 ºC

June

18 - 33 ºC

July

19 - 33 ºC

August

19 - 32 ºC

September

16 - 28 ºC

October

11 - 24 ºC

November

5 - 18 ºC

December

2 - 13 ºC

Major Airports:

Midland (MAF)

El Paso (ELP)

Roswell (ROW)
States:

New Mexico

A maze of beauty below the Earth's surface

Thanks to its position at the intersection of the southern Rocky Mountains, northern Chihuahuan Desert and southwestern Great Plains, the 19,000-hectacre Carlsbad Caverns National Park features an incredible array of wildlife, plants and natural wonders in caves, along hiking trails and abutting rock formations. Watch 17 species of bats in flight at dusk and dawn in the summer months, learn about astronomy and folklore from a park ranger, and take a once-a-month full moon walk along a desert trail. See reptiles and birds at Rattlesnake Springs and explore the area with a leisurely 14.4-kilometer drive along the gravel road that forms the Walnut Canyon Desert Loop.

With about 350 kilometers of mapped underground caves, deep canyons and ancient sea ledges, Carlsbad Caverns’ beauty reaches above and below the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico.

On the surface of the park, canyons offer opportunities to hike, bike and climb, while the windy plains are home to a variety of wildlife. With so much to see above the ground, like the rugged canyons and desert valleys, you might forget about the incredible treasures hidden beneath the desert landscape. Below the park’s hiking trails and scenic overlooks sit more than 119 known caves, all formed from the surrounding limestone and all awaiting exploration. Visit the Big Room for a glimpse at the stunning rock formations, many of which have been around since the Ice Age.