new mexico — Blog — Sunbird Soul Adventures

Carlsbad Caverns is one of my favorite southern national parks. Located in Southern New Mexico, just minutes from the Texan state line, Carlsbad Caverns is found in the Chihuahuan Desert, and was formed by sulfuric acid and limestone.

This is a small park, and it doesn’t have a campground. Because of that, there are only a couple things to do in the park, but that doesn’t make them any less spectacular.

Carlsbad Caverns is home to two of the most unique experiences I’ve had in national parks, and I’ve been to 33 of them. I went with my family during the section of my summer trip that they met up with me for, and we stayed in Carlsbad at a nearby hotel. This was my dad’s second time in the park, and the good news is, it hasn’t really changed much, so let’s head out, and explore what Carlsbad Caverns has to offer.

Camping

As I said before, Carlsbad Caverns doesn’t offer a campground inside the park. The good news is, one of its nearby parks does offer camping in an amazing little campground near the tallest peak in Texas—Guadelupe Mountains National Park. Camping here is $15 and you’ll have easy access to all of this park’s trails as well.

Tips for visiting

Carlsbad Caverns is one of the most accessible national parks for tourists. There are a lot of parks that require hiking in order to see the park’s beauty, but in Carlsbad Caverns, you’ll be able to experience everything this park has to offer on its paved walking trail.

While this park doesn’t require an admission fee, you do need to pay to enter the cave. Because of this, I highly recommend investing in an America the Beautiful Pass, Military, or Senior interagency pass for your admission, especially if you plan on camping in Guadelupe Mountains and visiting any other national parks in the country within the same year. Without a pass, everyone over age 16 is $15 for entry, but the pass will get a family of 4 in for free.

Sunset from the visitor center in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Seeing the cave

I’ve visited a few caves around the country, and while Carlsbad Caverns isn’t the largest (Mammoth Cave, KY is), it’s definitely the most spectacular (in my opinion). There are two ways to enter the cave. If you’re not a hiker, I’d highly suggest taking the elevator. It’s a 700 foot journey into the earth, and you’ll be able to take your time exploring the cave’s paved path by foot. If you want to hike in, that is also an option, but know that the cutoff for admission to hike is 5 pm MST in the summer.

When in the cave, please stay on the paved path, and don’t touch the cave!

Ranger-led tours

If you want a more immersive experience when it comes to viewing the cave, you can sign up for a ranger-led tour. You can reserve your spot on a tour through the Carlsbad Caverns official website. Tours will take you through different areas of the cave, depending on how involved of a tour you want to do, and tours cost between $7 and $20 without a senior access pass.

The bat flight program

Every night at sundown, people gather in the park’s amphitheater to watch the bats leave the cave. This event is actually the way that Carlsbad Caverns was discovered in the first place. Around exactly the same time every night, the bats leave the cave to feed for the night, and it’s a spectacular sight you don’t want to miss.

Tip: bring food into the park. The park restaurant closes at 6 in the summer, but the bats don’t leave the cave until 8, so you might get hungry while you wait.

The view of the New Mexico desert from the visitor center

Carlsbad Caverns is a fantastic small national park. There isn’t a ton to do, but what there is to do is absolutely mind-blowing. If you’ve never seen a cave, this is a great place to start, but be warned, this one will raise your expectations for all caves you’ll visit after.

Another place to add to your list: MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK

Mammoth Cave has over 600 miles of explored cave in the middle of Kentucky. It is the largest cave yet to be discovered in the world, and is free to enter the park. The cave is $6 to enter, and there is camping available in the park.

To visit Carlsbad Caverns, Mammoth Cave, and more, check out my ebook, Around the States in 90 Days!

With temperatures dropping in most of the country, some of the only spots you can hit without being bombarded by snow are along the southern strip of US destinations. From Southern California to the Southwest to the Deep South, there are plenty of options for the nature lover during these cold months.

It’s important to remember though, that these states do get cold, just, maybe not quite as cold as the rest of the country. Pack warm, quality gear, and remember to leave no trace.

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(Disclaimer: I unfortunately haven’t visited any of Florida’s National Parks. While I’m sure they’re beautiful, I’ve committed myself to only writing about places I’ve personally been to and experienced)

Deep South

When we think of the South, we often picture that little strip of states between Florida and Texas. While there aren’t a ton of National Park Service Sites here that actually have National Park Status, Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas is one not to be missed. This small park includes both natural areas and a downtown historic district. It got its name from the historic bath houses in the town, and when you stay in Gulpha Gorge Campground, you’ll get the best of both worlds. With trails that lead straight from the campground to the historic district, you’ll get to experience everything this little hidden gem has to offer.

Dead Chief Trail in Hot Springs National Park, AR

Texas

Texas is absolutely huge, but it’s only home to two National Parks. While Guadelupe Mountains contains the highest peak in Texas, the park that has to make this list for me is Big Bend National Park. Big Bend is one of the most unique landscapes I’ve encountered (for a list of other bucket list landscapes, click HERE). From the Rio Grande River on the Mexican border to the Chisos Basin mountains up at higher elevation, this desert park is expansive and diverse with hidden gems around every corner (hello, hot spring)!

Southwest

The Southwest has got such a huge collection of National Parks, I can’t pass it up on this list. Since we’re moving westward, I’ll start with the first real cave I ever explored: Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns is one of the coolest caves in the country, and is so big, it feels never-ending when you’re walking through its passages. It honestly feels like a different world, and depending on what type of explorer you are, you can either hike into the cave or take the elevator. It’s also a great place to see wildlife: every night at sundown, you can sit in the amphitheater to watch the bats fly out of the cave! Check the park website for the cutoff time for admission to the cave prior to visiting, as it varies by season.

Of course, I couldn’t leave Arizona off this list. While it’s at a higher elevation, which can make it the coldest park on this list, the Grand Canyon should not be passed up. While you might think it’s overrated due to its fame, there’s no place like Grand Canyon National Park. From snow on the trails in the winter months to fantastic wildlife spottings, and incredible views, Grand Canyon National Park is one of my personal favorite places on Earth. Within an hour of arriving in the park and checking into my campsite at Mather Campground (the only campground open in the off season), I was visited by a herd of about twenty elk passing through to have their lunch. This park never stopped amazing me with everything it has to offer, and everybody’s visit to the Grand Canyon is so unique, you just have to see it for yourself.

Southern California

Of course, if you’re looking for warm weather this time of year, California is surely on your radar. While Joshua Tree National Park does get cold (and sometimes gets snow), it’s certainly a more pleasant experience than any of the snowy mountain passes in Northern California. Joshua Tree National Park is known for its tall agave relatives, known as Joshua Trees, which look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. It’s a climbing hotspot, and it’s far more pleasant to visit in the winter than the summer (when temps reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the regular). Plan ahead when coming to this popular park, and if you want to read more about Joshua Tree, head over to my complete guide I wrote HERE.

Want to include Joshua Tree in a longer road trip itinerary? Shop trip itineraries below to see where the road can take you!

Explore

From the expanse of desert in Big Bend and Joshua Tree to the lengthy cave of Carlsbad Caverns, there’s plenty for the nature-lover to explore in the cold months of the year that won’t be covered in thick blankets of snow. All of these National Parks are unique from each other, and you won’t be disappointed by any of them. Just remember, it’s important to keep these spaces natural, so explore safely, and leave no trace.

Want to spread the environmentally friendly message during your next trip to the parks? Shop ethical apparel at Wholesome Culture!

Your Guide to Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Top 5 Southern National Parks