We could not believe how big this place was inside. The pathway into the cavern was very well designed. The elevation drops 750 feet in a very short distance. Take good walking shoes! The surface is gritty asphalt and provides good footing on the dark. We arrived early and had no problems getting tickets. Our national park pass covered the cost of the tickets. Inside the visitor center they have good exhibits to help understand the cave structure. Suggest hitting the restrooms before going in because its a long trip before the next opportunity. Parking was setup for large crowds and I did see parking for large vehicles. Highly suggest visiting this park. We stayed in the town of Carlsbad. Its an easy drive to the park.

An experience to be had without a doubt in my mind! Words can not express the beauty that lies within this park. From the wildlife to the geology, there is an abundance of breath taking things to be seen. One of New Mexicos most enchanting places

They have worked very hard and installed LED lighting throughout the caverns. Its absolutely gorgeous!Enjoyed it 35 years ago. Enjoyed it even more now!

These caverns are massive. I would definitely recommend doing the nature trail down and the elevator up. Dont miss the trail down. There is a lot to see on the way in. The visitor center is very large as well. They have a big gift store, a book store, information area, park ranger center and more. Great time for the family. We tried to see the bats come out of the cave but we didnt see any.

GET HERE EARLY ON THE WEEKENDS!! They’re only allowing a certain amount of people in at spread out times, and they run out of tickets early. We had to wait 2 hours to be able to go in, but it was worth the wait! The gift shops and informational area are big enough to burn an hour in. The caves itself were stunning. The line to go back up on the elevator also takes a long time too, just a warning

Absolutely breathtaking! Highly recommended. Get there early because on the weekend it gets busy. Not sure about the week day but on the weekend they sold out early as 11:15 am. About 2 1/2 hours Walk down the caverns. A little steep for some but it’s a must do.

Awesome stop. Descend 750ft into a hole in the ground! We walked down and took the elevator back up. You can elevator both ways (but wheres the fun in that!) If you walk down, itll be about 30/45min to get to the main cavern with plenty of stalagmite views along the way. From the big caverns, you can decide to leave (elevators), use the restrooms, buy a snack, mail a letter (the novelty!) or continue a large loop around the big caverns, which will be another 1/1.5 hrs. It is cool. Probably not great for young kids. Very dark and dim, but theres enough ambient lighting that you should be fine. Make sure you bring a jacket, the temp is about 50 degrees. We came too late in the season to see the bats, but plan to go back during spring to see the bats leave the cave in the evening.

The name The Land of Enchantment holds true with Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The entire walk down was look at that over and over again. Truly felt like being in another universe while in the caverns. Its still hard to imagine being so far underground. Breathtaking, these photos do no justice.

The word I kept using as we traveled about the caverns was magnificent ... Pictures dont do it justice. Just breathtaking!Be sure that youre not hard of walking because it could be more difficult for someone that is not able bodied.

It was amazing!! It will definitely take you 2.5 hours to complete. I would recommend you take a small bag with some water and a snack. Otherwise youll spend $6 on some yogurt like I did. But it was definitely worth being sore the next day

Arrive early and you’ll have the caves mostly to yourself. Getting there is very easy and if you look closely you’ll see some wild sheep and mule deer on the mountain side. Once you arrive at the cavern entrance just pay and make your way down to the cave for phenomenal views. I’ve visited caves in several other countries and these are definitely the most detailed ones I’ve yet to see. Lots of things to see around each turn. The path is easy to follow and lightning is enough to enjoy it all. Highly recommend, pictures don’t do it justice. Also if you’re up for some hiking there are some good canyon views at the Rattlesnake Canyon trailhead

We were not able to go in the caverns, which was super disappointing. I dont understand how a virus can close down a state park. But we made the drive and hiked around and that was great.Maybe we will get to come back to see the caverns...

Absolutely incredible. Words do not do this place justice. Just go there and see for yourself.Please keep in mind its not for people in poor health that struggles with walking a good distance and up and down inclines. The paths are excellent but still a little rough in a few areas where the paths narrow.

I am 67 and have very bad knees and walk with a cane. I was able to take the elevator and walk the 1.25-mile senior walk. It was a magnificent adventure for me. The pathways were excellent with handrails. I enjoyed every minute and took my time.

Truly gorgeous caverns. Ive been before but it was mind blowingly beautiful and intricate. 100% would recommend going. No pictures will ever do the cave justice for how awesome it is to be there.

This is a must see, bucket-list place to visit. Upon entering, you have this feeling of awe as the Earth swallows you up, and you descend into the depths for hours of hiking down and around a steep inclined trail to the bottom of the caverns. It was absolutely incredible and mind-blowing to see the rock formations, stalagmites, and stalactites all around you.There are parts of the cave that are quite dark and the path can get slippery and wet in places, so wear good hiking shoes with tread on the bottom, and comfortable clothes. Also, bring a small clip-on flashlight for the darker paths.We passed a few elderly couples trying to descend, and they were having trouble. I dont recommend hiking the 2 miles to the Big Room unless you are capable of hiking downhill at a steep incline, ducking below rock formations, or climbing up stairs and steep inclines upward for hours. If you arent sure, better to take the elevator to the Big Room, and hike the much less exhausting and easier Big Room trail for about an hour instead (you will still be amazed, and see most of the formations you would have seen on the other parts of the walk anyway).At the natural entrance, there is an awesome sight of bats flying out of the opening as you enter. The formations are lit along the way, and as you descend you will find a rock bench or wooden bench to rest at every few hundred feet down to take in the sights. If you suffer from vertigo at all, I would not recommend looking down as you first start the descent because it can be quite dizzying.We had the pleasure of coming across a park ranger during the hike, and he gave us insider information about the caves, as well as showed us different things we passed by that we might not have noticed. One interesting thing he mentioned was that it takes the stalactites and stalagmites about 1 thousand years to grow about 10 centimeters. He also mentioned that while they arent strong laterally, they are extremely strong vertically, and can hold a ton of weight. However, he said if you hit one on the side, it would likely snap in half. He even pointed out where people had been touching the formations, as evidenced by discoloration on the rocks in specific spots.The gift shops and eatery at the bottom of the cave have been closed down and roped off, which was sad. However, the restrooms were operational (despite all of the stalls missing locks, and the doors gaping open for some reason-- not sure what happened there). I wish it was at full operation, as it would have been nice to sit awhile and take it all in. The wait for the elevators back to the top wasnt long at all, and it was pretty interesting that they marked it in how many feet below the ground it was at as it lowered to pick you up.The caverns are truly magnificent, and well-maintained. The views, sights, and interesting formations are all worth the hike. Not to mention, when you exit the caverns, there is a huge overlook to take pictures of the horizon and city below. Gorgeous views and scenery.

It is so beautiful inside. We missed the bat fly since the bats had already migrated. Recommend doing the descending hike through the cave entrance and spend time in the big room

Wow what a work out this was. But the view down was great. It’s not the longest but you feel it. Do yourself a favor and walk it. It’s amazing to see everything. It’s great place to go to. So wear some good shoes.

Simply amazing!!! Incredible experience! We walked 1.25 miles down to the caves. 5 miles total. Make sure you have comfortable shoes and water. It gets to 54° inside the cave. There are restrooms, food and souvenirs deep inside. We came back up by elevator. Highly recommend!!!

We love it! The caves are amazing . My favorite is the bat cave. Take your time walking thru here so you dont miss a thing!

One of my favorite places in the world. Its a long walk so bring good shoes (non slip since the trail is wet), a jacket (56° inside!), and be prepared to walk. My fitness tracker said we covered 5.5 miles in 4-5 hours. Each visit will take up this amount of time so be sure to eat a hearty meal before going. There is food at the bottom but choice is limited and overpriced. We did the ranger program with the kids (5 yrs and 9 yrs) and enjoyed it but be sure to do it AFTER the cave so youre not having to carry unnecessary baggage. The walk is definitely doable for kids, but be prepared for groaning. Toddlers will need to be carried part of the way. The visitor center is nice with A/C and restrooms. There may be a line to get in in the mornings as it is first come, first served.

Do to covid they were not crowded. And we were able to some wild life.

I had been here back in 1996 as a child and thought it was cool. Going back as an adult was amazing. It is so easy to spend hours in the caverns gazing on the sheer majesty of the caverns. The cavern decorations are beautiful and there is so much to see. If you dont want to do a guided tour get the handheld from the gift shop that gives you all sorts of great info as you traverse the caves. If you are anywhere close by it is absolutely worth the detour to visit!!

The actual caverns were closed. But the drive was well worth it. Beautiful scenery.

Been here a few times now. Very enjoyable. Great park rangers that can answer all of your questions. Sold out by 9am Saturday of Labor day weekend. We spent almost 3 hours in the coolness of the caves. My family and I loved it.

A fantastic, unique national park. The cave is impressively huge - plan to spend a few hours exploring it. I arrived at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday and had no issue getting tickets for the next available entry time. They are currently only doing self-guided tours.

Absolutely breathtaking caverns! The Natural Entrance was advertised as strenuous, but it was perfectly manageable; ~1 mile at 20% grade down. Strongly recommend taking it, as half the views of the cave are on the way down. The Big Room loop held some amazing formations, as well as traveling through wide open parts of the cave that boggle the mind on how big the cave is.

A must-see!! Get there early to make the cut-off (limited visitors during COVID-19 restrictions). We got there an hour before the Visitors’ Center opened and we are so glad we did! Well worth it

It was a great experience for our family. A very long walk about 2hrs a bit slippery on some place so becarefull with kiddos and use comfortable shoes for the walk.staff were all great as well. Nice gift shop as well. I highly recommend on going.

Unbelievable how great this place is. You must go on the cavern tour and make sure that you walk the big room loop. It is truly amazing. My kids 20 yes old to 11 all loved it. It is a little cool so those that get cold easy will want to take a sweater or jacket.

It was scary walking down, once we got to flat ground we were okay. The cavern looked so wet and dry at the same time.. There a stalagmite that it connected.. Te devils cross very cool.. I recommend you bring some water because 1 hour in there got me thirsty.

Amazing place. Descending into the cave gives you a feeling that you will never reach the bottom of this massive hole in the ground. The experience is truly wonderful.

Awesome, truly a national treasure. Wear comfortable shoes, or take the elevator down and up. The hike down had quite a slope to it. The kennel for dogs was handy, bring shot records for Fido. Only $10 to board our pup while touring the cave. Covid precautions made us wait for the elevator but not bad.

What an amazing beauty. Could not imagine from the surface what we were headed into. Deep down, far from the crowd, be prepared to walk over slopes and some moisture. If you choose to walk, it is a reward like no other. Definitely recommend

Had a great time visiting the caverns, first time visiting and would definitely go back in the future. Park Ranger James was very helpful and informative. A+ for our government at work. Thank you

I have been to many caves, but nothing comes close to Carlsbad caves. It is so huuuge. I hot there on a Tuesday at 11:30am and got a ticket to visit caves for 12:45pm. I spent about 3 hours exploring the caves.If you want to take outstanding photos, bring flashlights because the it is dark inside.

Ive traveled extensively in the US, Europe, and Asia and these are the largest caverns Ive seen so far.57F undergroundIt took about 2hrs to walk down and around the caverns at slow pace.It took 30min to stand in line to the elevator (because of social distancing).We drove from Santa Fe and it took 5.5 hours to cross the desert. There is nothing to see on the way. The bottomless lake isnt great and the alien museum in Roswell could have been a lot more interesting.There is a nature walk above the cave ,which is fun if you have the time. Tickets are timed when you come in and purchase. So plan ahead.And the caverns are fun to see.

This is a beautiful and awesome experience. We have been 3 times in the last month. Both of the kids love it. Its about a mile hike down to the elevators back up, and the big room is another mile and a half or so, I think. I have loved each trip.

What an amazing experience!!!! The cavern is breathtaking...you really have to see it for yourself...no amount of description or pictures do it justice. Definitely wear shoes with good traction (tennis shoes or hiking boots). It took me 3 hours to get through it but my husband blew through it in just over an hour so you can spend as much or as little time as you like.

Great place to visit! The caves are beautiful! Things are obviously dark down there, but there is a mostly path all the way through and the mineral formations are lit up as well. Well worth the trip!

One of my favorite places on earth. The last time I was here was over 40 years ago. I took my oldest son here, during covid-19 summer 2020, on a road trip. There were only like 20 other people in the Caverns with us. I cant wait to take my other son.

What a place, spend the day marveling at natures wonders. We walked the entire loop and loved it! Cant wait to see again.

Underground paradise! Nicer than expected.

This National Park is definitely a National Treasure. These majestic caverns are breathtaking and you must come see this magical underground of terrific scenery. However, you must prepare yourself with lot of walking, drink water and take plenty of pictures.

This place is spectacular. Be ready for a long downward walk and wear good shoes. It is a truly remarkable place that will remain in your memories forever. Also, bring along a sweatshirt or sweater even in the summer as it can get cool in there.

Being here on Nov 1 was a absolutely great. Very few people on the walk through. Being alone down there most of the time was kinda strange but very kool,,,Only wish we had taken a small flashlight.

Once in a lifetime experience. You have to go. It was worth the extra 3 hours we drove there. By far my favorite stop. The size of the Caverns will blow you away, no matter who you are. It was a couple miles walk underground but there is a gift shop half way and you can end your journey there, if you choose. I recommend seeing the whole thing, if you can.Dark, yet vibrant.Chilling, yet beautiful.Itll give you goose bumps and memories for life.

Hours of gorgeous underground sights! Good place to escape the heat in the summer. Free entrance for military

The caverns are gorgeous. Its definitely cooler down there, being that youll be 650 ft down. Take a light sweater and only water is allowed in! My 4 and 9 year old got bored quick.. my 12 year old loved it. Tons to take photos of!

This place is breathtaking. Its so inspirational and really gives you a perspective on the world. The staff were super friendly and very knowledgeable. Cant wait to come here again and hopefully see the bats!

Such a neat experience. I enjoyed that there were no crowds. Our family was alone in the cave the majority of the time. Saw very few bats in the evening fly, which was a bummer, but its nature...cant predict it.

You need to buy tickets to enter. During covid-19 tickets open at 7:30 AM at visitor center for all time slots. Due to limited entry restrictions tickets will sold fast on weekends. Last entry is at 2:00 PM. Moderate hike with nice views of the underground formations.

We expected it to be cool, but we really had no clue just how awesome it would be! All of the rangers were GREAT, but our experience and conversation with ranger MARK was exceptional! He was informative, friendly, and professional, we couldve talked to him all day! He really added to our already amazing experience

We had so much fun and want to go back. But we now have a baby and cant take strollers. Our baby is huge and even with the carrier he gets heavy. Other than that great place to hike and spend some time.

Amazing!!!! Its another world down there just make sure you dont take babies or people who cant walk to much it takes alot walking and holding on to to make it all the way to the bottom. About 14 stories underground to be exact. Its a great adventure.

Spectacular! Amazing! Literally one of the wonders of the world! The exhibits are informative and interactive, the tours are great and teach the family so much, and the park ranges are friendly and clearly enjoy their jobs. Highly, highly, highly recommended this park. Everyone needs to visit the caverns!!!

The Rangers are very helpful and kind. The caverns are huge, I wasnt expecting it to be so big. 10yr old daughter really enjoyed every bit of it, thats a huge plus

The caverns were more than I ever expected. Simply amazing.

I’ve been twice, most recently in Dec 2019.Carlsbad is stunning in its own way which can not be described. The photos do absolutely no justice.

Ok let me start by saying this place is absolutely beautiful just starting from the drive up to the entrance if the cave!!!! Now on to the important information!!!! Due to COVID they only allow 805 people into the cave between 8:30am-2pm. GET THERE EARLY!!!!!!! I can’t stress that enough I got there at 7:30am and the line was wrapped all the way around and I was in the 600+ range of people!!! It had been people there since 5-6am. Only one person is allowed to go in to purchase the tickets. Now I know your question is, is it worth it? And my answer is HECK YESSSSSSSS the entrance to the cave is breath taking, the cave it self is amazing it is very well lite the temperature was 56 degrees but it was perfect!!!! They have troopers spread thru out the cave and they give you information about the area they are standing in. All and all it’s worth the drive and wait in line!!!!! It was me, my sister, and three kids and we all walked the entire cave so it’s a nice walk and if you get tired they have benches to rest on through out the cave.

There is a reason this place was set aside as a National Park. The caverns are amazing, the facilities as in very good shape (besides the constantly broken elevators). Definitely a must see if you are in the area, and a place that is worth the drive if you dont live close.

Such a great place to stop at and experience while traveling! My husband and I enjoyed it so much and would love to go back again one day! So beautiful!

We took a trip in March right before the pandemic hit, and we had the best time! The cavern and the surrounding area is breathtaking! I was so very glad we were able to take the kids to see this national treasure!

Awesome experience. Well worth the out of the way trip, wish the ticket cashier or the entrance guide to the big room would explained which way to go and give you a map with explanations of the cavern.

Beautiful park. Come visit and bask in its beauty! Make a trip out of it and you can easily visit other NPS greatness suchass Guadalupe mountains NP, White Sands NP, and Big Bend NP

Hiking down from the natural entrance gives you the experience of how the cave was initially explored, and has great features. But, the best decorations are in the Big Room. It is the best cave you will see in the US.

The ability to walk into the natural cave entrance was so cool. It takes about an hour to get to the big room but well worth it. We then took the one minute elevator up for a lunch break and came back to finish the hour and a half self-guided tour. It has hand rails and the pavement is easy to negotiate. I never felt claustrophobic because the cavern ceilings are so tall and the cavern is 14 football fields long. Well worth the visit.

I have visited this park 3 times in my life. It is amazing and each time I find more stuff to explore

One of the best self guided caverns. Highly recommended.

Beautiful..if you are in the area its a must.

Spur of the moment side trip, did not dissapoint, so glad we went. Just an awesome place to see.

Another great place to visit!Taking the elevator is nice.Once you reach the bottom floor, you have to try their sandwiches!!!! Completely amazing!Its very quiet and please, no smoking of any kind. The sign says so.Lots to see!Enjoy the place, bring the family and you can walk to the top or you can take the elevator.Light jacket and tip your waitress.

One of the best national parks i have visited. Definitely worth the drive out to Carlsbad. Take your time inside the cave and enjoy the views.

Are you looking for a place that will amaze you and give you a little workout? This is definitely the place. Walking down into the cave is awesome and the trail makes you appreciate the hard work put in by the park personnel. The walking path is easy to hike, as long as you can handle the elevation change. To help out people walking on the path, there are handrails and benches along the way that make the walk more enjoyable. There are also a bunch of spots to stop at, to awe over the cave creations. The total hike will range between 2-4 hours depending on your speed and if you hike out or take the elevators. This place is truly amazing.

A must see. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Words really cant describe the amazing shock and awe views here.

Absolutely amazing. Did the Big Room one day, followed by the hike down from the natural entrance the next day. I was so enthralled by the Big Room I toured it again after the hike in. Put it on your bucket list!

There is no words i can choose to describe. You just have to enter the cavern and experience yourself.

This was such an amazing visit. The cavern caves were soooo deep and full of rock formations. Worth the trip!

Awesome experience! Is wheelchair accessible to a certain point. Very knowledgeable staff! *warning * dress for lots of walking!!

Was here with my parents 35-40 years ago, man has it changed. My daughter and I stopped on our way back to Texas. The path through the cavern was about a 90 minute walk and it was absolutely beautiful. My very small brain from many years ago did not remember what it took in today! Had a great time and enjoyed seeing her get so excited about the wonders of nature. A highly recommended pitstop I would caution against young children as I can see it being very overwhelming for them to walk that distance.

A true gem of a national park. Ive been in many caves, but the size and scope of Carlsbad Caverns is truly amazing and breathtaking. A word of advice.. Hike the natural entrance down. If you take the elevator straight down you will miss some of the best sites and views in the Caverns. Dont worry, hiking down you can still take the elevator up!

Beautiful ️ My mind is still blown. I could go back again and again. You go 75 stories underground!!!

The caverns are always worth the drive! if youre going on a weekend make sure you try to get tickets early, they are selling out fast. We got in like at 7:10am and we got our tickets at 8:20am, and by then the line was super long so plan accordingly

Our only issue is the kennel. Our dogs were treated like dogs not like our family. When we returned after three hours they had no water. They were so thirsty they drank a whole bottle of water almost without taking a breath. They are small dogs. They have no one in the back until you ring the bell. I wish all attractions had kennels but if they have them they need attendants dedicated to the kennel only and can make sure the animals have plenty of water at least. Its sad the way they are left in a room of crates and the attendant works in another area and has to be summoned by a bell. They charge 10.00 a day which meant it was 20.00 for us. Im so thankful we werent gone all day. I know they wouldnt have even had an opportunity to use the bathroom.

We had a great time here. I highly recommend the audio guide if you cant get a ranger-led tour. And bring a coat! Its 56 degrees down there!

Great National Park to visit for a unique experience with kids.

Everybody should try and come to see this natures treasure! What a great experience!It really put things in perspective.Just get here!

Huge cave, long ramp down to the bottom 755 great work out,very dark.

We had a great time at the caverns. The website stated that the tickets are first come first serve, there are a limited amount of tickets everyday, and that they usually sell out early. We arrived at the caverns about 7am and there were already people in line. They open at 8am and all staff were wearing mask and made sure we all wore mask and followed social distancing as much as possible. Our time to enter the caverns was 8:45am.Make sure to look at the website for all information and changes during the pandemic. The prices were fair and everything was clean. The trails down to the cavern and inside were expertly constructed to make our hike fairly easy.We had an amazing time This is a must do and should be on your bucket list.We went back that evening to see the bat flight. The amphetheater was closed but they let you park in the lot and listen to info about the bats on the radio. Unfortunately we saw very few bats that eveningWorth the weekend trip to Carlsbad.

The Caverns are a MUST do!! It does get cold the further down the caves you go. So be prepared with a light jacket. Some of the walkways are steep so make sure you wear good walking shoes. Bring a flashlight! There are some areas that are lightly lit but the rest is very dark. We wouldnt have been able to see where we were walking without one. There is a restroom in the BIG ROOM closer to the end of the tour, but not one before so make sure you hit the restroom at the visitor center before you head down into caverns. They also have a snack area and small gift shop where the restrooms are. Its a good place to rest if needed. We spent 3 hours down in the caves on our self tour. We stopped to take pictures here and there, but thats how long it took just leisurely walking through.

I was continually amazed by the cavern. I had never been before and would go again. One thing I would say, because I found this out the hard way. If you arrive on a motorcycle bring good walking shoes and do not wear your chaps, arc gear or heavy leathers inside. You will get warm walking around and they are heavy to cart around. A small jacket or sweater is good.

The best cave Ive been to. Definitely worth the trip.

Great trip, coming from Abilene Texas for a little over 400.00 including 3 days and 2 nights at the White city Inn (pool is closed due to Covid 19 restrictions) located right outside the entrance to the caverns. Bring your food as there is no stores and the only restaurant has odd hours due to Covid 19 restrictions.

Ive been visiting the cave since I was 6. I kinda enjoy the social distancing limiting the amount of groups to 25 every 15 min. The limited amount of people going in lets you enjoy the views and relative peace and quiet.

One of the most spectacular places on the planet. Go early to get tickets and at dusk in the summer to watch the bats come out of the cave. Walk down and do the full tour; takes 3-4 hours.

My last visit is close to 50 yrs! Bring your park pass! A light jacket and a camera! Non-skid shoes. No pets except for service dogs. There is a holding kennel for pets- dont leave them in the vehicles!Two ways to enter the caverns-the cave opening, is longer. The elevator to the Big Room. Great formations! Just imagine how long it took to be like they are now. There are other tours for the more adventurous-but call ahead as some are closed. Visit during the warmer months and take the extra time and watch the bats come out! Thats my next trip! There are some areas in the Big Room self tour that are wheelchair denied due to sloping. The view above ground is spectacular too!

I love National Parks and Monuments in general. Carlsbad Caverns was a fascinating experience, and my kids (14 and 16) loved it. Decent gift shop, nice cool caves, and reasonable accomodations nearby.

Staff was nice and informative I recommend taking a flashlight had some spots pretty dark. For 15$ not a bad deal place was amazing and so cool the big room was so awesome

We did 11 national parks last year and this was easily one of our favorites. The hike down into the cave was amazing. No boring part of this cave at all. Mammoth was awesome, but Carlsbad was absolutely epic. Great rangers here as well and a beautiful drive in. Super close to Guadeloupe Mountain National Park so be sure to check them both out.

Absolutely stunning. We went early because we were told that they sell out by 9:30am. Maybe on the weekend but we went on Monday and no problems getting in. But bat flight was too far away without binoculars