Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Underground World of Chambers and Bats
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
“A hidden underground world of grand chambers, bat flights, and ancient reef rock carved by sulfuric acid over millions of years.”
Park Overview
Carlsbad Caverns National Park protects over 46,000 acres in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico. Established in 1930, the park is renowned for its extensive cave system—over 119 known caves, including Carlsbad Cavern and the massive Big Room, one of North America’s largest underground chambers. The park preserves a rare Permian-era fossil reef exposed by uplift and erosion.
Fast Facts
| Location | Eddy County, New Mexico |
| Established | May 14, 1930 |
| Area | ~46,766 acres |
| Annual Visitors | ~394,000 (2023) |
| Total Caves | 119+ |
| Mammal Species | ~67 |
| Bird Species | ~357 |
What to See & Do
- Big Room Tour – Self-guided paths through one of the largest cave chambers in North America.
- Natural Entrance Walk – Hike 750 ft down into the cavern via the original switchback trail.
- Bat Flight Program – Watch thousands of Mexican free‑tailed bats spiral out at dusk (May–October).
- Adventure Caving – Guided tours into Slaughter Canyon or Spider Cave for rugged exploration.
- Rattlesnake Springs & Desert Drives – Birding, desert flora, and historic CCC architecture aboveground.
Geology & Speleogenesis
Carlsbad Caverns formed within the ancient Capitan Limestone reef deposited ~250 million years ago. Unique sulfuric acid dissolution—fed by hydrogen sulfide migrating from underground oil sources—created deep caverns from below, rather than carbonic-acid water from above. Speleothems like stalactites, soda straws, and gypsum chandeliers decorate the cavern’s vast chambers .
Wildlife & Ecosystems
The park spans multiple ecosystems—desert scrub to montane woodlands—and supports about 67 mammal species, 357 birds, 55 reptiles/amphibians, and hundreds of insects. Its signature inhabitants are 17 bat species, including Mexican free‑tailed bats, which number in the hundreds of thousands during summer emergence programs.
Human History & Culture
Jim White began exploring the caverns in 1898. The Big Room and underground soundscape soon captured national attention. Carlsbad was designated a national park in 1930. The Caverns Historic District—with Pueblo Revival structures and CCC-built amphitheater—guides visitors today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.