Outdoor Recreation Resources

Looked at from the outside the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico are anything but impressive and consist of a number of gray rock formations and a bit of scrub brush covering a less than impressive cliff. However, step inside and this is one of the most amazing landscapes anywhere on Earth and, with more than 100 limestone caves to explore, you can wander here for years without ever seeing the same thing twice.

The Bat Cave is not for the feint hearted and is home to of thousands of these flying mammals. The Bifrost Room will take your breath away and, named after the Bifrost bridge into Valhalla from a Scandinavian myth, the colors here truly echo those of the rainbow. The Hall of the Giants, which is the largest open chamber in the system, covers an incredible 360,000 square feet. Within all of these, and the many other rooms, you will find some of Mother Nature’s most creative work.

The Witch’s Finger, a giant stalagmite, is a corkscrew-like structure that is more than five times the the average person’s height and the Rock of Ages is even more impressive as it makes stationary rock seem to move and the multitude of outcroppings of flowstone look like a demon’s lair glowing from within.

Within the caverns you can opt for self guided or staff guided tours which vary in their degree of difficulty from easy hikes through large open spaces to scaling ten foot walls and crawling through narrow openings into large chambers.

One tour takes you through part of Lechuguilla Cave which, at more than one thousand six hundred feet below ground, is the deepest cave in America. This cave covers a total of more than 112 miles winding through the Guadalupe Mountains.

If you are not quite so active then you can travel to the Big Room by elevator which descends 900 feet and gaze up and be captivated by this 25 story high open space. You can then walk around this 1,800 foot by 250 foot room filled with incredible rock formations. You should also visit the Temple of the Sun and see the its dozens of eerily lit underground pools.

If you want to see the bats though you will need to visit between April and September as the 300,000 Mexican free tailed bats who live here fly south for the winter. A half mile hike from the entrance leads to a plateau from which you can descend the 750 feet into the Bat Cave.

And do not forget to pop on your favorite pair of waterproof hiking boots and explore the area around the caves as there are a number of fascinating things to both do and see. Despite its name, along Rattlesnake Springs you are far more likely to see dozens of harmless reptiles and birds than you are to encounter the dangerous snakes from which the place gets its name.

Another favorite with visitors is a ride along the 10 mile scenic drive through Walnut Canyon. This drive takes you along Guadalupe Ridge and the views are simply spectacular.

The Carlsbad Caverns are of course merely one of the splendid hiking areas in the United States and rank with such other great pleasures as guided hikes in Yosemite.