Located in NM.
High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes.
Use this page to check live NPS alerts, weather, things to do, events, fees, campgrounds, and build a day-by-day itinerary with Trailie.
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Open daily · 9:00AM - 2:30PM
$15.00
Entrance - Per Person
Trailie
Tell Trailie your dates, pace, and interests — get a day-by-day Carlsbad Caverns National Park plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
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Fire restrictions have been lifted at Carlsbad Caverns which means that fires such as charcoal fires in grills and the use of camp stoves or portable grills will be allowed. Igniting and maintaining an open fire must be done with materials that are commonly used for warmth and food preparations such as natural firewood or charcoal briquettes. Other materials such as flammable liquids, garbage, plastic, aerosol canisters, or other artificial substances are not permitted.
Some areas of the park including Walnut Canyon Desert Drive and some trails remain closed after extensive flood damage. The main park road to the visitor center and cavern is open.
A disease known as White-Nose Syndrome is killing bats in North America. To prevent it from spreading to our bats, do not wear shoes, clothing, or bring any gear into any cave at Carlsbad Caverns National Park that were in another cave.
Reservations are highly recommended and can be purchased by clicking "more" or calling 877-444-6777. Reservations only select the entry time. Upon arrival at the visitor center, an entrance pass must be purchased.
For safety, closed-toe shoes with good traction are recommended. Flip flops, sandals, and some walking shoes have little or no traction and increase the possibility of slips, trips, and falls. Watch your step and use the handrails when necessary.
Common questions
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
No park-wide entry reservation, but cave tour timed entry is required year-round (separate from the entrance pass). TrailVerse lists 3 reservation types on the Permits tab, including Carlsbad Caverns National Park Tours and Carlsbad Caverns Timed Entry Reservation — covering timed entry and activity permits. Recreation.gov listings can change seasonally — confirm current rules before you set dates.