Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Hours
Open daily · 9:00AM - 2:30PM
Entrance Fee
$15.00
Entrance - Per Person
Trailie
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Carlsbad Caverns at a glance
- Best time
- January–February, April–May, August–December
- Trip length
- 1–2 days
- Don't miss
- Lower Cave Tour
- Nearby city
- Gateway towns in NM
Explore this park
Permits & Reservations(3)
Carlsbad Caverns National Park Tours
ReserveOverview: Tucked beneath the scenic and rugged Chihuahuan Desert, in the rocky slopes and deep canyons of Guadalupe Mountain range you will find Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Come explore the largest chambered cavern in North America. The Guadalupe Mountains are an uplifted por…
Carlsbad Caverns Timed Entry Reservation
ReserveNOTE: Timed-entry tickets ONLY reserve a time slot to enter the cave. All park visitors must purchase or present a valid National Park pass upon arrival. Please visit www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/fees.htm for information on entrance passes. There are two ways to enjoy the caver…
Lower Cave Tour Reservation
ReserveLower Cave is a strenuous tour. You will descend 10 feet down a flowstone slope by knotted rope and proceed to descend 50 feet down three sets of ladders. This trip is not recommended for anyone with a fear of enclosed spaces, heights, or darkness.
Common questions
Planning Carlsbad Caverns
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.
