Hike trails in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Deep beneath the Chihuahuan Desert, there is a vast labyrinth of limestone caves, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park is where more than 100 of them may be found. Sulfuric acid disintegrated Capitan limestone, creating a complex network of caverns and rock formations in the process. The Big Room Trail and the Natural Entrance Trail are two underground paths that you can use to explore these caverns at your own pace. The most well-known path, known as the Big Room Trail, leads travelers through one of the biggest cave chambers in North America. Along the Natural Entrance Trail, tourists can view rocky formations, including Devil's Spring and Iceberg Rock. The trail is exceedingly steep, so experienced hikers should only attempt it. It is one of the best things to do in New Mexico.

There are various hiking trails that travel above ground in the Chihuahuan Desert and the Guadalupe Mountains. Popular treks include the half-mile Chihuahuan Desert Nature Track and the park's 100-mile Guadalupe Ridge Trail, which is the longest above-ground trail. Every nightfall, 400,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats leave Carlsbad Cavern in search of food, so if you go during the summer, you can witness this. From Memorial Day weekend until October, rangers conduct free, informative presentations at the Bat Flight Amphitheater, where visitors may get the best view of this stunning mass exodus.

Location: in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico
Website: https://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm

Phone: +1 575-785-2232
Google rating: 4.9/5.0