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Most national parks
celebrate natural beauty found aboveground. At Carlsbad Caverns, the show takes
place underground. More than 85 caves underlie the park, two of which —
Carlsbad Caverns and Lechuguilla Cave — are among the largest and most
magnificent underground formations in the world. Amateur spelunkers of all ages
are transported back in time to an episode in Earth's history far more volatile
than our own — The Jerry Springer Show notwithstanding.
One of the most
extensive cave systems anywhere, Carlsbad Caverns is actually a Permian-age
fossil reef. Over a period of millions of years, sulfuric acid ate away at
fissures in underground limestone and fossil shelves that were at one time under
a vast sea. At undetermined dates partial cave-ins occurred and created immense
underground chambers, like the Big Room — 25 stories high and a third
of a mile wide.
So, you may be
wondering, is there anything else to Carlsbad Caves besides caves? You betcha.
The park is home to the Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness Area, which at 33,000 acres
boasts enough hiking trails to keep you busy for an afternoon, or a week. The
park is part of the northern Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem, where grassland
vegetation and desert shrub give way to pine woodlands at the highest
elevations. You'll find a dazzling palette of desert flowers if you set out
after a recent rainstorm. Wildlife abounds-with luck, you may see golden eagles,
red-tailed hawks, even elk or cougar tracks.
With its wealth of
wildlife and picturesque drives and hikes, Carlsbad has a little something for
everyone.
Brave the
Cave
Tours of the
caverns range from the well-lit and easy-to navigate — even for children as
young as six — to some that the faint of heart simply should not endeavor. Do
we even have to tell you which are the most fun? Some tours will have you
scaling 10-foot walls and maneuvering sheer faces of rock three feet from
gaping, seemingly bottomless holes. You'll be required to wear a helmet and knee
pads, as you will undoubtedly knock your head and scrape your knees many times.
Any experience in the caverns is incredible and well worth all this, unless
you're claustrophobic.
Hike into
Solitude
Once you've
resurfaced and your pupils have returned to their normal size, don't miss the
chance to visit the park's rugged backcountry. The Carlsbad Caverns
Wilderness Area has many miles of largely untrodden primitive trails. A hike
here will be rough and often strenuous but also a great opportunity to achieve
the ultimate hiker's high: complete solitude.
To the
Bat Cave!
What is a cave,
after all, without bats? In addition to its fantastic rock formations, Carlsbad
is also famous for being home to hundreds of thousands of Mexican free-tailed
bats, which take flight from the caves and into the desert nightly . . . en
masse. The sheer number of these elusive creatures, the massive, whirling,
fluttering black blur disappearing into a dazzling southwestern sunset, is an
unparalleled wildlife viewing experience.
Drive the
Desert
If you have a car,
the Walnut Canyon Tour is a great way to spend a couple of hours. The
self-guided scenic drive is only about 9.5 miles long, but there are some great
views and photo ops you may want to stop for along the way. The tour will take
you along the Guadalupe Ridge, then into upper Walnut Canyon on the way back.
Informational guidebooks are available at the Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center.
Take a
Spring Break
Rattlesnake Springs
has been the main water source for Carlsbad Caverns National Park since the
1930s. Although altered by human development, the spring's stream and wetland
system forms a veritable oasis used by a wide variety of reptiles, mammals, and
butterflies. Among birders, the springs are renowned as a stopover for migrating
birds. Rattlesnake Springs has a lovely picnic area with tables and cooking
grills, and while camping is not allowed, it's an ideal spot for an afternoon
picnic with the kids. |
