Destination attractions carlsbad caverns NM

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

If youre planning a vacation in southwest America, dont leave out the Carlsbad Caverns, one of the oldest and most popular cave groupings ever discovered. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located among the Guadalupe Mountain Range which runs across the Texas and New Mexico border. The mountains stretch to heights over 8,000 feet high, and deep within lay the massive caves known as Carlsbad Caverns.

Inside the caves, ceilings are sometimes 250 feet high, with unique rock formations and breathtaking colors. On US 62/180, the route that connects Carlsbad with El Paso, Texas, the road seems to go on endlessly but suddenly the mountains are visible and the entrance to the park is noticeable by the motels and roadside souvenir stores. This area is known as Whites City and as you pass through, youll begin climbing a 7 mile winding road which takes you through a limestone canyon where youll spot unique forestry and desert plants. At the top of the canyon is a huge visitor area and although entrance to the park is free, fees are charged for the various local attractions.

There are several different walking tours which take you through the caverns, with modern technology providing the 900 foot elevator ride down. The Big Room, the largest cavern containing the most spectacular formations, is 1800 feet long and 250 feet wide. Some of the formations you can see are the Hall of the Giants, the Rock of Ages and the Temple of the Sun. These formations are enhanced by electrical lighting which gives brilliance to the already beautiful scene. Underground there are many pools which are also well-lit with colorful lights. Park Rangers are available throughout the walk to answer questions.

One spectacle thats awesome for some, horrifying for others is the almost half a million Mexican free-tail bats which life in one of the caves from April through September. At sunrise, the entire colony flies out of the cave, taking up to half an hour for them all to exit the cave. There is an amphitheater at the entrance where you can attend early sittings to view the event, during the season. The walking tour here, at The Natural Entrance, is very steep as it goes down 750 feet. A long passageway with no formations seems to go on forever, but then becomes more scenic as it displays small caves off to the sides where beautiful rock formations are viewable.

The Kings Palace is a 90 minute tour which is led by a ranger from the park and descends into the deepest part of the caverns, open to the public. 830 feet deep, the Kings Palace has spectacular views but cannot be traveled without the guide of a ranger. There are over 80 caves in the park, some are open to the public but some, too dangerous to enter, are closed permanently to sightseers. And, appointments must be made to visit some of these caves, and for others, some experience with rock climbing and hiking is required.

Nearby is the Living Desert State Park, featuring a zoo and gardens. Also in the region are Aztec ruins, Navajo Lake, Angel Peak, Bisti Badlands and White Sands National Park.