This post is the fourth in my “Every picture, every story” series detailing my 5 weeks of road trips in the summer of 2024. Some dates will be skipped, grouped, or abbreviated due to unrelated events happening on those days, such as conferences or extensive road travel.
The first National Park of my June 2024 road trip was Carlsbad Caverns, located in southern New Mexico. I went into this one not really knowing what to expect; I’ve been in caverns before and have seen stalagmites and stalactites, so really, how much different could Carlsbad be?
I wasn’t expecting the drive up the side of a mountain, first off. You go way up to the top. That should be the first clue for the sheer scale of what you’re about to experience.
A walk through the visitors center takes you on a tour of the region’s history, and you wind up at the registration desk to go down into the caverns. There’s an elevator option. Only take it if you have to. Walking to the bottom* through the natural entrance is the way to go in order to get the full visceral experience of just how massive these caverns are.
*the bottom of where they allow visitors to go; it goes much, much deeper
An amphitheatre guides you into the natural entrance, which, as you can see in my above picture, is a giant hole in the side of the mountain. Still no clues letting on just how far down you’re about to walk. Taking the switchbacks, the rocky overhang eventually shrouds you, and then ever so slowly, with every step, darkness takes hold. Ahead: blackness. Behind: light.
The path is paved, but slippery. Hold onto the rail. I’d also recommend a jacket of some sort, because inside, the temperature is a constant 13C (56F). You’ll hear chitters of birds and perhaps the pings of bats that reside within. Drips of water from high above signal the continued formation of pillars forming deep underground. Nearer the “bottom” are gargantuan chunks of rock that broke free of the ceiling and smashed their way down.
How long is the walk into the cavern, you ask?
Nearly an hour.
Yes, when you enter, you will find yourself zigzagging, weaving, and gripping the handrail in slipperier sections for about 56 minutes (that’s how long it took me to reach the bottom, at least). You descend the full height of the Empire State Building – and then some. The NPS has kept the lighting within to a minimum, only where it is most needed, so expect darkness. This is necessary so as not to disrupt the cycle of the fragile ecosystems.
At the very bottom of where visitors are allowed, you’ll find a small food court. Now is a good time to get some electrolytes and a snack, as you may find your legs wobbling after the constant descent.
From there, make your way to the splits in the trails, particularly the big cave. It takes about 30-45 minutes to walk the perimeter, and it’s huge. Massive. Bonkers in scale. You quickly realize that the mountain you drove up the side of?
Yeah. It’s basically hollow.
Carlsbad Caverns consists of brittle limestone. In Florida, limestone forms the bedrock of the state through which water percolates and creates vast chambers called aquifers. Much of Florida’s fresh water is pumped out of aquifers, and there’s a refilling period before we can pump more out. These aquifers are created by a slow but constant process of erosion as water passes through the layers, which is why you’ll find several cave systems and trenches carved out particularly near Florida’s natural springs. Visit the Everglades, and you can actually see the top layer of limestone just below the surface of the water!
I have to admit, though I went into it not really knowing what all to expect, Carlsbad Caverns was cool. Very cool. The sheer scale left me in awe. There are other hiking trails you can find on the surface, but the experience of physically walking into the caverns will leave an impact on you. And to get back out?
Yeah…take the elevator!
Alex
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