Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Lodging and Camping
Overview | Climate/Map | Description | Things
To Do
Lodging/Camping | Nearby
Resources
Hotels/Motels
There are motels in Whites City and Carlsbad, NM with something for every taste and price range. For more information and a complete list. Click on city for Rates, availability and reservation on line Whites City and Carlsbad
Camping & RV Parks
There are no campgrounds within Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Commercial campgrounds are available in Whites City adjoining the park and in the city of Carlsbad, NM, 25 miles northeast.
Backcountry Camping
Camping is by permit only. Free permits may be obtained at the Visitor Center.
There is no dependable water source in the backcountry, therefore, you must carry what you need. A minimum of one gallon per person per day is recommended. The extreme heat of summer and the ice and snow of winter can spoil an otherwise enjoyable backcountry trip if you are not properly prepared. Good hiking shoes and proper clothing are necessary to protect yourself from the elements and the spiny desert plants. Be prepared for rapid and extreme changes in weather. See Things to do.
The permit must be returned to the Visitor Center or to any ranger at the completion of your trip.
Camping is allowed in designated wilderness areas only.
All campsites must be out of sight and sound of established roadways and must be a minimum of 1/4 mile away from any road or trail.
If an area appears to have been used previously as a campsite please relocate to another area to reduce human impact in the backcountry.
Camps must be 300 feet from any natural water source. Do not clear soil or vegetation, or trench around tents.
Camping is not permitted at Slaughter Canyon Cave or the Slaughter Canyon parking lot.
There is no overnight vehicle or RV camping in the park.
Vehicles may be left at trailhead parking areas while hikers are in the backcountry. Driving off established roads is prohibited.
Campfires are not permitted within the park. The use of charcoal, and any wood or plant material for fires is prohibited. Illegal charcoal and wood fires cause unacceptable impacts in the backcountry. Containerized fuel stoves may be used at campsites.
Pets are not permitted on park trails or in the backcountry. Limited kennel facilities are available at the Visitor Center for day hikers. Overnight kennel facilities are available in the town of Carlsbad.
You must pack out of the backcountry all trash, litter and other debris associated with your trip. Do not burn or bury your trash. Human excrement should be buried in shallow holes 4 to 6 inches deep, at least 300 feet away from any trail, camp, or water source.
Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
Overview | Climate/Map | Description | Things
To Do
Lodging/Camping | Nearby
Resources
Visitor Center
3225 National Parks Highway
Carlsbad, NM 88220
505-785-2232.
E-Mail: cave_interpretation@nps.gov
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DesertUSA is a comprehensive resource about the North American deserts and Southwest destinations. Learn about desert biomes while you discover how desert plants and animals learn to adapt to the harsh desert environment. Study desert landscapes and how the geologic features unique to the desert regions are formed. Find travel information about national parks, state parks, BLM land, and Southwest cities and towns located in or near the desert regions of the United States. Access maps and information about the Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert, Great Basin Desert, and Chihuahuan Desert, which lie in the geographic regions of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Utah in the United States and into Mexico.
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Carlsbad Caverns National Park The park's most famous cave, Carlsbad Cavern, is over 1,000 feet deep and currently contains 30 miles of mapped passages. The Big Room of Carlsbad Cavern is the largest underground chamber in the United States. View formations of stalagmites, stalactites, and columns in this video. You will also see the evening flight of Mexican free-tailed bats from the entrance of the Cavern.
The Secret World of Bats DVD is enlightening, entertaining, and most of all, an astounding revelation of the role of bats in ecosystems all over the world, including your own backyard. A DVD that you'll want to share with your friends and family.
Glen Canyon Dam - Lake Powell Held behind the Bureau of Reclamation's Glen Canyon Dam, waters of the Colorado River and tributaries are backed up almost 186 miles, forming Lake Powell. The dam was completed in 1963. Take a look at this tremendous feat of engineering - the Glen Canyon Dam.
Lake Mead - Houseboating & Viewing Hoover Dam DesertUSA rented a houseboat to explore the western part of Lake Mead. Our first stop was the Hoover Dam off the Boulder Basin. Without Hoover Dam, Lake Mead wouldn't exist today. Come along with DesertUSA staff as they explore Lake Mead and check out Hoover Dam. Take a look at the cove where we camped, and the Bighorn Sheep encounter we had there!
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The Carlsbad Caverns DVD See King's Palace, Queen's Chamber, Papoose Room, Green Lake Room, the Big Room and the evening bat flight. Learn of Carlsbad's early explorers, like Jim White, with old-time footage and historical photographs. As a bonus, take a whirlwind tour of nearby Guadalupe Mountains National. Park.61 min. - plays worldwide, NTSC
