Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Climate/Map
Overview | Climate/Map | Description | Things
To Do
Lodging/Camping | Nearby
Resources
Geography
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in in the Guadalupe Mountains of southern New Mexico along the Texas border. It is situated about 20 miles west of the Pecos River, which flows through Carlsbad (formerly Eddy), New Mexico, 25 miles northeast.
Rattlesnake Springs, a detached unit of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, was acquired by the National Park Service in 1934 for the primary purpose of ensuring a reliable domestic water supply for cavern area development. This oasis is bounded by the gently rolling Chihuahuan Desert plains dotted with desert scrub such as creosote bush, yucca, mesquite, and snakewood. These plains are framed by the magnificent backdrop of the Guadalupe escarpment.
Climate
Carlsbad Cavern National Park park is characterized by its relatively high elevations, cool dry winters and hot wet summers. Below ground, the cave climate is cool and varies little from the annual 56° F average. A light jacket or sweater, and comfortable shoes with rubber soles for good traction are appropriate year-round.
Getting There
By Auto
Visitors arrive by way of U.S. Highway 62-180 from either Carlsbad, New Mexico (25 miles to the northeast) or El Paso, Texas (150 miles to the west). A scenic 7-mile entrance road leads from the park gate at Whites City to the Visitor Center and cavern entrance.
Public Transportation
Carlsbad is served by Greyhound and TNM bus lines. Mesa Airlines offers passenger service between Carlsbad and Albuquerque. Major airlines serve Albuquerque, El Paso, and Midland TX. Rental cars and taxi service are available from the airport at Carlsbad.
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
