Entering the Carlsbad Caverns

The natural entrance to the Carlsbad Caverns is the same place where the bats fly out of during the summer months. Being here in March we did not see the bats. They usually spend the winters in Mexico and return to Carlsbad during the summer months. They swarm in a mass exit from the cave each evening to feed. Sharon and Imogene had the opportunity to see the bats when they traveled here two years ago.

Sharon and I walked down into the cavern from the natural entrance. The descent was a sloping walkway that descended 750 feet into the caverns. The entire path was dimly lit. Visitors are no longer permitted to walk out of the cavern because of the steep grade. Elevators were installed some years ago and everyone exits that way.

After descending into the caverns and walking along the "main corridor" you eventually end up in the "big room". The "big room" covers more than 8.2 acres and the path around the room takes more than 1 and a half hours to walk the distance.

The "big room" is fantastic. Around each turn of the path there is a new and interesting rock formation to be seen. There is spot lighting throughout the cave and most of these pictures were taken with the available light. For some reason the photographs made with a flash are not as interesting and seem to lack the depth provided by the spot lighting throughout the cave.