Over the past several months I have been gathering information on special places that you’ll only find in New Mexico and are compelling enough for you to drive across the country to check them out. I eventually hope to turn this information into a book or at least a series of blog posts.
To begin, there are currently only 24 UNESCO recognized World Heritage Sites in the entire country. Three of them (Taos Pueblo, Chaco Canyon, and Carlsbad Caverns) are in New Mexico. Only California has as many, and one of those (Frank Lloyd Wright architecture) is shared with several other states. (Ironically, New Mexico does not have any Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.)
Since it had been many many years since I visited Carlsbad Caverns, I took a short road trip to correct that oversight last week.
And all I can say is WOW!!!!
For me personally, it was a mystical and almost spiritual experience. I don’t think that I have ever felt as connected to the majestic forces of creation and nature as I was during my descent into and walk through Carlsbad Caverns. When I left the caverns two and half hours after entering, there was a sense of energized peace and gratitude flowing through me, and even several hours later my entire body still felt calmly alive – almost a slight vibration! Or as the 14th-15th-century mystic Julian of Norwich said, “all shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
If you’ve never been to Carlsbad, or if it has been some time, and if you have the time, means, and inclination, I can’t encourage you enough to check them out.
The Caverns themselves are located in what was 250 million years ago during the Permian Period a reef along the shore of a shallow sea. Through the course of time and various tectonic forces, the sea receded and the reef was buried only to reemerge at a later time as the Capitan Reef and Guadalupe Mountains. Today the Capitan Reef borders the most active oil field (the Permian Basin) in the nation if not the world.
Profile of the southern end of the Capitan Reef in the background. Capitan Mountain is at the end (left). To the right of Capitan is Guadalupe Peak – the highest point in Texas.
As for your visit, you’ll find Carlsbad Caverns National Park at the north end of the Capitan Reef just where it starts to emerge from the Chihuahuan Desert. The entry road of the park climbs to the top of the reef, and from the top you’ll have an uninterrupted view of the Chihuahuan Desert, and will see creosote bush, mesquite, and ocotillo.
From the road to the top of the reef.
View from the top.
From the top of the reef you can descend into the caverns by elevator or by following the Natural Path.
I chose to follow the winding path to the natural entrance and eventually descended 750 feet into the cavern. As you wind down the path and get closer to the actual cave entrance, you can feel the air pressure and relative humidity change. It will remain constant for the rest of your walk.
As you get deeper into the cave and further away from the opening, the outside light will disappear and the only illumination will be from well-placed and very subtle lights throughout the caverns. Eventually your eyes will become accustomed to the lower level of light. And it is at that moment that all of the nonstop formations will reveal themselves to you. One after another. No matter what path you take, they will be there. It never ends. They will take your breath away!
You’ll also notice that it is quiet. Even though there are other people near you, they will be quiet too. When you pay attention, you can hear and maybe even feel an occasional drip of water. In some places there will be small ponds hundreds of feet under the ground. The quiet and low light only enhance your connection the surrounding beauty.
One of the many ponds in the cavern that you’ll see.
Through the use of timed entry tickets and other capacity control measures, your walk will be wonderful. This is not an elephant walk of one person right after the other. You can go at your own pace, and stop where you want without being jostled from behind. Nor will you be bumping into someone in front of you. And with the low level of light this can be your own personal transformative experience.
If you want, you can take a guided tour. But the beauty of the formations don’t need to be described to you. Just being with them is enough.
I cannot say it enough at how amazing and wonderful the cave formations are. I only wish my photos could give them justice.
April 12, 2023 at 8:12 pm
Thank you! I think I’ll go again sometime!
January 9, 2023 at 7:28 pm
The first article of yours that I read was a few years ago and focused on Highway 60 going from Socorro west toward wherever – for me California. I loved your article and , most of all, I loved the drive west. Thank you. If I ever do anymore travel by car I hoe yo travel the 60 east, stopping again at Globe, AZ and the Very Large Array and then continue southeast to the Carlsbad Caverns.
Again, thank you!
January 9, 2023 at 3:38 pm
What is the entrance fee and hours?
January 9, 2023 at 4:25 pm
Carlsbad is a National Park – so if you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you can get in for free. Otherwise, it’s $15.
You need a timed ticket, which you can get online – just google Carlsbad Caverns – to enter the Caverns. When I was there last week, 2:30pm was the latest you could enter the Caverns.