Some people arrive at Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad, New Mexico, unsure of what to expect beyond a one-of-a-kind adventure. Others may be experienced visitors who enjoy visiting the awe-inspiring limestone cave, inviting others.

Visited by more than 300,000 people each year, the historic national park attracts thousands of visitors daily with its magnificent and delicate formations, as well as beautiful stalagmites and stalactites, which are formed from dissolved limestone.

It's hard to imagine that the area where the Carlsbad Caverns sit was the coastline of an inland sea 250 million years ago. Evidence of that time period can be seen in fossils, including snails, nautiloids, and ammonites, found within the caverns.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park features 119 caves, which are unusual in that they were formed by sulfuric acid rather than carbonic acid. Most caves in the world are formed when water interacts with carbon dioxide and seeps downwards.

Before heading to this underground phenomenon, however, it is essential to plan and take the necessary steps to ensure you can visit on the day you want to go. Recent incidents with trash being left inside the caverns also stress the need to respect the caverns.

The cavern is open daily except on Thanksgiving, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

What to know about Carlsbad Caverns, N.M.

El Pasoan Amanda Akers said she had many questions when she first considered taking her five kids to Carlsbad Caverns in the 2024 summer. The young mother had never been to the caverns, so she wasn't sure if she could bring snacks or a stroller. Her five kids are 15, 11, 8, 6 and 3.

"I found out I couldn't take any of that, which was OK to know ahead of time," she said. "We also needed a reservation, which was a good thing we found out.

Akers said her kids did well on the 1 1/2-hour trek; however, her then 2-year-old got tired and had to be carried in her arms most of the way.

"I took them by myself so that was a little hard," she said. "But the older ones really enjoyed it, it was really like an adventure. It's just so crazy to see how the earth creates a whole art. That was really nice to see, and you could see people taking pictures of a certain thing, the shadows, the shapes and the walls and there were just all kinds of colors — it wasn't just gray."

The first step in planning a trip to the caverns is to make a reservation, which can be purchased online or by calling 877-444-6777. The reservation is only for a timed entry. Upon arrival at the visitor center, entrance tickets must be purchased.

Depending on your time, interest and physical ability, visitors can select from three main cave tour options — two self-guided tours and one ranger-led tour. The timed, self-guided tours begin at 9:30 a.m.

The Visitor Center hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last tickets will be sold at 2:15 p.m., the site states.

Big Room, National Entrance or King's Palace Tour

The basic tour through Carlsbad Cavern is the Big Room Route, a 1.25-mile, self-guided underground stroll around the perimeter of the cave's largest room, accessible after an easy elevator descent. The Big Room is the largest cave chamber in North America, with 8.2 acres of floor area.

This 1 1/2-hour circular route will take visitors through many large and famous features, such as the Bottomless Pit and the Giant Dome, the largest active stalagmite in the caverns. It is relatively level and well-lit, ideal for people with limited time or walking difficulties. It also contains the lunchroom and an underground rest area.

Parts of the Big Room are accessible to visitors in wheelchairs.

Thousands of stalactites decorate the inside of the Carlsbad Caverns.

The National Entrance Route is a self-guided tour suitable for visitors with ample time and good physical condition. The 1.25-mile tour follows the traditional explorer's route. The entrance route descends over 750 feet into the Earth, following steep and narrow trails through the Main Corridor.

The route culminates in the rest area and the Big Room Route starting point.

The King's Palace Tour is a 1 1/2-hour, ranger-guided tour through the highly decorated, scenic chambers. The tour descends to the deepest portion of the cavern with paved trails 830 feet beneath the desert surface. The one-mile tour requires descending and later climbing an eight-story-high hill. A separate fee is charged for this tour.

Dropped Cheetos bag at Carlsbad Caverns

In early September of 2024, Carlsbad Caverns National Park officials scolded the unknown visitor who accidentally dropped a bag of Cheetos inside the caverns. The accident caused unexpected consequences for the cave’s delicate ecosystem.

The Cheetos, softened by the cave's humidity, created an ideal environment for microbial and fungal growth. This prompted a temporary food web involving cave crickets, mites, spiders, and flies, disrupting the cave’s fragile balance. Park rangers had to remove the Cheetos and molds from the cave surfaces.

Park officials remind visitors that the cavern environment is fragile and the importance of following park rules and the principle of leaving no trace.

Here are other basic rules:

Some areas of the Big Room and Natural Entrance trails are wet from natural water drips and steep. For safety, closed-toe shoes with good traction (e.g., lug soles) are recommended. Flip flops, sandals, and some walking shoes have little or no traction and increase the possibility of slips, trips, and falls.
You may want to bring a light jacket or sweater, as the year-round temperature in the cavern is approximately 56 degrees (13 degrees Celsius).
Baby strollers are not permitted in the cavern. A baby backpack may be a suitable option if you need to carry your child.
If medically necessary, canes and walking sticks are permitted on the Big Room, Natural Entrance, and King's Palace trails. For safety, canes and walking sticks are required to have a rubber or soft tip.
Plain water is permitted in the cavern, but no flavored water or drinks. Also, no food, gum, mints, candy, or any product that could attract animals into the cavern where they can't escape.
No tobacco products of any kind, including e-cigarettes/vaping and chewing tobacco.
You are welcome to bring your cell phone, but please note that there is no signal in the cavern. Remember to put it on airplane mode or turn it off if you're taking it into the cavern to conserve the battery.
Bring your quiet voice, noises carry up to a 1/4 mile (0.4 km) in the cavern.

María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; [email protected]; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Planning a visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park? Here’s what you need to know