Small oxygen tanks are permitted in the cavern for medical reasons. I just re-read the last comment and thought about it a little more. Definitely do bring your camera. Thank you Areil. We hope you enjoy reading about our real life visit to Carlsbad Caverns with kids! However, the wait to exit the cavern can be longer near closing time. The US national parks protect and preserve some of the most beautiful landscapes in America and going on kid-friendly hikes is the best way possible to share them with your children. We are slowly exploring all the national parks in the continental United States. No strollers are allowed either which will make it tougher on you both carrying the toddler when he or she can't or won't walk anymore while the other has the newborn in a backpack. For your sake, it would be a real drag to make such a long drive, wait your turn, pay your money and have one of them freak out on the elevator ride down which isn't exactly the most modern or ear drum buffeting as you'd ride in a shiny new skyscraper somewhere. We walked down the natural entrance and took the elevator up. more, More Carlsbad Caverns National Park Topics, Carlsbad Caverns National Park Destination Experts. Now when you get to 6 year olds then herding cats becomes part of your life!! Winter can bring rather cold temperatures down to 30 degrees and bring in snow and ice. Just to clarify, my 16 month old weighs as much as a 2 year old - 27 lbs and my husband carried her the whole way (we did the natural entrance back to back with the Big Room). My husband carried the baby and still noted that by the end his legs (quads) were quite tired, but perfectly fine. At night thousands of Brazilian free tail bats dramatically leave the cave in massive swarms. The Carlsbad Caverns are rich with speleothem formations, fossils, underground pools, and hundreds of thousands of bats, which emerge in a dazzling nightly ritual. Usually between 4 and 6am, the bats will return to the cave. The two biggest obstacles include climbing down 60 feet of ladders and using a knotted rope to walk backwards down a slope. Summers are hot with temperatures from 90F to the low 100sF (32C to about 40C). Here's my really honest opinions. The park rangers will have telescopes set up for nighttime sky viewing. The 1.25 mile trail winds around showing off areas like the Hall of Giants, Bottomless Pit, and Crystal Spring Dome. You will discover this one mile (2 km) trail after you descend 750 feet (229 m) into the Underground Rest Area. The Natural Entrance Trail at Carlsbad Caverns is a steep 1.25 mile trail with several curving switchbacks that descends 750 feet into the caverns. Masks are based on Community Health Level . Carlsbad Caverns National Park Tours; Nearby Activities. If you plan to go on any other cave tours or range-led tours, you will appreciate having the extra light. There was no divider between the campground and the highway, so be sure to keep a good eye on your children. The next day, my husband and step daughter went for the Left Hand Cave tour, and I stayed at the hotel with the baby (they said they didn't recommend the tour, and they would rather have seen the Big Room again, or King's Palace). Also keep in mind it's at least half an hour from Carlsbad to the Caverns visitor center and for lodging, nothing fancy but we always stay at Best Western Stevens Inn also if you want a good steak at The Fume Restaurant. Overall, it sounds like you had a very positive visit to Carlsbad Caverrns. Experience Carlsbad Caverns Bat Flight Program Bats Fill the Evening Sky. This place looks so cool. The drive to Carlsbad Caverns National Park is 55 minutes and 45 miles. You slowly, but surely start to lose natural daylight and start to venture along the beautifully illuminated cave pathways. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico - Recreation.gov Being one of the largest cave complexes in the world, of course there will be bats! We love sharing our trips and how we organized them. Once you have your books, you will want to explore a bit. The cave is unlit with many narrow and slippery trails. From this vantage point your family will enjoy elevated views of the desert canyon below. We recommend the headlamps as you can be hands-free while enjoying the sights of the cave. Want to get your kids out caving, thinking about making the trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, wondering how long to plan your trip? Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Chihuahuan Desert in southeast New Mexico. Depending on the outside temperature, you will want to dress in layers. We found we needed to keep moving to keep my baby happy - stopping to read the signs was a bit hard - we would get about half was through and she would be "asking" to move on. This is a 3.7 mile easy hike that will take approximately 2 hours one way. This is on the very southern boarder of the State and is accessible by car. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. On this trail, you may bring a small fanny pack or camera bag as long as they havent been in other caves recently. Reserved, accessible parking is available in the "Bat Flight Disabled Parking" area. There; I said it. Summer temperatures for outdoor hikes can be rather hot with temperatures reaching 90 degrees. It is important to dress for the cave. Accessible restrooms and an accessible picnic table are available. Nestled in the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a hidden gem of 119 caves formed mostly by sulfuric acid. Its pretty exciting as you leave daylight and start to venture into the growing darkness of the cave. The amount of discoveries youll encounter on your visit to Carlsbad Caverns with kids is staggering. Next time, you'll have to return in Summer to catch the bat (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Rattlesnake Springs Picnic Area 7. Good tips for those traveling with small children. The website states all RV sites are pull-through, but we received a back-in site. Cave conditions pose an unacceptable hazard to the safety of the operators of such devices due to narrow trails, cave ceiling variations, and steep inclines. The main drawback to this location is the distance. You DO NOT have to go back out up the Natural Entrance, you exit via the elevators. We were lucky last time we went, complete silence. Be sure to bring in clear, unflavored bottled water. If not, picking up the junior ranger books can be so helpful and Ive heard that some national parks are even making ones for adults too! A 2 month old in a snuggly pack will probably not even notice he/she is anywhere different. There are washrooms at the entrance to the Carlsbad Caverns Visitors Center and near the elevators down below in the caverns. My husband took our baby upstairs to wait for us to return from the tour (1.5 hours). This is often surprisingly hard to do, but we were happy to find the Blue House Bakery & Caf in nearby Carlsbad, New Mexico. Evening Bat Flight 3. ****Entrance fees into the cave must be paid inside the visitor center upon arrival.****. It was better having her in the carrier though - walking would be a last resort. You're right, if your kid is 5 years old, there is no way you are going to carry him around. Heavily decorated with cave formations, wide-open spaces, and relatively flat, it is a must-see. Reservations are required and can be made online at Recreation.gov or over the phone. The cave floors may be a little wet from the natural water drips. As for me (being 4.5 months pregnant), I felt fine throughout, but I was a very tired at the end, and my hips hurt the next day - joints are starting to loosen up. Walking this trail is equivalent to walking up or down a 75 story building and about 60-90 minutes to complete on average. As you and your family venture deeper into your self-guided cave tour, take a moment to encourage everyone to use their senses. There is a special room in the Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center just for this purpose, called the Junior Ranger Station. Strollers: Strollers, baby carriages, and similar devices are prohibited in all caves except as necessary for children with mobility issues. She seemed a little cold when we got her out for lunch. Another option is to arrive before sunrise. You will discover this one mile (2 km) trail after you descend 750 feet (229 m) into the Underground Rest Area. Since none of the other "experts" mentioned it, I will. Carlsbad Caverns (Things To Do + See) - 2023 - California View Its very, very easy walking, unless you have any kind of knee issues. If you are visiting Carlsbad Caverns with kids and are interested in saving some money, check to see if your visitation dates align with any of the free admission days. This park film is shown in the visitor center theater every 30 minutes. It's not just food that's a problem. The entire hike will take about 1.5 hours and the shortcut is around 45 minutes. Carlsbad Cavern is one of over 300 limestone caves in a fossil reef laid down by an inland sea 250 to 280 million years ago. I am 4.5 months pregnant). Although its a 27 mile drive from Carlsbad, NW to the visitors center, many families will appreciate the wider selection of kid-friendly hotels and vacation rental homes to choose from. Our children really do love the outdoors and exploring, so we hope we can encourage other families to take the leap and give it a try. Cave Exploration You don't have to be a geology buff to appreciate the intricate formations inside the limestone caves. Plus there was a nice sized field to throw a ball around or play a sport or two. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. I guess I am just really reluctant to recommend anyone miss the natural entrance because I found it to be an intregal part of our tour and enjoyment of the caves. The ultimate guide to Carlsbad Caverns National Park The Left Hand Tunnel Tour is a candle-lit, moderately difficult trail through a section of the caves that are undeveloped. This fungus does not seem to have any effect on humans, but we can carry it from one area to another. This is a more difficult 0.5 mile trail to the cave entrance. What an incredible family experience to explore the Carlsbad Caverns with kids. Carlsbad Caverns Theater A few areas are narrow and you will need to pass one at a time. Basically, we arrived around 1030 (I think arriving a bit earlier would have been better), walked down the natural entrance..I think it took us about an hour. We guide you through our favorite family-friendly Carlsbad Caverns National Park caves, routes, and hikes with kids with all the tips of an expert so you can make the most of your trip. You will also want closed toed shoes with good traction. The Big Room and the Natural Entrance are both self guiding. The very popular series of ranger led tours includes the Kings Palace Tour (a 1 mile descent into the Scenic Rooms), the Left Hand Tunnel Tour (a fun candle lit tour), and the Lower Cave Tour (a strenuous descent beneath the Big Room via a handline and three ladders). COVID-19 Operations Update:Reservations Required to Enter Carlsbad Cavern. We saw many people get turned away at the Visitor Center as they were unaware of the need to reserve tickets in advance. 1 - We need to get our sticker (priorities :)). We did 1 day at White Sands, 1 day at Carlsbad Caverns and 3 days at Guadalupe Mountains and it was perfect for our family; however, our kids would have loved more time at White Sands. Up until now, I thought they were all pretty impressive, but our visit to the Carlsbad Caverns with kids changed all of that. I agree, but with a caveat; you should not have cookies or any food in the cave, except possibly in the lunch room, if it is still there. 3225 National Parks Highway Mailing Address: 3225 National Parks Highway Carlsbad, NM 88220 Phone: 575 785-2232. The park rangers at Carlsbad Caverns National Park offer a few different ranger led tours for guests. Flashlights and helmets with headlamps are permitted in the cavern. Segways: Segways and similar large mobility devices are prohibited in all caves. The Big Room. It is a 1.25 mile trail, but it does have a shortcut that can make the trail only 0.6 miles. Really for 3 reasons. When we travel with kids, we make an effort to try and find restaurants where we can all get a healthy meal. The ride was about 2 minutes and my baby handled it perfectly well. All the bats in the area around Carlsbad Caverns National Park are insectivores. They offer 30 and 50 amp pull through sites mostly plus free WIFI. natural entrace trail and big room trail as one big loop?