At Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, it’s all about the caves. And no visit to this cave-centric national park is complete without taking the self-guided tour through Carlsbad Cavern. To do this, though, you will need reservations through recreation.gov.

The paved, self-guided trail from the Natural Entrance down to the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns National Park / Rebecca Latson

Before reserving a tour, you need to know a few things about visiting Carlsbad Caverns and what you can and cannot take with you on a tour.

According to park staff:

• 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 about 56ºF (13ºC).
• Baby strollers are not permitted in the cavern. A baby backpack may suit your needs if you need to carry your child.
• If medically necessary, canes and walking sticks are permitted. For safety, canes and walking sticks are required to have a rubber or soft tip.
• Don't forget your camera! Flash photography in the cave is permitted, just be courteous of the person next to you when you use your flash.
• Tripods, Bipods, and Monopods are not permitted in the cavern. There may still be an odd park webpage or perhaps a blog post out there indicating these items are permitted, but they are definitely not.
• The cavern is dimly lit. You are welcome to bring a flashlight or headlamp, but it is not necessary.
• 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 can bring your cell phone, but there is no signal in the cavern. Remember to put it on "airplane mode" or turn it off if you are taking it in the cavern to conserve the battery.
• Please bring your quiet voice, noises carry up to a 1/4 mile (0.4 kilometer) in the cavern.

Self-Guided Tour

The self-guided tour includes the Natural Entrance trail down to and around the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns National Park / Rebecca Latson

The self-guided tour is quite popular since it allows visitors plenty of time to view as much or as little of the cave at their own pace. It’s also great for photographers who wish to take their time, as well. On this tour, you have the option to enter the cave's Natural Entrance, walking the steep 1.25-mile (2-kilometer) paved trail of switchbacks down to the Big Room. There, you can continue to the 1.25-mile (2 kilometer) Big Room Trail. If you need the restroom or wish to go ahead and exit the cave via the elevators, there are a couple of shortcuts aolong the Big Room Trail. If you feel like testing your stamina, you can return the way you came, hiking all the way back to the Natural Entrance. Most visitors hike down the Natural Entrance and return to the top via the elevator. Tour reservations are $1.00 per ticket and may be made through recreation.gov.

According to recreation.gov:

Confirmation Email Required

Confirmation emails for Self-Guided Tour must be presented upon arrival. Cell phone coverage may not be available. Before you arrive, please have your confirmation email saved to your phone or printed out.

Mask requirement based on Community Health Level

Masks are optional at this time. Mask requirements are based on CDC Community Health Levels for Eddy County, New Mexico and may change at anytime. 

Arrival Times

The entry times are based on a 60-minute window beginning with the start time that you select. For example, if you select an 8:30am reservation time, you must enter the cave between 8:30am and 9:30am. There is no time limit after entering the cavern. Last entry is available until 2:30pm. 

Must reserve time for adults AND children

Children 15 and under are free to enter the cavern however, they must hold a reservation time. Please ensure that you account for all adults AND children when you make your reservations. During the summer months and Holidays be aware that once the cave capacity number has been reached, no additional entry is allowed unless you have a reservation. There is a limited number of entries per day.

Reservations

Reservations: Reservations are available 30 days in advance and up to 5 am MT the day of the tour. No reservations can be made for same day after 5:00 AM MT. During the summer months and Holidays, be aware that once the cave capacity number has been reached, no additional entry is allowed unless you have a reservation. There is a limited number of entries per day.

Refunds

There are no refunds for Self-Guided Tour reservations (The cancellation fee of $1.00 per ticket is the same price as the reservation).

Health Warnings

Cave tours are not recommend for people with known heart or respiratory problems, back, knee, or walking issues of any kind, or for people with vertigo or claustrophobia issues. Determine your own physical ability!

Avoid Long Lines

You may experience long wait times to exit the cave by elevator. See park website for additional alerts. Holidays and weekends during the summer months may extend the elevator wait times.

What to Wear

Hiking boots or sturdy shoes are recommended. Sandals or flip-flops are NOT recommended.

Protecting Bats

Do not wear or bring any items that have been in any other caves or mines. A disease known as White-Nose Syndrome is killing bats in North America. To prevent it from spreading to our bats, do not wear shoes, clothing, or bring any gear into any cave at Carlsbad Caverns National Park that were in another cave.

Age

There is no age limit for the Self-Guided Tour.

Baby Strollers

Baby Strollers are NOT permitted in the cavern

Food and Drink

Plain water only! Candy, tobacco, vaping products, gum, and sodas or flavored waters are NOT permitted to be taken into cavern. The historic Underground Lunchroom offers drinks, sandwiches, and salads.

Temperature

The average cave temperature is 56 degrees Fahrenheit with 90% of humidity year-round.

Hiking Poles

Hiking poles are NOT permitted in the cave.

Cameras

Photography, including using a flash, is allowed in the cavern. Be courteous to other visitors. Photography is not allowed during the Bat Flight Program.

Tripods, Bi-pods and Mono-pods

Tripods, Bi-pods or Mono-pods are NOT allowed in this cave. 

Hours

Beginning March 23, 2025, Due to staffing issues, Visitor Center hours will be 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Traveler’s Note: Currently, the only tour visitors are able to take is the Self-Guided Tour. Lower Cave, Kings Palace, and Slaughter Canyon tours listed below are all cancelled until further notice due to current staffing issues. Also, the 8:30 a.m. tour time for the park’s self-guided tours is cancelled as of March 23, 2025, until further notice. If you go to recreation.gov, you will notice – except for the Slaughter Canyon Cave Tour, which is not listed at all - the cancelled tours are still listed, but you will be unable to select a date or ticket quantity for these tours.

Kings Palace Tour

Cave formations seen along the Kings Palace Tour, Carlsbad Caverns National Park / NPS-Peter Jones

This tour is listed as moderate and is limited to 12 people per time slot. Tour duration is 90 minutes and the distance covered is one mile (1.62 kilometers). This is not an Accessible tour.

You will leisurely stroll through four naturally-decorated chambers of the cave with a ranger while descending to the deepest portion of the cavern open to the public. You’ll observe such speleothems (cave formations) as helictites, draperies, columns, and soda straws.

According to recreation.gov:

• Reserved tickets must be picked up no later than 30-45 minutes prior to the posted tour starting time. No refunds for late arrivals. No replacement tickets for lost or misplaced tickets.
• You must have a timed-entry reservation as well as your tour reservation. 
• Rangers frequently conduct "black-outs" during this tour, briefly turning off all artificial lights to reveal the natural darkness of the cave. Some of the lights may flicker and/or be slow to turn on when coming out of the "blackout." They will settle down once they have a few minutes to warm up. Random light changes like these (Flickering, etc.) can also occur during the tour. Consider if this is within your comfort level or tolerance.
• If attending lower cave you are not able to attend King's Palace on the same day. 
• Assistive listening devices available for tour upon request at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center.
• The trail is a paved pathway. You will encounter a flight of stairs and also a steep 80 foot hill you must go down initially and then back up at the end of the tour.  
• Children under 6 years of age are not allowed on this tour.
• Participants are required to have a general admission (Adult: $15.00 Children 6-15: free) and a tour ticket. 
• King's Palace Ranger guided tour prices: $1 reservation fee in advance.

The following additional fees will be charged per-person upon arrival in person:

• Adult: $8.00
• Children: $4.00
• Interagency Senior Lifetime / Annual and Access Pass: $4.00
• Prices for Interagency Senior and Access pass holders are for those pass holders only. All others must purchase a full priced ticket.

Lower Cave Tour

During one part of the Lower Cave Tour, participants will be required to lower themselves backward down a slope using a knotted rope, Carlsbad Caverns National Park / NPS-Peter Jones

Listed as difficult in effort, this tour lasts 3 hours and covers one mile (1.62 kilometers) which includes navigating 39 steps. On the tour visitors will see from early explorations. There are no electric lights or paved trails, just the uneven natural floor that can be slick or rocky. To get to this level of the cavern, you must descend about 60 feet (18.3 meters) of ladders and walk backwards down a 10-foot (3.05-meter) slick slope using a knotted handline. Once down, you will squeeze through the Florida Keyhole, hike through large passages, stoop walk through a maze, and experience total darkness. This tour is not for those who have a fear of heights, have poor night vision, or weak knees. Helmets with headlamps and gloves will be provided.

According to recreation.gov:

• Reserved tickets must be picked up no later than 15 minutes prior to the posted tour starting time - no later than 8:15am. No refunds for late arrivals. 
• Visitor Center Hours—8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  
• Participants are required to have a general entrance and a tour ticket. Long sleeves or a light jacket recommended. 
• Children under 12 years of age are not allowed. 
• Hiking boots or hiking shoes with good aggressive tread are required. No sandals, flip flops, tennis shoes, or similar footwear. You will not be allowed to participate in the tour if you are not wearing proper footwear—no exceptions.
• Prices for Inter-agency Senior and Access pass holders are for those pass holders only. All others must purchase a separate full priced tour ticket. 
• Do not wear or bring any items that have been in any other caves or mines. A disease known as White-Nose Syndrome is killing bats in North America. To prevent it from spreading to our bats, do not wear shoes, clothing, or bring any gear into any cave at Carlsbad Caverns National Park that were in another cave.
• Tripods, Bi-pods or Mono-pods are NOT allowed in this cave. 
• Accessibility: There is no handicap accessibility on this tour. 
• Must have a timed entry reservation as well as the reservation for this tour. 
• Amenities: Restrooms are located in the visitor center and in the cavern Underground Lunchroom. There are no restroom opportunities during the tour. There is a restaurant in the visitor center as well as the possibility of limited food available in the cavern Underground Lunchroom. Bookstore and gift shop are located in the visitor center. Kennel Services are available.

Slaughter Canyon Cave Tour

The Guardian formation seen along the Slaughter Canyon Cave Tour, Carlsbad Caverns National Park / NPS-Peter Jones

Listed as a moderately-strenuous adventure tour with a maximum group size of 16 participants, this 5.5-hour tour takes participants underground without electricity, paved walkways, or modern conveniences. The cave trails are narrow, uneven, and very slippery. In this wild cave, darkness is broken only by the flashlights and headlamps of rangers and tour members. Highlights of the tour may include the 89-foot-high (21.1 meters) Monarch, one of the world's tallest columns; the Christmas Tree, a sparkling, crystal-decorated column; and the Chinese Wall, a delicate, ankle-high rimstone dam. Old bat guano mining excavations attest to the human history and impact in the cave. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $7.50 for children, Senios/Access Pass holders. The tour meets at the visitor center where you will caravan in your vehicle then take a strenuous half-mile hike of 30-45 minutes up to the cave entrance. The minimum age is 10 years old. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

According to park staff:

• You will receive a mandatory safety orientation before you venture into the cave.
• Hiking boots or hiking shoes with good aggressive tread are required. Hiking boots with ankle support are recommended. No sandals, flip flops, tennis shoes, or similar. You will not be allowed to participate in the tour if you are not wearing proper footwear—no exceptions. Click for more details.
• It is strongly recommended you bring water and snacks for the trail, as well as a hat and sunscreen.
• Walking sticks, backpacks, fanny packs, bags, and similar items are allowed on the hiking trail to the cave entrance, but NOT allowed inside the cave. There is an area for safe storage of your personal items inside the cave.
• The park will provide helmets, headlamps, and gloves. Due to the possibility of carrying the lethal fungus that causes White-Nose Syndrome in bats, we do no allow anyone to use their own personal caving gear.
• In an effort to keep the fungus that causes deadly White-Nose Syndrome in bats out of Slaughter Canyon Cave, all participants are required to wear freshly laundered (clean) clothing on the tour. Even if the clothing has only been worn on another tour at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, the clothes must be freshly laundered. There will be no exceptions. Participants must also decontaminate their footwear before the tour. Tour leaders will provide the needed supplies. Click for more information.