Carlsbad Caverns - National Parks Conservation Association

Home » How Deep Is Carlsbad Caverns » Carlsbad Caverns - National Parks Conservation Association

Maybe your like

  • Skip to navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Act Now Close this message NPCA Home npca-logo

Your gift today doubled to protect parks

Protect the park workforce, defend public lands from being sold off and stop history and science from being erased in our parks.

All gifts matched up to $50,000 before 3/31.

MATCH MY GIFT NPCA Home npca-logo
  • About Us
Search Search magnifying glass icon Donate menu icon Menu
  • Find a Park /
Carlsbad Caverns National Park Share on:
  • Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Email Email this page
Sign up to get action alerts
  • State: NM
  • NPCA Region: Southwest
  • Est. Date: 1923

Air Quality Conditions

View the Polluted Parks Report

Visibility

Unsatisfactory

Health

Significant Concern

Nature

Significant Concern

Deep beneath the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico is a labyrinth of more than 300 limestone caves, carved over 250 million years ago.

The park also preserves biologically diverse desert lands above ground, as well as a portion of an exposed fossil reef. One of the most notable sights at Carlsbad Cavern is the spectacle of the park’s 400,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats leaving the cave each night at sunset in dramatic clouds of flapping wings; visitors can attend a special ranger program and enjoy this striking exodus from early spring to mid-autumn, before the bats migrate south for the winter.

Underground Extremes

Lechuguilla Cave at Carlsbad Caverns is the deepest limestone cave in the country, and the fifth-longest known cave in the world.

Updates on Carlsbad Caverns

  • Magazine Article

    The Cave Doctor

    Fall 2025 | By Jacob Baynham

    When delicate cave formations are damaged, Carlsbad Caverns National Park calls on the fix-it skills of Michael Mansur and his growing legion of volunteers.

  • Magazine Article

    Mossing Around

    Summer 2021 | By Jacob Baynham

    Why while away retirement on the golf course when you could become a moss expert and hunt down...

  • Blog Post

    The 12 Parks Most Threatened by Oil & Gas Drilling

    Nov 2019

    Oil and gas development threatens the future of national parks. NPCA's new report, “Spoiled Parks,” highlights what we stand to lose in the face of the current administration's energy…

More about Carlsbad Caverns

Filter By
  • Articles
  • Resources
  • All
Articles Resources All
  • Read more about Spoiled Parks: Top 12 National Parks Threatened by Trump Administration's Energy Agenda Press Release Spoiled Parks: Top 12 National Parks Threatened by Trump Administration's Energy Agenda Oct 2019 Spoiled Parks explores how current leasing policies have scarred landscapes and threaten future harm to clean air, cultural heritage, wildlife and tourism economies.
  • Read more about Subterranean Secrets Magazine Article Subterranean Secrets Aug 2019 | By Amy Berenbeim A Carlsbad Caverns Comic
  • Read more about Oil and Gas Development Delayed Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park Press Release Oil and Gas Development Delayed Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park Jul 2018 Bureau of Land Management temporarily deferred lease sales to study the local geology and its interaction with groundwater
  • Read more about Carlsbad Caverns National Park the Latest Target of Rushed Oil and Gas Leasing Process Press Release Carlsbad Caverns National Park the Latest Target of Rushed Oil and Gas Leasing Process Apr 2018 The BLM's minuscule 10-day public scoping comment period for the nearly 200 parcel proposal comprising nearly 89,000 acres, some of which are about a mile from Carlsbad Caverns National Park, closes tonight.
  • Read more about Underground Adventures Blog Post Underground Adventures Apr 2018 | By Jennifer Errick Go below the Earth’s surface to explore exquisite realms that evolved in total darkness. These 10 national park caves are places to learn about the mysterious worlds under our feet.
  • Read more about Oil, Gas Leasing Threatens 7 Western National Parks Press Release Oil, Gas Leasing Threatens 7 Western National Parks Jun 2017 New report details dangers of development near park lands.
  • Read more about Oil, Gas Leasing Threatens 7 Western National Parks Report Oil, Gas Leasing Threatens 7 Western National Parks New report details dangers of development near park lands
  • Read more about Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding Blog Post Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding Apr 2017 | By Nicholas Lund Find out which national park sites have the most bird species, with a highlight of what you might see at each place.
  • Read more about 9 Spooky National Park Sites Blog Post 9 Spooky National Park Sites Oct 2015 | By Jennifer Errick As the days get shorter, the nights get spookier—at least during the month of October. If you’re looking for a few mysterious places to explore before telling ghost stories by the campfire, these quaint and curious settings offer tricks and treats for an eerie autumn mood.
  • Read more about Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks Report Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks “Polluted Parks” graded the pollution-related damage in the 48 national parks required by the Clean Air Act to have the highest possible air quality.
  • Read more about A Swallow’s Tale Magazine Article A Swallow’s Tale Mar 2015 | By Kate Siber A 35-year study of cave swallows at Carlsbad Caverns has solved some abiding mysteries about the songbird.
  • Read more about Fighting Fluff Magazine Article Fighting Fluff Sep 2014 | By Rona Marech At well-known caves around the country, volunteers armed with tweezers and brushes keep lint—yes, lint—at bay.
View All Donate

Preserve Our Parks

Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.

Donate Now NPCA Home npca-logo

777 6th Street NW Suite 700 Washington DC 20001-3723

800.NAT.PARK 800.628.7275

NPCA Home NPCA logo

Preserving Our Past. Protecting Our Future.

Donate

777 6th Street NW Suite 700 Washington DC 20001-3723

800.NAT.PARK 800.628.7275

Follow Us

  • Facebook facebook logo
  • X (formally Twitter)
  • Instagram instagram logo
  • Youtube youtube logo
  • LinkedIn
  • Bluesky
  • Reddit
  • Threads
Listen to NPCA's award-winning podcast › National Parks magazine Subscribe to National Parks Magazine now › © 2026 National Parks Conservation Association Contact Us Terms of Service Privacy Policy AdChoices 501(c)(3) Status Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity Charity Navigator

Tag » How Deep Is Carlsbad Caverns