National Parks - New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

5/27/1994 Drove 2 1/2 hours to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Self-guided cave tour - excellent. Started at natural cave entrance and walked down 750 feet (vertical) on well-paved switch-back trails. At huge cave entrance were many birds flying to nests in cave. Along the way used little radio receivers to get cave info. Magnificent sights along the way. Took about 45 minutes (and tired knees!) to get to area where we could have started using elevator. Had lunch underground in cave, then continued tour of Big Room - magnificent cave formations all over - huge columns, 'mites and 'tites, flowstone, pools, pits, etc. Elevator back up. [The tour route is on the Carlsbad Caverns NRT.]

The park sign

The natural entrance

Flowstone