Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Of the roughly 120 known caves in the park, Carlsbad Cavern is the most famous. Its Big Room covers about 3.3 hectares (8.2 acres) and is considered the largest readily accessible cave chamber in North America. On foot you enter via the Natural Entrance Trail: 2 km (1.25 miles) of very steep path with about 230 m (750 ft) of elevation change, taking around an hour. Alternatively, an elevator drops 229 m (750 ft) from the visitor center. The loop through the Big Room is also 2 km (1.25 miles) and takes about 90 minutes; a shortcut halves the distance, and parts are wheelchair accessible.

You need an advance reservation to enter the cave; the entrance ticket itself is bought at the visitor center. The cave is home to a colony of about 400,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats. From late May through October, a ranger explains their evening exodus at sunset in the amphitheater by the natural entrance; electronic devices, including cameras and phones, are not allowed. The town of Carlsbad is 45 km (28 miles) away. RVs and trailers are not permitted on Walnut Canyon Desert Drive.