Travel Information For More Fun Travelling

Looked at from the outside the Carlsbad Caverns, which are located in New Mexico, are not much to look at and consist of several gray rock formations and a little scrub brush covering a not too cliff. However, step inside and this is one of the most astonishing landscapes anywhere on Earth and, with more than 100 limestone caves to explore, you could wander here for years without seeing the same thing twice.

The Bat Cave is not for the feint hearted and is the home of many thousands of these flying mammals. The Bifrost Room will take your breath away and, named after the Bifrost bridge into Valhalla from a Scandinavian myth, the colors truly echo those of the rainbow spectrum of this mythical crossing. The Hall of the Giants, which is the largest open chamber in the system, covers an incredible 360,000 square feet. Within these, and the many other rooms, you can find some of Mother Nature’s most creative work.

The Witch’s Finger, a giant stalagmite, is a corkscrew formation that is over five times the height of the average person and the Rock of Ages is truly impressive as it makes stationary rock appear to move and the multitude of flowstone outcroppings look like a demon’s lair glowing from within.

Within the caverns you can either take self guided or staff guided tours which vary in their degree of difficulty from easy walks through large open spaces to tackling 10 foot high walls and crawling through narrow entrances into large chambers.

One tour takes you through a section of Lechuguilla Cave which, at over one thousand six hundred feet below ground, is the deepest cave in the United States. The cave covers more than 112 miles winding through the Guadalupe Mountains.

For the less active, you can travel to the Big Room by elevator which descends 900 feet and gaze up and be simply awestruck by this 25 story high open space. You can then wander around this 1,800 foot by 250 foot room which is filled with incredible rock formations. You should also visit the Temple of the Sun and see the dozens of eerily lit underground pools.

If you do want to see the bats though you must visit between the months of April and September as the 300,000 Mexican free tailed bats fly south for the winter. A short half mile walk from the natural entrance leads to a plateau from where you can descend the 750 feet into the Bat Cave.

Remember too to pop on your favorite pair of Asolo hiking boots and explore the area outside the caves as there are many fascinating things to both see and do. Despite its name, hiking along Rattlesnake Springs you are far more likely to see dozens of birds and harmless reptiles than you are to see the snakes which give this place its name.

A final favorite with visitors to the area is the 10 mile scenic drive through Walnut Canyon. This drive travels along Guadalupe Ridge and the views are simply magnificent.

The Carlsbad Caverns are of course merely one of many splendid hiking areas in the United States and rank with such other great pleasures as the hiking trails of Yellowstone.