The Big Room Trail
Welcome to my first installment of what I am calling the National Park Series, where I make an effort to describe the indescribable beauty of our nation's spectacular parks. Through these posts, it is my hope to help you prepare for your own visit while sharing about mine. That said, if you're considering a trip out west, let me make a case for why you should visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Located in Carlsbad, New Mexico, this site was established as a national monument in 1923 and then as a national park in 1930. While it was not a protected landscape until the 1900s, this area has existed for millions of years and has seen many versions of itself. According to the National Park Service, the cavern is one of 300 limestone caves carved by an inland sea over millions of years. The results are breathtaking. When you arrive, you cannot comprehend what lies beneath your feet. The entrance feels quite unassuming for what’s below. I can’t help but wonder what it was like for those who first discovered and explored it. The entrance hit me out of nowhere. Now, I know what you are thinking, Erica, it’s a giant cave—how could that be surprising? Well, I am here to tell you that nothing prepared me for this giant, dark hole that just pops out of the ground.
Trailhead and cavern entrance
To enter the cave system, there are two different methods: either you hike, or you can take the more modern option of an elevator, which takes you straight into the “big room”. The Big Room is the single largest cave chamber in North America, and what I would consider to be the main event. However, unless you have physical limitations and are unable to hike or are short on time, I would strongly discourage taking the elevator, and that is because the descent into the cavern was actually my favorite part! While the Big Room is amazing, the hike down was simply spectacular and really helped me appreciate the cave, and its formation and history.
As I said, the descent was spectacular with paved trails, handrails, and benches the entire way down. According to the NPS website, the hike takes roughly an hour to make it to the Big Room, and the trail within the Big Room takes about an hour and a half, but I would give yourself at least 3-4 hours to complete everything. The hike down actually took us over an hour, and that is because of rest breaks and taking the time to read the many different plaques along the trail. By taking the time to make those stops, we got to learn a lot about the cave ecosystem, the formation of the cave, and how the park has evolved. One of the things that made this trek so fun was the amount of information they shared along the way.
Things to Be Prepared For
The Hike
The descent is quite steep, and you should only go into the cave that way if you are prepared with proper footwear (hiking shoes or shoes with tread), water, and snacks. Also make sure that you listen to their warnings, you should not do the hiking portion if you have any heart or lung conditions.
The Temperature
While the cavern is located in the desert, the caves themselves are usually a balmy 54 degrees year-round and damp. That said, what you wear in you must wear out, so make sure to dress in layers!
The Air
One thing I was unprepared for was the air quality and smell. Because the cavern is home to millions of bats, the caves are quite smelly (luckily, your nose will adjust, and soon it won’t be very noticeable). On top of that, the air is thick and damp, so this is not the time to forget your inhaler.
Things You MUST Do
Attend The Bat Flight
Picture this, you have been diving all day in the hot summer sun and finally reach your desert destination. As you descend the windy roads into the park, the sun begins to set, wrapping you in a warm yellow and orange glow. While you are trying to rush to make it to the visitor center before sundown, you are also breathing in every new and exciting sight. Where are you going? The Bat Flight, of course! Carlsbad Caverns is home to millions of bats, and as the sun sets and day turns into night, they make their way out of the cave all together. As my husband and I made it to the top, we saw in the distance a dark cloud dancing in the sky, and as we got closer, we realized it was not a cloud but bats. Millions of them. As we made it to the amphitheatre and found a seat outside the mouth of the cave, it was silent. With only the sound of bat wings fluttering in the air, he and I sat there for almost an hour. I wish that these words could accurately describe what it was like to sit there, but simply put, it was beautiful. I will never forget the sunset, the cool summer breeze, and the sound of bat wings. I could have cried. The Bat Flight is a ranger-led program that occurs nightly during the summer months and is 100% worth your time.
Stop to Read All The Informational Plaques You Can
Our National Parks are full of history and conflict, and I believe that it is important to understand the backstory of the land you are visiting, and Carlsbad is no exception. According to the NPS website, Native Americans were the first to call the caverns a part of their home, then the Spanish came in as a part of the new world exploration, and eventually the caverns became a part of the U.S due to the western expansion and acquisition of parts of Mexico (History & Culture). A great reminder that the land we call our own has not always been ours, and regardless of who the owners are, caring for these lands is all of our responsibilities as guests on this earth.
Things That Surprised Me
The Underground Complex
What truly surprised me about this park was the accessibility and vastness of the main area (Big Room). When you enter the Big Room, the entire trail is a wide boardwalk, which makes it accessible to people with mobility restrictions. And because you can take an elevator down, we saw a few people in wheelchairs and with other mobility aids. In addition to that, there are bathrooms and even a cafe and gift shop 750 ft underground. While it does make me question what harm to the ecosystem may have occurred to make these updates, it is fascinating that they were able to put that kind of infrastructure down there in the cave system. I am also glad that this spectacular place can be accessed by so many.
Hiking down into the cave felt like crawling into a completely different world and whether you take the long or short route, the views a spectacular. To learn more about going down into the caverns, please visit https://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm. Happy hiking!
