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Carlsbad Caverns - 3 members in 10 triplogs have rated this an average 4.7 ( 1 to 5 best )
10 triplogs
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Apr 21 2025
avatar

 Guides 187
 Routes 990
 Photos 12,079
 Triplogs 865

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Carlsbad Cavern, NM 
Carlsbad Cavern, NM
 
Hiking avatar Apr 21 2025
markthurman53 • Triplogs 865
Hiking2.40 Miles
Hiking2.40 Miles   3 Hrs      0.80 mph
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Carlsbad Caverns
Partners partners
mamakatt22
Ginny and I took a 4 day trip from the flatlands of Lubbock to Carlsbad and Guadalupe National Park. The first day we went to Carlsbad Cavern. The caverns are a self-guided tour of 2.4 miles. We had beautiful weather the whole tour, not a cloud in the sky, fairly constant temperature but a little dark. We contemplated hiking out the way we came in so we would get a little AEG but since we were hiking to Guadalupe Peak the next day we took the elevator out. Don’t suppose we could count the 750 foot elevator ride as AEG.

The town of Carlsbad has grown quite a bit since I was first here in 1982, Lots of new hotels on the north side of town.
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Apr 18 2024
avatar

 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Carlsbad CavernsSoutheast, NM
Carlsbad Caverns
Southeast, NM
Caving avatar Apr 18 2024
mt98dew • Triplogs 2,387
Caving4.00 Miles 750 AEG
Caving4.00 Miles   5 Hrs      0.80 mph
750 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Wow!!! The Caverns are like nothing I’ve seen before! A journey that is incomparable to any other hike I’ve done.

My wife and I arrived around 9:30. (The park allows 300 reserved entries every hour and they allow visitors to go down in hourly blocks. (We could go down anywhere between 9:30 and 10:30). And once you go down you can hike at your own pace until the Caverns close. That means you can have a lot of people walking the “trails” with you). We hiked down and then circled the Big Room. Both the hike down and the Big Room are about 1.25 miles each. We spent about 5 hours taking in the scenes. Might have gone longer but both our phones (cameras) died on us. We did this as a self guided tour. Guided tours are available as are audio guided tours. (It might be interesting to do an audio guided tour). I would be very interested in doing the King’s Palace or Lower Cave Tour, but those are guided tours only and fill up almost as soon as they become available.

I was able to hike back out, (wife took the elevator). Started around 3:15 which is apparently near the cut off time for allowing people to hike out. I had a Ranger following me up. This is a good time to head up, as the number of people coming down are almost nonexistent. (I would hate to try and do this the usual influx of people coming down. It was about a 25 minute hike up. The entire “trail” is paved and has hand rails.

There is a food court in the Caverns as well as topside, but both close at 3:30. (There is a Cactus Cafe in White City, but that also closes at 3:30).

I cannot recommend this destination enough. Simply fantastic!
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Mar 05 2023
avatar

 Guides 177
 Routes 249
 Photos 10,213
 Triplogs 2,215

74 male
 Joined Feb 12 2002
 Gold Canyon, AZ
Carlsbad CavernsSoutheast, NM
Carlsbad Caverns
Southeast, NM
Caving avatar Mar 05 2023
AZLOT69 • Triplogs 2,215
Caving2.00 Miles 750 AEG
Caving2.00 Miles
750 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Quite a difference among cave experiences. Nice to be self guided but definitely busy. No bats this time of year. Fun time.
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It's best for a man to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open his mouth and remove all doubt.
--Mark Twain
 
Sep 13 2012
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 79
 Photos 2,440
 Triplogs 652

34 male
 Joined Jan 10 2010
 Pomona, CA
Carlsbad CavernsSoutheast, NM
Carlsbad Caverns
Southeast, NM
Caving avatar Sep 13 2012
PatrickL • Triplogs 652
Caving2.00 Miles
Caving2.00 Miles   3 Hrs   30 Mns   0.57 mph
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Hiked in through the natural entrance. I wanted to hike out the same way, but I took too long inside. Got to experiment with the settings on my camera. Pretty happy with a few of the pictures I got.
This place is incredible. I'd like to do some of the real caving tours one of these days.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Carlsbad Caverns National Park
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Mar 17 2011
avatar

 Guides 22
 Routes 6
 Photos 512
 Triplogs 466

34 male
 Joined May 17 2007
 CA
Carlsbad CavernsSoutheast, NM
Carlsbad Caverns
Southeast, NM
Caving avatar Mar 17 2011
rally_toad • Triplogs 466
Caving4.00 Miles 900 AEG
Caving4.00 Miles
900 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Spent the whole day at Carlsbad and I must say its the most amazing cave I've seen. Walked in via natural entrance, took the big room route, took the guided kings palace tour and then walked out via the natural entrance route.
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"Who are you guys??!!" -Farnsworth
 
Aug 05 2010
avatar

 Routes 1
 Triplogs 172

55 male
 Joined Apr 25 2008
 Peoria, AZ.
Carlsbad CavernsSoutheast, NM
Carlsbad Caverns
Southeast, NM
Caving avatar Aug 05 2010
RangerTRX • Triplogs 172
Caving3.00 Miles 750 AEG
Caving3.00 Miles   3 Hrs   30 Mns   0.86 mph
750 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Such an awesome cave.
1.5 miles in, 1.5 miles around the bottom and you now have to take the elevator out. Wasent that way 32 years ago. I wanted to hike out. :(
Took our own flashlight so you get to see more. :) Took lots of pictures. Used slow shutter to keep from using flash. Makes photos much better. Must take a mini pocket trypod. They dont allow full size or staffs.
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Dec 27 2009
avatar

 Triplogs 348

32 male
 Joined Oct 13 2012
 Tucson, AZ
Carlsbad CavernsSoutheast, NM
Carlsbad Caverns
Southeast, NM
Caving avatar Dec 27 2009
iborrego • Triplogs 348
Caving1.00 Miles 750 AEG
Caving1.00 Miles
750 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
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Oct 04 2009
avatar

 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
carlsbad caverns, NM 
carlsbad caverns, NM
 
Hiking avatar Oct 04 2009
imike • Triplogs 2,467
Hiking2.00 Miles 120 AEG
Hiking2.00 Miles   1 Hour      2.00 mph
120 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Carlsbad Caverns
Partners none no partners
i thought I'd be scoring a lot more feet of climbing, but they no longer allow you to hike back up to the natural entrance, you have to exit on the elevator! bummer... still, it is a scenic bit of walking, and the one mile downhill helped to loosen up the legs
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Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
Mar 17 2007
avatar

 Guides 3
 Routes 4
 Photos 8,687
 Triplogs 931

46 male
 Joined Mar 28 2005
 Gilbert, AZ
Carlsbad CavernsSoutheast, NM
Carlsbad Caverns
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Mar 17 2007
Vaporman • Triplogs 931
Hiking3.75 Miles
Hiking3.75 Miles
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Ended up going down the Natural Entrance then doing the whole Big Room. Afterwards I had a reservation for Hall of the White Giant, which also has you doing the Natural Entrance route as well. This guided 'wild caving experince' was very sweet and involved many tight squeezes, a narrow ladder, and two ropes. You definetly need to be in good shape to complete this route. :D
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Yea, canyoneering is an extreme sport... EXTREMELY dramatic!!! =p
 
Jun 01 1983
avatar

 Guides 264
 Routes 2,797
 Photos 14,494
 Triplogs 5,894

55 male
 Joined Nov 20 1996
 
Carlsbad CavernsSoutheast, NM
Carlsbad Caverns
Southeast, NM
Caving avatar Jun 01 1983
joebartels • Triplogs 5,894
Caving1.00 Miles 750 AEG
Caving1.00 Miles
750 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I'm guessing on the date. Seems it was around the Risky Business era :lol:
_____________________
- joe
 
average hiking speed 1.01 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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