Carlsbad Caverns Activities

Cave Tours

The cave climate is cool and varies little from the annual 56°F (13°C) average temperature. A light jacket or sweater, and comfortable shoes with rubber soles for good traction are appropriate year-round.
Baby strollers are not permitted in the cave. Bring a baby backpack if you need to carry your child. Note: Children 3 years of age and under are not permitted on any of the guided tours offered at Carlsbad Caverns.
Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult that is at least 18.
We reserve the right to alter any tour due to safety and other conditions.

Self-Guided Tours
The basic cavern entry is by way of two self-guided routes, the Big Room Route and the Natural Entrance Route. Tickets are sold at the visitor center each day, except December 25. Entrance fee tickets are good for three days but do not include guided or other special tours. Summer hours are in effect from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Guided Tours
Reservations are hightly recommended for all guided cave tours. Make reservations by calling the National Park Reservation Service at 1.800.967.CAVE (2283) or visit their website at reservations.nps.gov. An entrance fee ticket is required in addition to the guided tour fee for Kings Palace, Left Hand Tunnel, Lower Cave and Hall of the White Giant. Note: Children 3 years of age and under are not permitted on any of the guided tours offered at Carlsbad Caverns.

Bat Flight Program

Notice: Cameras, including video cameras, are NOT permitted at the bat flight program.
Prior to the evening bat flight, a talk is given at the cavern entrance by a park ranger. The starting time of the talk varies with sunset--it is best to call the park at 505.785.3012 or check at the visitor center for the exact time. Programs may be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Bat flight programs are scheduled from Memorial Day weekend through the end of September. There is no charge for the bat flight program. In late October or early November, the bats migrate to Mexico for the winter; they return in April or May, depending on the weather.

Best Flights
The best bat flights normally occur in August and September. At this time baby bats, born in early summer, join the flight along with migrating bats from colonies further north.

Return Flights
The daily pre-dawn return of the bats is different from the evening exit flights but are just as impressive. Early risers can see the bats as they re-enter Carlsbad Cavern with spectacular dives from heights of hundreds of feet. Individual bats diving in from every direction may reach speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or more.

Bat Flight Breakfast
The 49th annual Bat Flight Breakfast is Saturday, July 29, from 5 to 7 a.m. Park employees sponsor this breakfast once each year. A reasonable fee is charged for the breakfast ($7 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under). The self-guided tour fees are waived for all Bat Flight Breakfast participants.

For Your Comfort and Safety
Cameras, including video cameras, are not permitted at the Bat flight program. Several scientific studies, along with the observations of many bat researchers from around the world, have documented the disturbance caused to bats by lights, especially white light such as that in flash photography. Besides the risks to the bats, it is very difficult to get good quality photos of a bat flight under any circumstances, and the risks simply aren't worth the results that most visitors get. Photos of the bat flight will be available for sale at a nominal fee at a sales station behind the amphitheater seating area. Photos and filming of the bat flight may be done under a special use permit obtained from the park at least two weeks in advance.
Spaces to accommodate people using wheelchairs are located at the entrance to the amphitheater. Restrooms are available and fully accessible.
Pets are not allowed in the amphitheater area.