About
Length1.3 mi
ShapeLoop
DifficultyModerate
Elevation gain50 ft up
Typical time45 min
TrailheadCarlsbad Caverns, via lift or the Natural Entrance
SurfacePaved and largely level underground path
Best seasonThe cave is 56F year round. Surface trails are best October to April; the bat flight runs from late spring to October.
DogsNot allowed
What you'll see 🕳️ Cave or arch

The Big Room covers 8.2 acres, with a ceiling 255 feet high in places. The loop passes the Bottomless Pit, the Giant Dome and Rock of Ages. A shorter accessible route covers about a third of it.

Tips
Reached by lift in a minute, or on foot down the Natural Entrance. About a third of the loop is wheelchair accessible via a marked shortcut. Entry reservations required.
Location

Carlsbad Caverns, via lift or the Natural Entrance

🎒 What to pack

A 1.3 mi walk — here's the short list worth having in the pack.

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
Your Hikes

🔒 Login or create an account to record the trails you've done, rate them, and tie them to a trip.

Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.