Park Essentials

Park Fees and Permits

No fee is charged for parking or to enter the aboveground portion of the park. It costs $12 to descend into Carlsbad Caverns either by elevator or through the Natural Entrance. Costs for guided tours of other parts of the main cavern or two other caverns in the park, Spider Cave and Slaughter Canyon Cave, range from $7 to $20 plus general admission. For guided-tour reservations go to www.recreation.gov or call 877/444–6777.

Those planning overnight hikes must obtain a free backcountry permit, and all hikers are advised to stop at the visitor center information desk for current information about trails. Trails are marked by cairns (rock piles) and can in some places be tricky to follow; a topographic map is recommended. Dogs are not allowed in the park, but a kennel is available at the park visitor center for a fee.

Park Hours

The park is open year-round, except Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, access to the cavern is from 8:30 to 5; entrance tickets are sold until 4:45, with the last entry via the Natural Entrance at 4. After Labor Day until Memorial Day weekend, cavern access is from 8:30 to 3:30; entrance tickets are sold until 3:15, and the last entry via the Natural Entrance is at 2:30. Carlsbad Caverns is in the Mountain time zone.

Cell Phone Reception

Cell phone service is spotty in the park. It works best in the parking lots outside the visitor center. There's no Wi-Fi or cell service inside any caverns. Note that cell phones here often pick up signals from the Central time zone—keep that in mind when relying on your phone's clock for the correct time.