- State: NM
- NPCA Region: Southwest
- Est. Date: 1923
Air Quality Conditions
View the Polluted Parks ReportVisibility
Unsatisfactory
Health
Significant Concern
Nature
Significant Concern
Deep beneath the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico is a labyrinth of more than 300 limestone caves, carved over 250 million years ago.
The park also preserves biologically diverse desert lands above ground, as well as a portion of an exposed fossil reef. One of the most notable sights at Carlsbad Cavern is the spectacle of the park’s 400,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats leaving the cave each night at sunset in dramatic clouds of flapping wings; visitors can attend a special ranger program and enjoy this striking exodus from early spring to mid-autumn, before the bats migrate south for the winter.
Underground Extremes
Lechuguilla Cave at Carlsbad Caverns is the deepest limestone cave in the country, and the fifth-longest known cave in the world.
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Magazine Article
Mossing Around
Why while away retirement on the golf course when you could become a moss expert and hunt down some of the least studied plants in New Mexico’s national parks?
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Press Release
Spoiled Parks: Top 12 National Parks Threatened by Trump Administration's Energy Agenda
Spoiled Parks explores how current leasing policies have scarred landscapes and threaten future harm to clean air, cultural heritage, wildlife and tourism economies.
More about Carlsbad Caverns
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Read more about Park Talks
Regional Events Park Talks Join our NPCA community for virtual "Park Talks" to learn about our work and ways you can get involved.
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Read more about Subterranean Secrets
Magazine Article Subterranean Secrets A Carlsbad Caverns Comic
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Read more about Oil and Gas Development Delayed Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Press Release Oil and Gas Development Delayed Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park Bureau of Land Management temporarily deferred lease sales to study the local geology and its interaction with groundwater
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Read more about Carlsbad Caverns National Park the Latest Target of Rushed Oil and Gas Leasing Process
Press Release Carlsbad Caverns National Park the Latest Target of Rushed Oil and Gas Leasing Process The BLM's minuscule 10-day public scoping comment period for the nearly 200 parcel proposal comprising nearly 89,000 acres, some of which are about a mile from Carlsbad Caverns National Park, closes tonight.
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Read more about Underground Adventures
Blog Post Underground Adventures Go below the Earth’s surface to explore exquisite realms that evolved in total darkness. These 10 national park caves are places to learn about the mysterious worlds under our feet.
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Read more about Oil, Gas Leasing Threatens 7 Western National Parks
Press Release Oil, Gas Leasing Threatens 7 Western National Parks New report details dangers of development near park lands.
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Read more about Oil, Gas Leasing Threatens 7 Western National Parks
Report Oil, Gas Leasing Threatens 7 Western National Parks New report details dangers of development near park lands
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Read more about Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding
Blog Post Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding Find out which national park sites have the most bird species, with a highlight of what you might see at each place.
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Read more about 9 Spooky National Park Sites
Blog Post 9 Spooky National Park Sites As the days get shorter, the nights get spookier—at least during the month of October. If you’re looking for a few mysterious places to explore before telling ghost stories by the campfire, these quaint and curious settings offer tricks and treats for an eerie autumn mood.
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Read more about Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks
Report Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks “Polluted Parks” graded the pollution-related damage in the 48 national parks required by the Clean Air Act to have the highest possible air quality.
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Read more about A Swallow’s Tale
Magazine Article A Swallow’s Tale A 35-year study of cave swallows at Carlsbad Caverns has solved some abiding mysteries about the songbird.
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Read more about Fighting Fluff
Magazine Article Fighting Fluff At well-known caves around the country, volunteers armed with tweezers and brushes keep lint—yes, lint—at bay.
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Read more about In the Dark
Magazine Article In the Dark How do animals adapt to cave life?
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