Eddy: Caves, Desert Trails and Culture

The Big Room in Carlsbad Cavern is the largest single cave chamber in North America by volume. Together with desert landscapes, hiking trails and museums, it makes for a destination with a wide range of natural and cultural attractions. You can focus on the cave, explore outdoor trails or include the history and collections of Artesia and Carlsbad.

Carlsbad Caverns: Cave Country and Planning Your Visit

You can explore Carlsbad Cavern on your own along the Big Room and Natural Entrance trails. The Natural Entrance Trail is very steep, with an elevation change of about 750 feet (229 m). The area is also geologically distinctive: Carlsbad Caverns National Park preserves part of the exposed Permian-age Capitan Reef. Sulfuric acid played an unusual role in the formation and dissolution of the caves in the Guadalupe Mountains.

Timed reservations are required for entry to Carlsbad Cavern. Availability for ranger-guided tours is also limited; booking in advance is recommended. Tickets for these tours must be picked up at the visitor center at least 30 minutes before they begin. Check the latest information on reservations, tours and ticket pickup before your visit.

Ranger-guided programs also offer a range of nature experiences: one program lets visitors watch thousands of bats emerge from the cave, while others focus on observing the night sky in the southwestern United States. Program availability depends on the park schedule, so check the dates offered in advance.

Trails with Different Levels of Difficulty

The Guadalupe Ridge Trail is a 100-mile (161 km) route through two states, two national parks and a national forest. More than 20 miles of the trail run through Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Closures may affect access, so check current conditions before planning a hike.

At Slaughter Canyon Cave Trail, a steep, rugged path climbs 500 feet (152 m) over 0.5 miles (1 km). The cave along this trail can only be visited on a ranger-guided tour. A difficult trail in Slaughter Canyon is 5.3 miles (8.6 km) long and starts at the Slaughter Canyon parking lot.

The difficult Yucca Canyon Trail is 7.7 miles (12.4 km) long and leads to an overlook with views into Big Canyon. The ridge also offers views of the basin. A high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for the gravel road to Yucca Canyon. Road conditions can change, so check the latest information before setting out.

Chihuahuan Desert and Views at the Living Desert

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park showcases more than 40 animal species and hundreds of plant species native to the Chihuahuan Desert. Seasonal nature education programs are designed for the whole family. You can learn about local wildlife and plant life through both the exhibits and the changing program schedule.

The loop trail through the park is 1.3 miles long, with an elevation change of 70 feet. From the Living Desert ridge, you can look out over the Pecos River Valley and Carlsbad. The 0.9-mile Ocotillo Hills Nature Trail borders the park. The two trails differ in their stated lengths; the adjacent trail is shorter than the loop through the park.

Museums, Art and History

In Artesia, the Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center is housed in the historic Moore-Ward Pebble House. Its exhibits cover local and regional history. The Art Annex features rotating exhibits of local art, traveling exhibitions and temporary in-house presentations. Special programs and outreach activities are available by appointment.

The history of the cave region is also closely tied to Eddy County: Carlsbad Cave National Monument was established in 1923. Its founding proclamation placed the monument in Eddy County, New Mexico, and described the cave chambers with their stalactites, stalagmites and other formations. Today’s nature attractions thus sit alongside an early historical recognition of the cave formations.

The Carlsbad Museum and Art Center in Carlsbad displays ceramics, textiles and artifacts from Indigenous American cultures, as well as paintings by New Mexico artists from the early 20th century. The Pecos River Flume offers another glimpse of regional history: the aqueduct carries irrigation water across the Pecos River and was built between 1889 and 1890.

Experiences Along the Pecos River

The Pecos River Recreation Area in central Carlsbad offers boating, waterskiing and fishing on Lake Carlsbad. Visitors can also rent kayaks and pedal boats and take boat tours. Rental and tour availability may change, so check current offerings if you plan these activities.

The Carlsbad Water Park is also located on the banks of the Pecos River. It features two fast slides, the 50-foot-tall Big Blue slide, a lazy river and a ground-level children’s play area. Details of the seasonal facility may change; check the latest information before planning a visit.

Discover more destinations: Artesia, Carlsbad, Luna, Grant County, De Baca County, Guadalupe County, Curry, Torrance County.

For the broader travel overview: New Mexico.