Drive for hours across the desert just to see a cave? But it’s not just any cave; it’s a truly astonishing and immense system of caves, one of the world’s greatest. Once visitors get a glimpse, even the most skeptical are impressed. A visit is, without a doubt, a highlight of any Southwestern journey. But wait, there’s more. The cave’s other claim to fame is the 250,000-plus Mexican free-tail bat colony that roosts here from April through to October. Visitors flock here at sunset to watch them fly out to feast on a smorgasbord of bugs. The park covers 73 sq miles and includes almost 100 caves. Visitors can take a 2-mile subterranean walk from the cave mouth to an underground chamber 1800ft long, 255ft high and over 800ft below the surface. Exploration for experienced spelunkers only continues at the awe-inspiring Lechugilla Cave. With a depth of 1567ft and a length of about 60 miles, it’s the deepest cave and third-longest limestone cave in North America. The park entrance is 23 miles southwest of Carlsbad. A three-day pass for self-guided tours to the natural entrance and the Big Room (send a postcard from the lunchroom, 829ft below the surface!) costs $6 for adults and $3 for children. The park also has a spectrum of ranger-led tours ($7); call for advance reservations. If you want to scramble to lesser-known areas, ask about Wild Cave tours. The last tickets are sold two to 3½ hours before the visitor center closes. Wilderness backpacking trips into the desert are allowed by permit (free); the visitor center sells topographical maps of the 50-plus miles of hiking trails.
