Big Room Trail - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Continuing our May 2015 visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, we walked the self-guided Big Room Trail. The maximum dimensions of the Big Room are about 2000 feet long and 1100 feet wide with a ceiling up to 255 feet above the floor. The vertical distance from Liberty Dome down to the Bottomless Pit is 370 feet. The total floor area of the Big Room is over 8 acres. The 1¼ mile loop trail is paved with rubberized asphalt and is relatively flat with a few exceptions. Much of the trail is wheelchair accessible. Cameras and tripods are allowed as long as they do not obstruct other visitors. The trail is one-way with movement in a counter-clockwise direction. Be aware that visitors in wheelchairs will have to backtrack at two locations. A shortcut is also available for those without the stamina for the entire loop.

The cavern is 56°F year round, so the park service recommends a long-sleeved shirt or light jacket. Keep in mind that the humidity is about 90% as well. The park service also recommends sturdy, closed-toe shoes be worn. Recreational walking sticks are prohibited, but canes and walking sticks for medical purposes are allowed. Strollers are not permitted. No pets are allowed in the cavern, but a kennel is available for a fee at the visitor center. Service animals are permitted in the cavern. Restrooms are available at the visitor center and in the Big Room near the elevators and concession stand. All items sold in the cavern are also available in the visitor center gift shop.

Finally, there are several rules given to every person entering the caverns:

• Stay on the cave trail at all times
• Talk quietly, sound carries a long distance
• Do not throw anything in the pools
• Tobacco use is not permitted
• Gum, food and drinks (other than plain water) are not allowed on the cave trail system
• Do not touch cave formations, walls or ceilings
• Do not collect anything natural to the park

Billing Doves passage

Flowstone and popcorn formations or speleotherms

The immense size of the room is impossible to portray

Sword of Damacles

58' high Twin Domes and 62' high Giant Dome

Another view of Giant Dome and Twin Domes

Fairyland

Another view of Fairyland

Looking back at Fairyland

Temple of the Sun

A stalactite and a stalagmite join to form a column

Another large dome

Totem Pole

Smaller flowstone dome leaning toward the larger one under a ceiling of stalactites

Wire rope ladder from 1924 National Geographic expedition

Lower Cave 93 feet below the Jumping Off Place

The cave extends well beyond the paved trail open to visitors

Flowstone and soda straw stalactites adorn this section of the cavern

The widest view I could capture includes the Totem Pole and the Chandelier formations

Chandelier Formation

Ceiling above Top of the Cross

A jumble of rocks frames this opening to the Lower Cave

Shelf formations at Mirror Pool

The Bottomless Pit

Liberty Dome above the Bottomless Pit

Gypsum deposit slowly eroding

Cave Man

Crystal Spring Dome

Base of Crystal Spring Dome

A dazzling array of speleotherms

Rock of Ages

Draperies

A cathedral of Flowstone and Draperies

Flowstone resembling frozen waterfalls

Painted Grotto

Dolls Theater

Jim White's Tunnel

Chinese Theater

Snack bar and gift shop at base of elevators

An entrance fee of $10 per person is required to enter the cavern for either of the two self-guided tours: Natural Entrance and Big Room. The fee is valid for 3 days. Other options include an Interagency Annual Pass providing access to most national park, national forest and BLM fee areas for $80 and a lifetime Interagency Senior Pass for those age 62 and older for $10. Ranger-led tours require additional fees of $7 to $20 that are discounted for Senior and Access Pass holders, but not for Annual Pass holders.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm.