Viewed from the outside the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico are anything but impressive and consist of a few gray rock formations and a little scrub brush covering a less than impressive cliff. However, inside this is one of the most astonishing landscapes to be found anywhere on Earth and, with over 100 limestone caves for you to explore, you can wander here for years without ever seeing the cave thing twice.
The Bat Cave is not for the feint hearted and is home to of thousands of these flying mammals. The Bifrost Room, which is named after the Bifrost bridge into Valhalla, will leave you breathless and the colors truly echo those of the rainbow. The Hall of the Giants, which is the largest open chamber in the system, covers an incredible 360,000 square feet. Within these, and many more rooms, you will find Mother Nature at her most creative.
The Witch’s Finger, a giant stalagmite, is a corkscrew-like formation which is over five times the the average person’s height and the Rock of Ages is even more impressive as it makes stationary rock seem to move and the multitude of flowstone outcroppings resemble a demon’s lair glowing from within.
Within the caverns you can opt for self guided or staff guided tours with varying degrees of difficulty from easy hikes around large open spaces to scaling ten foot high walls and crawling through narrow openings into large chambers.
One particular takes you through a section of Lechuguilla Cave which, at over 1,600 feet below ground, is the deepest cave in America. This cave covers more than 112 miles winding through the Guadalupe Mountains.
If you are not quite so active then you can travel to the Big Room by taking an elevator which descends 900 feet and look up to be simply captivated by this 25 story high open space. You can then wander around this 1,800 foot by 250 foot room filled with remarkable rock formations. You should also visit the Temple of the Sun and see the dozens of eerily lit underground pools.
If you do want to see the bats however you must visit between the months of April and September as the 300,000 Mexican free tailed bats who live here fly south for the winter. A short half mile hike from the entrance will take you to a plateau from where you can descend the 750 feet into the Bat Cave.
And do not forget to pop on your favorite pair of discount hiking boots and explore the area surrounding the caves as there are a number of fascinating things to both see and do. In spite of its name, along Rattlesnake Springs you are far more likely to come across dozens of harmless reptiles and birds than you are to encounter the snakes which give this place its name.
Another favorite with visitors to the area is a ride along the 10 mile scenic drive through Walnut Canyon. This drive takes you along Guadalupe Ridge and the views along the way are quite simply awe-inspiring.
Of course the Carlsbad Caverns are just one of the splendid hiking areas in America and rank alongside such other great pleasures as Yellowstone National Park hiking tours.
Related posts:
- Six Hiking And Backpacking Tips Hiking and backpacking in the wilderness means leaving the safety and predictability of civilization behind. That is part of the...
- Following Hidden Trails I am a follower of hidden trails. In fact, on at least half of the hiking trips I take lately,...
- Hiking In And Around Bright – A Few Places That You Shouldnt Miss For those who haven’t quite had a chance to go hiking in Bright Victoria, it is an experience that simply...
- Merrell Shoes Men’s Radius Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot Merrell Shoes Men’s Radius Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot Multi-Sport for a holistic life, the Merrell Men’s Radius Mid Waterproof Hiking...
- Insider Tips When Planning A Backpacking Trip backpacking camping Backpacking is a great activity that gets people out into the world to explore. You’ll be enjoying fresh...
