Natural Entrance Trail
The Natural Entrance Trail is one of two options for self-guided touring of the cave.
Plan Around Natural Entrance Trail
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Natural Entrance Trail Details
The Natural Entrance Trail is one of two options for self-guided touring of the cave. You'll start from the cave's natural entrance and descend around 750 feet over the course of one and a quarter miles before reaching the Big Room. Along the way you'll see formations like Iceberg Rock, the Whale's Mouth, and Devil's Spring. There are also several stops along the path with interpretive signs on the history and geology of the cave. The Natural Entrance Trail opens at 8:30 a.m. every day. In the off-season, the trail closes at 2 p.m. and the last elevator out is at 4:30 p.m. In the summer, the trail closes at 3:30 p.m. and the last elevator out is at 5:30 p.m. To enter the cave, you must purchase a general admission ticket at the visitor center.
Difficulty
Open
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Natural Entrance Trail
Compare nearby parks around Natural Entrance Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Natural Entrance Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Natural Entrance Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Carlsbad Canyon Visitor Center
Your main resource for information about the park, as well as the place to purchase entry and tour tickets.
0.0 mi away
Bat Cave
Most of the cave's bat population lives in this underground chamber.
0.0 mi away
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Cavern is one of the world's most famous show caves and forms the heart of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
0.2 mi away
Bat Flight Amphitheater
The amphitheater features rings of stone benches looking down on the cavern's natural entrance, where thousands of bats emerge nightly.
0.3 mi away
Walnut Canyon Desert Drive
This nine-mile gravel loop is one of the few designated scenic drives in the park.
