Eight-acres for the largest chamber, 30-miles explored length, 1600-feet-deep, 17 bat species—these numbers are impressive and help picture the immensity of Carlsbad Cavern. The 1.25-mile trail begins at the natural opening and ends 750 feet deep at the elevator shaft that brings everyone back to the surface. The trail is made to be accessible with rough pavement to help against slipping and provide sure footing in the semi-dark. There are emergency phones along with way, stone benches to stop and rest, soft lights on structures along the path, and occasional rangers checking on how everyone is doing. One can skip the hike and use the elevators to come down and just tour The Big Room. It is a most amazing journey that defies description.

Cave explorers amaze me. When noticing bats flying out of a hole in the ground like sixteen-year-old Jim White did in 1898, it takes bravery to grab some rope and candles to climb down into said hole and explore. I have no idea how the first explorers didn’t get lost in the labyrinthine twists and turns of the cave. Even today with modern technology to help, one has to be creative and excel at climbing to explore further. In 1985 a group used helium balloons to float rope up to catch hold of stalactites in the Big Room so they could climb up 255 feet to explore uncharted areas, now called Spirit World. Their ropes are still dangling in place.

A flash flood in 2022 stranded people at the visitor’s center until almost midnight when they were given escorts out through the receding flood water that had been as deep as 20-feet earlier. The damage left behind can still be seen in the park and the scenic drive out to several hikes is still closed.

We were looking for another hike after touring the big cave, so we drove around the east side of the park to Slaughter Canyon where there is a long trail that goes all the way to that closed scenic road and a shorter trail up to Slaughter Cave. We were in the mood for a mountain trail, and we got it. It’s only a little over a mile up and back to the cave which is closed, but it was a steep, rocky climb up that works your heart, and a climb down that works your balance and knees. We loved it!