Carlsbad Cavens National Park

Welcome to Carlsbad Caverns National Park located in southeastern New Mexico near the Texas border.

Park History: Carlsbad Caverns is one of the hundreds of caves formed in a fossil reef from an ancient inland see over 250 million years ago. Some of the first humans to inhabit the region were Native Americans who arrived in the Guadalupe Mountains over 12,000 years ago and have left pictographs and cooking rings that are still inside the park boundaries today. In the 16th century the first known Europeans to explore the region, Spanish explorers, arrived. Spain claimed the southwestern United States until 1821 when Mexico gained her Independence. Eventually, Mexico lost these lands to the United States and in 1850 the New Mexico territory was created. On October 25, 1923 Carlsbad Caverns National Monument was established. On May 14, 1930, she was upgraded to National Park status.

Flora and Fauna: Carlsbad Caverns National Park helps protect the home of numerous plant and animals species. Some of the plants that grow inside the boundaries include milkweeds, poinsettias, junipers, oaks, prickly pear cacti, cottonwoods, and sunflowers. Some of the wild animals who call this place home include the Giant Tarantula from the movie Earth Versus the Spider (No actually that's a RecPlanet Joke), bats, bighorn sheep, black bears, elk, gray-banded kingsnakes, horned lizards, and the Trans-Pecos rattlesnake. Please treat their home with respect.

For the lover of the outdoors this park boasts magnificent cave tours and so much more. Come on out and explore!