| Date |
Distance |
Time |
Elevation Gain |
Average Moving Time |
Year to Date Miles |
| 11/05/2024 |
2.5 miles |
3 hours |
n/a |
n/a |
700.1 miles |
Parking:
Map:
We weren't able to get tickets for a guided cave tour in advance (they sell out fast), but we did have tickets for a self-guided tour. We showed up at 8am, first in line for walk up tickets for a guided tour. Due to staffing issues, none were offered for today. So instead, we stuck with our original plan and did the self-guided tour. We picked up audio guides which were well worth it. We spent 3 hours walking through the cave. It was a 2 1/2-mile walk. We learned a lot, and the cave decorations as they call them, were stunning.
After finishing, we talked to the park rangers about possible hikes. There really was only one good option (some trails/roads were closed in the park), and we ended up deciding not to do it. We ate lunch in the visitor center parking lot, then drove back to the town of Carlsbad. We drove to the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park. This park was useful, as we learned about the plants and animals in the area. We walked around until they closed at 4pm. Off to get groceries & then ate dinner at the hotel. We spent some time researching tomorrow's hike, before going to bed.
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| Walking to the start of our cave tour. |
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| Cave tour entrance |
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| This is where the bats fly out of at night. |
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| They call these pearls or popcorn |
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| There is even a snack bar (closed) and restrooms in the cave. |
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| We did a mini trail on our drive out. |
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| Learning about cacti at the state park. |
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